Evaluating the quality of elearning resources

Riddy, Paul and Fill, Karen (2003) Evaluating the quality of elearning resources. British Educational Research Association Conference, Edinburgh, UK. 10 - 12 Sep 2003.

Abstract

Faced with a bewildering array of eLearning materials, modules, courses and programmes how can tutors or learners decide which ones will best meet their needs and be of sufficiently high quality? Which of a range of standards should eLearning developers adopt to understand and address the requirements of teachers and learners and ensure the quality of their offerings?
A European team from universities in England, Spain and Germany, and training organisations in Italy and Greece, has worked together over two years to produce a methodology for the evaluation of on-line open and distance learning materials and Internet based programmes of study. The team members were multi-disciplinary and represented both academic and commercial backgrounds. Their expertise spanned course design, development, production and delivery. Some members had skills in technological implementation and course management.
The major outputs from the two-year project were a methodological guide for the analysis of quality in eLearning and a software tool that can be used on-line to evaluate materials, modules, courses and programmes.
This paper presents an overview of some evaluation schemes which existed at the project's inception, explains the MECA-ODL methodology and contrasts it with these, discusses the results of external evaluation, and makes recommendations for further development of the methodology and tool.

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