Encouraging Active Participant Engagement in the Evaluation of Online Conferencing

Online conferencing has emerged as an effective solution for offering professional development and networking opportunities without needing to travel. The evaluation of online learning events held using online conferencing technologies is still highly reliant on summative assessment measures. This paper reports on the evaluation of an online conference using an adapted version of the new learning methodology. Data was collected from a range of qualitative and quantitative sources that were both subjective and objective to provide a holistic overview of conference participation and participant perceptions. The evaluation also aimed at actively engaging participants in the evaluation process. The evaluation process was conducted in a transparent and interactive manner and provided summative feedback as well as real-time information to conference organisers during the conference proceedings.