Measuring impact of e-Learning on quality and learning outcomes

Abstract

In Higher and Continuing Education, the use of eLearning methodologies is becoming a common resource. At this point, we have probably passed a first stage of eLearning implementation - experimentation. After a first stage where pilot projects were implemented and strategies were defined, we come to a phase where eLearning implementation is more mature. It should now be possible to find consistent examples of the use of eLearning in Engineering Education, with several years of application. It should be possible, at this time, to evaluate the impact of eLearning methodologies on the Learning Outcomes. The work here proposed intends to address the problem of measuring the impact of eLearning on Education, through the analysis of Learning Outcomes. The scope of the study includes case-studies in Higher Education, pre and graduate courses. Also, cases of the use of eLearning in Continuing Education will be addressed. Authors intend to collect case-studies of courses that have been using eLearning technologies, in different contexts and Institutions. Data collected should include information about the implementation and Learning Outcomes of the course, before and after eLearning. Using a considerable amount of data, this study aims to identify a potential trend of alteration of results of Learning Outcomes. If possible, this study will try to find a relation between the increment of Learning Outcomes and the implementation of eLearning. Keywords: evaluation, Learning Outcomes, quality