Evaluation and Assessment

• Assessment and Evaluation for Distance Learning
  The Northeast Texas Consortium (NETnet) has developed several training modules for instructors of distance learning courses. The modules serve as interactive training materials assist instructors in the design and development of distance education materials, courses and programs. The Assessment and Evaluation section is part of the module on Course Design.
• Assessment Resources
  From the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Instructional Technologies. Resources collected for this site are divided into the topics: Evaluating Online Learning; Evaluation and Course Design and Development; Student Centered Evaluation; Online Evaluation Resource Directories, and Evaluation Theory and Research. Each topic area contains an annotated list of additional resources.
• Assessment Tools for Distance Education
  By Susan B. Millar, Director, University of Wisconsin-Madison Learning Through Evaluation, Adaptation, and Dissemination (LEAD) Center, in the DESIEN online newsletter, Issue 6-3, March, 2001. Educational organizations, governmental agencies and businesses are increasingly asking whether learners are learning effectively via technology. This article provides insights into assessment, a "one-stop" web site for assessment methods, and assessment resources that are effective but not time-consuming.
• Assessment/Evaluation Tools + Research
  This collection of tools and resources is part of the Teaching Learning and Technology Center (TLTC) web site, of the Univeristy of California Office of the President (UCOP). There is specific information on Course Evaluation Projects at the UC campuses of Davis and Berkeley, as well as links to individual publications and research centers. Evaluation and assesement tools include resources from other universities and institutions.
• Edutools
  EduTools provides independent reviews, side-by-side comparisons, and consulting services to assist decision-making in the e-learning community. Included are categories for Course Management Systems and Online Course Evaluations, as well as other research projects. In the Online Course Evaluation, users may search by all courses, subject, grade level and other categories. This free resources is owned and operated by WCET - the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications.
• Flashlight and Other Relevant Assessment & Evaluation Topics
  This page is an annotated bibliography of free articles and web sites on Flashlight and on the larger subject of studying educational uses of technology.
• Guide to Online High School Courses
  The National Education Associate (NEA) has published this guide in association with other organizations. Sections include questions for policy makers, teachers, students and parents/guardians and others. The full text of the Guide is available on the NEA web site.
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Research and Evaluation
  ISTE R&E has provided research, evaluation, and consulting services to school districts, public agencies, private foundations, and universities. R&E has worked with major public and private technology initiatives.
• Learning from Reflections - Issues in Building Quality Online Courses
  An article by Patricia Deubel, Ph.D.,Nova Southeastern University in the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Volume VI, Number III, Fall 2003; State University of West Georgia, Distance Education Center. "Authorship, implementation, and consumer perspectives should be considered when judging the quality of an online course. Discussion is enhanced with references to literature on online learning, and should assist educators who wish to develop and teach quality online courses, or smaller modules within hybrid courses."
• MERLOT Peer Reviews
  The Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT) is an international cooperative for high quality online resources to improve learning and teaching within higher education. In addition to collecting online teaching and learning materials, MERLOT conducts structured peer reviews of them. The primary purpose of the reviews is to allow faculty from any institution of higher education to decide if the online teaching-learning materials they are examining will work in their courses.
• The "No Significant Difference Phenomenon"
  This site provides selected entries from the book "The No Significant Difference Phenomenon" as reported in 355 research reports, summaries and papers - a comprehensive research bibliography on technology for distance education. This 1999 book was compiled by Thomas L. Russell, is fully indexed, and includes a foreword by Richard E. Clark.
• Project IDEAL: Working Papers on Assessment and Accountability
  From University of Michigan's Project IDEAL, this is a small collection of working papers, full reports and executive summaries addressing the key issues in assess distance education for adult learners. Other sections of the web site pose Research Questions and Professional Development. Project IDEAL is a consortium of US states working to develop effective distance education programs for adult learners.
• Quality Matters
  The Quality Matters project is "creating an inter-institutional continuous improvement model for assessing and assuring the quality of online courses." Original project partners include 19 MarylandOnline Community Colleges. Rubrics and resources have been highlighted by the project planners.
• Total Quality Management Strategic Plan for Distance Course Development
  From DEOSNEWS, Vol 13, No. 2, (2004), an article by Donna G. Wood, Melissa Roberts Becker, Rodney L. Osborne, Joyce A. Van Nostrand, Sharon A. Winn, and Chuck Ziehr of Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. "This issue of DEOSNEWS examines one university's effort to address two challenges in distance learning: retention and student satisfaction....Complete quality-measuring instruments, or rubrics, and application forms were developed, the links to which are included in this case study."
• UMUC Assessment Resource Center (UMUC-ARC)
  Tools and strategies are available for faculty, administrators, and students. The UMUC-ARC helps answer questions such as "How does assessment of online instruction differ from assessment of classroom instruction?" and "What do educators and researchers know about the effectiveness of on line education?" The Institute for Research and Assessment in Higher Education (IRAHE), a unit of the Office of Distance Education and Lifelong Learning (ODELL) of the University of Maryland University College has developed this resource.
• What Makes Distance Learning Effective: Support Mechanisms to Maximize Distance Learning in ABE
  This report includes a review of current research, a study of lessons learned from the Massachusetts ABE (Adult Basic Education) Distance Learning Project over the past two years, and recommendations for further study and possible "anywhere, anytime" program standards.