4 Responses

1. e-learning success?
   I have been tutoring online courses in the Adult Education sector for about 18 months and the biggest problem we have experienced is (lack of) student motivation. Get around this, and you will be well on your way to success.

   The particular learning platform used is a National, professionally created one and is very good – I would say, excellent in its provision and student support. Students get access and accreditation free (to them). They are individually supported online in their work. The courses I support are at NQF level 1&2 ICT and level 1 Personal Development.
   The reasons for our failure to motivated more than about 10% of students to complete their courese ARE complex, but I am convinced that keeping students motivated is the KEY to success in (individual) e-learning (only) adult learning. Unfortunately it seems that when a student can work on a course at any time, it becomes easy to not work on it at all!

2. Participant Feedback Form
   Hi Mandy,

   I have developed a 32 item Learner Evaluation Form which I would be glad to share with you by e-mail if it would be of help. It requests general feedback on on the course, and specific feedback on the appropriateness of videoconferencing to conduct the course, and can serve as a base for other e-learning delivery.

   One suggestion – insist that the same Feedback Form is used in all courses so that you can also compare each to the other – sometimes not done in large companies or when teachers are allowed to prepare their own feedback instruments.

3. Evaluate or Validate?
   What is it you want to know?

   Is it the reaction of participants? I’m assuming that the eLearning system tests learning at some point (hopefully weeks after the training has completed, to see how much has ‘stuck’!).

   If it’s about contribution to the bottom line and return on investment then you need to start BEFORE the training has been commissioned so you can get credible data on the current state of affairs, known as the baseline.

   And this begs the killer question – what is the real point of the learning (and is it part of a bigger improvement project?)?(irrespective of being eLearning or not) This will help you to get credible data on the relevant areas in order to build your baseline.

   You’ll need to gather the same kind of data after the project has finished and look at the differences in your key measures. Visit Paul Kearns’ section on trainingzone at https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/news/kearns/ and why not stop by my series of short articles on the bottom line evaluation process at http://www.trainerbase.co.uk/Useful/items.asp?CategoryID=15

   If you are interested in the perspective of the users of the eLearning system, let me point you at appreciative inquiry as a tool to help – you can find stacks about this on the web, including http://www.appreciative-inquiry.org/

   Best wishes

   Martin Schmalenbach
   Director
   Potential Energy Ltd
   http://www.p-nrg.com

4. Agree
   Hi Mandy,

   I tend to agree with Martin. You must know what you are trying to achieve with this evaluation. Is it improvement in the design, or is it the effectiveness of the learning process, or impact on the business?

   I have obtained feedback on some generic e-learning courses, as part of a project to see if enough people would use and like that method. It as to support (or otherwise) an investment decision.
   The purpose drove the questions – so “would you recommend this/these courses to a colleague?” was key.
   We also asked about content, relevance and usability.

   Hope that helps

   Carole