Redeploying the Transnational Framework for e-Learning Technologies as a Tool for Evaluation

Abstract

Evaluation of ‘e-Learning’, or arguably ‘e-Delivery’, is difficult. One reason is that comparisons are often made between different courses delivered using various delivery modes, making such comparisons hard to justify. The Business School at a university in the United Kingdom reportedly delivers the same postgraduate course using two delivery mechanisms: (1) face-to-face (f2f) and blended, and (2) purely e-Delivery (online). The use of the proprietary Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) software WebCT for both modes of course delivery (f2f and online) lends a blended flavour to the f2f delivery mode, whilst the use of some f2f delivery for the online mode via WebCT also makes the online mode blended. The same postgraduate course delivered using the two mechanisms of f2f and online presents a true opportunity to compare and evaluate the different delivery modes. A second difficulty in the evaluation of course delivery mechanisms is the availability of an appropriate evaluation method and appropriate criteria. The following article describes the course, the evaluation method and criteria, the results of their independent application and any conclusions that may be drawn with respect to both the course and its delivery methods, and the evaluation methodology applied.