Keywords

distance education, e-learning, evaluation, internet communication, online learning, online systems, personal-learning environments, social networks, stakeholders, technology, World Wide Web

Abstract

Technological innovations have spurred exponential use of electronic resources for learners of all ages over the last decade. These global developments also require continual advancement of electronic e-learning evaluation. Evaluation is the process of clarifying what should be and comparing that to what is, to facilitate evaluative decisions about success and ways to achieve it. This article outlines a process for doing evaluations of e-learning and identifies common critical-evaluation elements. An extended case vignette of an e-learning evaluation and references to others and related literature illustrate the use of these critical elements and associated emerging results.

Original Publication Citation

Williams, D. D., & Graham, C. R. (2010). Evaluating e-learning. In B. McGaw, E. Baker, & P. P. Peterson, (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Education (3rd ed., pp. 530-538). Oxford, UK: Elsevier.