Evaluation procedures
Evaluation is simply the process of assigning value (Berge, 2001). Evaluation techniques and the applications for evaluation are greatly diverse (Hall & Gottfredson, 2001). Two key types of evaluation include formative and summative evaluation. According to Hall and Gottfreson (2001), “Formative evaluation provides guidance through the development process and summative evaluation assigns a final judgment of worth†(p. 508). By assisting the developer to determine how easily the materials are access and understood (Hughes & Burke, 2001), formative evaluation is an important tool for the developer.
An important aspect of formative evaluation which is invaluable within the context of online learning is usability testing. Usability testing is defined as, “The observation of typical users performing tasks with a product and is conducted for the purpose of determining what changes need to be made to the content presentation or user-interface for that product†(Hughes & Burke, 2001, p. 531). As I consider a plan for successful evaluation within the online framework of learning, it must include a means through which I can assess the ease of materials use by the volunteers who I seek to target online training for. It doesn’t matter how superior the content may be that I strive to present to learners if it isn’t presented in a means which is accessible and functional. Usability testing will therefore be an integral part of this plan.
- Jason Rhode
References:
Berge, Z. L. (2001). Evaluating web-based training programs. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Hall, J. P., & Gottfredson, C. A. (2001). Evaluating web-based training: The quest for the information-age employee. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Hughes, M., & Burke, L. (2001). Usability testing of web-based training. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Color palette creation
Here’s a helpful website for creating a color palette based on a selected dominant color:
http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html
Characteristics of effective WBT delivery systems
This is by no means a comprehensive listing, but it does include a few elements of WBT delivery systems that I do see to be critical to success.
Course management software (CMS) assists institutions or organizations seeking to offer online training with a means of management of course deliver and recordkeeping. CMS applications provide, “both the framework and the back-end programming that make the task of delivering instruction via the Web easier†(Barron & Lyskawa, 2001, p. 305). The selection of a CMS solution is an important decision which must be made requiring the commitment of substantial financial resources. Steps toward a successful and comprehensive design can then begin to be taken, which should consider technical, instructional, and faculty support requirements (Fisher & Peratino, 2001).
The institution must also commit to acquiring and maintaining necessary equipment, such as a dedicated server and IT personal to support the hardware (Marcinkiewicz & Ross, 2001). The backbone of the online training environment will be the hardware that the CMS will run on. If the technology utilized is unreliable, online learners and instructors will quickly become frustrated and the learning experience will be stifled.
The protection of intellectual property rights is another important issue to be addressed (Barron & Lyskawa, 2001). An effective delivery system will limit access to only those who are registered for the course or online workshop. Also, it’s important to clarify with designers and instructors ownership of course materials developed for the course (Throne, 2001).
Learning objects need to be SCORM/AICC compliant and organized in such a fashion that they can be easily searched and accessed (Schmitz, 2001).
These are just a few of the important considerations of developing an effective WBT delivery system.
- Jason Rhode
References:
Barron, A. E., & Lyskawa, C. (2001). Software tools for online course management and delivery. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Fisher, S. G., & Peratino, W. S. (2001). Designing web-based learning environments at the department of defense: New solutions. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Marcinkiewicz, H. R., & Ross, E. M. (2001). Planning for web-based course management. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Schmitz, J. (2001). Needed: Digital libraries for web-based training. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Throne, D. (2001). Copyright issues in web-based training. In B. H. Khan (Ed.), Web-based training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.
Rubrics
Here is a listing of rubric websites compiled by Eileen Dittmar:
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html