What is evaluation?

Definition: the evaluation of educational courses

"Evaluation is the systematic and purposeful collection, analysis and appraisal of data for quality assurance and quality control. It applies to the assessment of planning, development, design and use of educational courses or individual elements of these courses (methods, media, programs, parts of programs) considering the aspects of quality, functionality, effect, efficiency and utility." (translated from Tergan, 2000)

Evaluation as a social process

There is no single method of evaluation, neither in general nor in the specific context of evaluation of e-learning. Evaluation is always embedded in a specific context; it must be tailored to fit the respective program or project. It is always a selection (negotiated by those involved) of what should be evaluated and how this will be done.