Chapter 8: Methods For Measuring Learning Evaluation in the Context of E-Learning

Until recently, the methods available for evaluating learning were consistent as organizations have relied on different variations of Donald Kirkpatrick’s method as their approach to learning evaluation since its origin in the mid-20th century. While this model and subsequent related models have been effective in the past, technological advances and the emergence of e-learning has transformed the training and educational landscape. This chapter seeks to evaluate contemporary approaches to learning evaluation specifically in regards to e-learning programs. After providing a brief overview of the history of learning evaluation the chapter will explore leading contemporary learning evaluation methods in depth. Specifically, it will explore Bloom’s taxonomy; Kirkpatrick’s four levels; Phillips’ return on investment (ROI); time to competency; and the concept, input, reaction, and outcome (CIRO) evaluation approach to learning evaluation, weighing the inherent strengths and weaknesses of each framework from an objective standpoint. The chapter will then evaluate these existing frameworks specifically in the context of e-learning to determine the most effective models for evaluation in a virtual education environment. Ultimately, it is concluded that there are effective elements for evaluating e-learning in several of the contemporary frameworks; namely the first and fourth levels of Kirkpatrick’s model, the cost optimization framework developed off of Phillips’ ROI model, and the “input” stage of the CIRO framework.