What to do next

In the Guide to Distributed Learning Environments, we use the term "evaluation" to refer to the process of researching the quality of the outcomes achieved by a program, course, or other educational activity. The objective of this research is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the learning activity and determine if and how it might be improved.

In contrast, "assessment" is used to refer to the measurement of an individual's performance relative to a specified set of competencies. Resources related to assessment are included as part of the Development phase of the Guide.

ATL offers extensive consultation services related to evaluation for instructors at the University of Alberta. Visit the Evaluation section of the ATL site to learn more about this support.

The resources included in the Guide relating to evaluation were selected to provide you with supplementary information about this activity, which is crucial to the long-term success of educational programs.

© 2002 Academic Technologies for Learning, University of Alberta.