EVALUATING ONLINE LEARNING: MODELS AND METHODS

This paper critically reflects upon the questions asked and the models and methods employed to evaluate online learning in several studies. These online studies range from setting up online networks for social interaction and facilitating collaborative learning experiences among graduate students in several universities, to moderating worldwide online ' professional development activities. The paper examines the methodologies . used to answer the following evaluation research questions: (1) How can we describe online participation, interaction patterns, and group dynamics? (2) Were students satisfied with their online learning experience? (3) Did participants learn? and (4) Was knowledge constructed? It is concluded that the adoption of a single technique for analyzing the quality of the learning experience in online learning networks has not yielded satisfactory answers, and a mixed methodology approach is recommended to study the complex nature of online learning networks. (Contains 11 references.) (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. EVALUATING ONLINE LEARNING: MODELS AND METHODS Charlotte N. Gunawardena, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Organizational Learning and Instructional Technology Program, College ofEducation, University ofNew Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, U.S.A. e-mail: lani@unm.edu Constance Lowe, M. A. New Mexico Department ofHealth, Santa Fe New Mexico, U.S.A. e-mail: Kayleigh Carabajal, M. A. Technical Vocational Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. e-mail: PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY