Joyce, there are several frameworks available: 1. Formative (during) / Summative (at the end) evaluation (how can it be improved?). It is more the evaluation of the tools and the tools' impact. It is less adequate to determine the learning. 2. Effectiviness evaluation (Where the goals accomplished?) Often this approach is used to measure the long-term outcome. 3. Impact evaluation (What impact did it have?): this is more combining the other two approaches The assessment will also depend on the instructional goals/needs assessment, your partners have done before. If this community system is a document delivery system, it will be differently assessed than if it includes communication tools or case-based or problem-based scenarios. Some literature: Parry, S. 1997. Evaluating the impact of training. American Society for Training and Development. Some links: http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/Resources/evaluating.htm http://www.east.asu.edu/elearning/assessment.html http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/ let me know, if you need more specific hints Johannes -- Johannes Strobel PhD student School of Information Science and Learning Technologies University of Missouri-Columbia jse09@mizzou.edu

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Message: 2 Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 11:21:28 +0200 From: Joyce.Lamerichs@Alg.VLK.WAU.NL To: air-l@aoir.org Subject: [Air-l] learning in internet-based networks Reply-To: air-l@aoir.org

Dear all,

On behalf of a colleague of mine, I would like to post the following request for information:

I've been asked to help two regional internet-based networks that operate throughout Latin America to assess the extent to which they are stimulating

learning in rural development. What frameworks exist that can help networks

undertake the monitoring and evaluate of their impact - in terms of learning - among the network members?

many thanks,

Joyce Lamerichs Communication and Information Studies Wageningen University and Research Centre