Discusses portfolio assessment, self assessment, and peer assessment, and introduces a networked portfolio system that combines all three assessment types. Describes briefly a study conducted with undergraduate student in Taiwan that investigated student preferences in a networked portfolio system. (LRW)

Discusses process of continuous assessment that involves many tutors grading papers at Great Britain's Open University and the problem of grade unreliability within such a system. A longitudinal experiment involving grading of papers in one course by all tutors and comparing their grades to determine grading reliability is described. (MBR)

Reviews evidence for the effectiveness of electronic surveys as evaluation methods for electronic courses and discusses issues in email and Web survey methodologies. Describes the successful use of Web-based surveys in the evaluation system of the University of Sydney Medical Program and includes recommendations for online survey use in course…

Describes a study that seeks to confirm several key factors in computer-based versus paper-based assessment. Based on earlier research, the factors considered in this study of undergraduates include content familiarity; computer familiarity; competitiveness; and gender. Reports results of analysis of variance that showed the computer-based test…

Discusses alternative models for design of educational media evaluations and describes a formative evaluation of televised lectures developed for use as supplements to live lectures in first year life science courses. Issues and problems identified from the study, including the usefulness of such evaluations, are discussed. (MBR)

Describes a qualitative study of student and tutor perspectives on the assessment of an innovative undergraduate course at the Open University (United Kingdom), which has employed an activity-based approach. Discusses the relationship between assessment, student participation, and the development of skills, and outlines the priorities for the…

Develops a set of educational evaluation criteria for online continuing professional development (CPD) courses using Kolb's experiential learning cycle theory. Evaluates five courses provided by online CPD Web sites, concludes that these online courses neglect parts of the learning cycle, and suggests improvements. (Author/LRW)

Discusses concept maps produced by students enrolled in a half-credit distance education history course. Topics include evaluating the effectiveness concept maps as a tool for instruction and for measuring the quality of learning. Student concept maps are compared with those prepared by the authors of the course materials. (46 references) (KRN)

Describes the development of a variety of computer-based assessment opportunities, both formative and summative, that are available to a large first-year biology class at the University of Sydney (Australia). Discusses online access to weekly quizzes, a mock exam, and special self-assessment modules that are beneficial to student learning.…

Reviews the Microelectronics Education Programme (MEP) from the director's point of view, including the origins and basic structure of the program which ran for six years. The collaboration of teachers, advisers, and trainers is emphasized, research and evaluation procedures are discussed, and learning processes, computer studies, and distribution…

Describes the Interactive Video in Schools (IVIS) Programme developed in the United Kingdom; discusses IVIS as a strategy for innovation; explains various forms of software and the nature of interaction; and considers issues of interactive video and educational improvement, including integration into the curriculum and the relationship between…

Discusses the elements of instructional design and technical design in module writing. Describes the development of an evaluation instrument to evaluate the modules written by course lecturers from the School of Distance Education at the Universiti Sains Malaysia. Recommends that multimedia and distance-learning strategies be integrated into the…

This description of an illuminative evaluation process as a qualitative research method focuses on a study of concerns about financial constraints in the British Open University. Interviews and open-ended discussions were used to encourage participation and input by a wide variety of individuals with differing perspectives on the problem. (LRW)

Describes the development of a tool, FACT (Formative Automated Computer Testing), to formatively assess information technology skills of college students in the United Kingdom. Topics include word processing competency; tests designed by tutors and delivered via a network; and results of an evaluation that showed students preferred automated…

Describes the use of experiential learning in a university psychology course. Topics discussed include modeling teachers' attitudes and behavior; the importance of clear communication; an emphasis on process; collaborative learning; formative evaluation, including feedback on performance of both teachers and students; and summative evaluation. (21…