Τετάρτη 13 Οκτωβρίου 2010

From e-learning evaluation to e-learning tools evaluation

The Elluminate Session today, thanks to Helene Fournier, showed us the aspects of (self-) evaluation/assessment of the learning process that runs through a Personal Learning Environment.
But, let me walk one step away addressing mainly to the engineers of my PLENK colleagues: If we put it on an general basis, how would evaluate a tool that is used for e-learning purposes? In this case, speaking of evaluation, I mean usability evaluation.

For example, how would I decide if the LMS A is better than the LMS B, from usability point of view, but taking into account all specific needs of the learning process? Maybe a set of heuristic guidelines modified specifically for e-learning would help?
Digging into the bibliography, I can see limited work on usability evaluation focused on tools intended to be used for e-educational purposes.