Author Description

How Can Novice E-learning Researchers And Postgraduate Learners Develop Rigorous Plans To Study The Effectiveness Of Technology-enhanced Learning Environments? How Can Practitioners Gather And Portray Evidence Of The Impact Of E-learning? How Can The Average Educator Who Teaches Online, Without Experience In Evaluating Emerging Technologies, Build On What Is Successful And Modify What Is Not? By Unpacking The E-learning Lifecycle And Focusing On Learning, Not Technology, Evaluating E-learning Attempts To Resolve Some Of The Complexity Inherent In Evaluating The Effectiveness Of E-learning. The Book Presents Practical Advice In The Form Of An Evaluation Framework And A Scaffolded Approach To An E-learning Research Study, Using Divide-and-conquer Techniques To Reduce Complexity In Both Design And Delivery. It Adapts And Builds On Familiar Research Methodology To Offer A Robust And Accessible Approach That Can Ensure Effective Evaluation Of A Wide Range Of Innovative Initiatives, Including Those Covered In Other Books In The Connecting With E-learning Series. Readers Will Find This Jargon-free Guide Is A Must-have Resource That Provides The Proper Tools For Evaluating E-learning Practices With Ease. Front Cover -- Evaluating E-learning -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- List Of Figures -- List Of Tables -- Series Editors' Foreword: Allison Littlejohn And Chris Pegler -- Foreword: T. Craig Montgomerie -- Preface -- Why Did We Write This Book? -- What Is The Scope Of The Book? -- Who Should Read This Book? -- What Is In The Book? -- How Did We Come To Write The Book? -- Acknowledgements -- Part I: Setting The Scene -- 1. E-learning, Learning And Evaluation -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 What Is E-learning? -- 1.3 Key Characteristics Of Learning -- 1.4 Evaluating Learning And E-learning -- 1.5 Types Of E-learning Artefacts -- 1.6 The E-learning Artefact Life Cycle -- 1.7 Summary -- 2. Evaluation As Part Of A Teacher's Role -- 2.1 The Process Of Evaluation -- 2.2 Practical And Simple Tips For Your Evaluation -- 2.3 How To Start -- Part Ii: Theory -- 3. The Learning Environment, Learning Processes And Learning Outcomes (lepo) Framework -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Learning -- 3.3 The Learning Environment, Learning Processes And Learning Outcomes (lepo) Framework -- 3.4 The Origins Of The Lepo Framework -- 3.5 Components Of The Lepo Framework -- 3.6 Synergies With The Lepo Framework -- 3.7 Summary -- 4. What Is Meant By Educational Evaluation And Research? -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Educational Evaluation -- 4.3 E-learning Evaluation -- 4.4 The Nature Of Research -- 4.5 Research Classifications -- 4.6 Examples Of Evaluation Research Into E-learning -- 4.7 Summary -- 5. Research Paradigms And Methodologies -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Phenomena -- 5.3 Working From A Theoretical Basis -- 5.4 Research Goals And Disciplined Inquiry -- 5.5 Paradigms Of Inquiry -- 5.6 Research Methodologies And Methods -- 5.7 Summary -- 6. Evaluation-research Approaches Suitable For E-learning -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Defining The E-learning Research Problem. 6.3 Cyclical Research Approaches -- 6.4 Action Inquiry -- 6.5 Design-based Research -- 6.6 The Value Of Stand-alone Studies -- 6.7 The Role Of Approaches Often Aligned With Positivism -- 6.8 Summary -- Part Iii: Practical Aspects Of Evaluation Research -- 7. The Process Of Carrying Out Evaluation Research -- 7.1 Overview -- 7.2 Components Of The Evaluation-research Process -- 7.3 Planning An Evaluation-research Study -- 7.4 Summary -- 8. Evaluation Research Across The E-learning Life Cycle -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Unpacking The E-learning Life Cycle -- 8.3 Mapping Evaluation Research To The E-learning Life Cycle -- 8.4 Baseline Analysis -- 8.5 Design Evaluation -- 8.6 Formative Evaluation Of The Learning Environment -- 8.7 Effectiveness Research On The Learning Process And Learning Outcome -- 8.8 Summary -- 9. Conducting An Evaluation-research Study -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Data Collection - Evaluation And Research Methods -- 9.3 Issues With Mixing Methods -- 9.4 Sampling -- 9.5 Analysing And Interpreting Data -- 9.6 Validity And Reliability -- 9.7 Reporting And Presentation -- 9.8 Summary -- 10. Project-management Evaluation -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 General Elements Of Project Management -- 10.3 Planning A Project -- 10.4 Managing A Project -- 10.5 Characteristics Of A Project Manager -- 10.6 Evaluating Project-management Elements -- 10.7 Summary -- 11. Using Evaluation-research Results: An Overview Of Impact Issues Beyond The Confines Of A Single Project -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Sustainability Of An E-learning Initiative -- 11.3 Dissemination -- 11.4 Issues In Organizational Change -- 11.5 Chapter Summary -- 11.6 The End Of The Journey. Or Is It The Beginning? -- References -- Author Index -- Subject Index.