• Credit: Jeremy Briggs, Wintec

    Criteria for Evaluating an Online Course

    Now that we've identified some of the elements to consider when designing online courses, and as you continue to search for an online course to evaluate, we'll start thinking about the specific criteria we can use to evaluate it.

    This section is about collecting and collating a database of criteria that you can select from to evaluate your chosen course for Assessment 3.

    • Primary Objective:

      • To identify various tools for evaluating the ‘quality’ of online courses.
      • To prepare for Assessment Three

    • Key Content:

    • A) What do you mean by 'Criteria' in Assessment 3?

      The word 'criteria' in the context of Assessment 3 means specific items you can use to judge an online course with. These criteria might be met with a yes/no, along a scale (e.g. not met | nearly met | met | met and surpassed) or with a longer description.

      You will collect several criteria, based on your experiences with this module, and use them to evaluate your chosen online course.

      Use the resources below to learn about what you will be looking for for this section and Assessment 3

    • Further Explanation of 'criteria' for Assessment 3 Page

      Watch this explanatory video then click the link to read more about the 'criteria' that you need to be researching for this section, and Assessment 3.

      (Turn up the volume)

    • B) Some examples of criteria lists

      Credit: Wintec

      The resource below lists seven criteria/principles the author thinks are important for quality online facilitation (note: some are more principles than criteria). Your task is to find more of these sources of criteria and choose which specific criteria you will use in your evaluation.

      Hint: check the 'Recent Trackbacks' section below the article to see links to similar articles)
    • Applying the Seven Principles for Good Practice to the Online Classroom (Approx. 5mins) URL
    • Some more sources URL

      This page refers to some more sources of criteria to help with your search.

    • More sources for criteria (Facilitator only) Page

    • Key Tasks:

    • 1) Criteria Database

      Use the link below to tell us about some specific criteria you have found, and comment on what others have found.
      This is direct practice for the actual Assessment 3 (Approx. 10mins)

    • Criteria Database
      Students must
      Mark as done

    • 2) Share your search for your evaluation course.

      Now it's time to start looking into online courses to view so you can evaluate one for Assessment 3.

      Use the discussion forum below to share your research, your ideas and any questions you might have about this process. Also use this forum to get permission from me to use the course you have selected.
      More instructions including possible sources for online courses are presented inside the forum (Approx. 10mins)

      This forum is open regardless of which Key Tasks you have completed, so everyone can see what others are doing regardless of where they're up to.

    • Evaluation Course Search Forum
      Students must
      Mark as done

    • Remember, everything below here is optional, but you need to complete at least three of these activities across the module to pass Assessment 1.

    • Cool Tool:

    • Pinterest.com URL

      Have you used this before? A site that lets you 'pin' images from around the net onto a virtual 'pinboard'. Then you can share your collection with others. You can even create a collaborative board where several of you can contribute.

      If you haven't already... go on and create an account and have a try. Then complete the activity described in the Forum below.

      Here's a quick introduction...

    • Pinterest for Education Discussion Forum
      Students must
      Start discussions: 1

    • Secondary Objectives:

    • a) Share your useful sources

      During your search for criteria to use for your evaluation in Assessment 3, use the link below to share some of the places (links, websites, search terms) you have found useful in locating criteria.

    • Resource Collection URL
      Students must
      Mark as done

      See below to access the 'Padlet Wall' or click the link above if it doesn't show.

      • Double click anywhere on the page to add your post.
      • You can add a link or upload a file by using the icons at the bottom of the post
      • Please include your name to verify you have participated.
      • Please post at least two sources to complete this activity.