Chapter
The Rapid Expansion of Distance Education and E-Learning
Why Do We Need a Professional Approach to Evaluation?
What Does a Professional Approach to Evaluation Look Like?
Responding to the Call for a Professional Evaluation Approach: The Unfolding Model
Conclusions: Our Approach to Evaluation
CH$Chapter 2 . The Theory and Practice of Program Evaluation
Why Are Program Evaluation Models Important?
A Classification Framework for Program Evaluation Models
Alkin and Christie’s Evaluation Tree: The Roots and Branches
Where Do We Diverge with Alkin and Christie?
CH$Chapter 3 . Evaluation Theory and Practice in Distance Education and E-Learning
Models with Scientific Evidence in the Foreground
Models Based on Evidence, Values, and Consequences
Models Based on Messick’s (1989) Framework
A Summary of Evaluation Models in Distance Education
Do Unintended Consequences Emerge in Authentic Evaluation Studies?
CH$Chapter 4 . Messick’s Framework: What Do Evaluators Need to Know?
The Overlap between Test Validity and Program Evaluation
The Overlap among the Four Facets
The Controversy over Unintended Consequences
Implications for Evaluation
CH$Chapter 5 . Getting Started
Planning the Evaluation Study
The Ethics Review Process
The Political Context of Evaluation
Using the Unfolding Model as a “Road Map”
Mixed Methods: Blending Quantitative and Qualitative Data
What Is Essential to Our Approach?
Tailoring the Unfolding Model to Your Needs
CH$Chapter 6 . The Unfolding Model: Scientific Evidence
Definition of “Scientific Evidence”
How to Write Good Survey Questions
Using the Unfolding Model to Write Survey and Interview Questions
Qualitative Data: Interviews, Focus Groups, and Online Ethnographies
Qualitative Data Analysis
The Evaluation of Environmental Quality
Bringing It All Together: Mixed Methods
CH$Chapter 7 . The Unfolding Model: Values and Consequences
How to Identify the Values Underlying Your Course
Writing Survey/Interview Questions about Underlying Values
Analyzing Data on Underlying Values
How Can You Identify Unintended Consequences?
Writing Survey/Interview Questions about Unintended Consequences
Analyzing Data on Unintended Consequences
Assessing Fit across the Four Facets of the Unfolding Model
How to Enhance the Validity of Your Findings
Recommendations for Course Improvement
Writing the Evaluation Report
CH$Chapter 8 . Findings from Two Authentic Case Studies
Methods and Procedures for Both Studies
Distance Learning: Computing Science 200 (CPSC 200)
E-Learning: Professional Writing 110 (PWRIT 110)
CH$Chapter 9 . Bringing It All Together
Using Messick’s Framework to Evaluate Distance and E-Learning Courses
Using the Unfolding Model to Evaluate Your Courses
Conducting Your Evaluation Study
What Have We Learned from Two Case Studies?
E-Learning and Beyond: Is the Unfolding Model the Last Word?
The Future of Distance Education and E-Learning
The Future of the Unfolding Model
Appendix A . Summary of the 1994 Program Evaluation Standards
Appendix C . List of Associations