Evaluation as a Tool for Research and Development: Issues and Trends in Its Applications in Educational Technology

Abstract

In this chapter we will review developments in program evaluation with particular attention to implications for the design and future application of automated evaluation systems. We will first review briefly some key historical events in educational technology, followed by a review of traditional evaluation models and approaches. We then turn in more detail to a current, “eclectic” evaluation model that we have developed through combining philosophies and methods from (a) formative and summative evaluation approaches, (b) quantitative and qualitative research paradigms, and (c) instructional design and constructivist philosophies. In the concluding section, we will draw from these experiences and ideas to propose potential strategies for automating the evaluation process.