Quality Assurance of E-Learning in Distance Education: PLADEPPRO-An Evaluation Model and its Application in India

Abstract

The importance of E-learning has been increasing specially in teaching and learning methods of various educational institutions and corporate training institutes. However it is very essential to evaluate of e-learning for the quality assurance of e-learning programmes. This paper formulates a four-stage evaluation model for e-learning courses, which includes planning, development, process, and product evaluation, called the PLADEPPRO evaluation model. Planning evaluation includes market demand, feasibility, target student group, course objectives, and finance. Development evaluation includes instructional design, course material design, course Web site design, flexibility, student-student interaction, teacher’s support, technical support, and assessment. Process evaluation includes technical support, Web site utilization, learning interaction, learning evaluation, learning support, and flexibility. Product evaluation includes student satisfaction, teaching effectiveness, learning effectiveness, and sustainability. The PLADEPPRO model has been used as a research framework, a purely e-learning course on Research Methods in Distance Education