Evaluation Methodology: How We Reviewed eLearning Tools

Our eLearning software tests were thorough, and covered multiple areas for every eLearning platform that we evaluated. We wanted to ascertain functionality and ease of use first of all, but there were several other factors that figured in, such as completeness of programming and how much the subject matter would appeal to those using the program for the first time.

First, we analyzed the needs of the program. As there are many situations in which LMS software is an essential, or could be an integral component, this is absolutely necessary. Some situations in which an eLearning platform may be necessary are:

• An organization poised to achieve rapid growth across the globe very soon
• An organization with an IT department that cannot access data about its users in other countries
• An organization with training managers who express concern about delays in the archival and accessibility of learning records for training on-location with students

When we moved forward to actually test products, we first looked at the RFI response, or the way that each vendor responded to a Request For Information. We asked each vendor a series of questions, and either ruled them out or temporarily ruled them in based on the quality and speed of response.

Then, we used several tools to evaluate each product. We asked vendors to demonstrate what made them work, as well as requesting the materials for ourselves. We were then able to test the products in a variety of ways, making certain we were well informed about which products were the most suitable for teachers, coaches, and academia.

We used a variety of methods, and attempted to go through each aspect of the eLearning platform’s content when we evaluated it. As most eLearning software bundles have a great deal of information, this took quite a while, as we evaluated video content, audio content, text content, and web sources.

Our eLearning evaluation methodology consisted of critically examining each LMS in as in-depth a fashion as possible, so to better be able to recommend a software system for each need.

We went deep into the needs of every market.

In video sources, we watched every video that came with the eLearning software packet, and our team of evaluators made certain to try and assess the functionality of each video in tandem with other kinds of software.

For audio, we listened for many things. Ease of listening was very important to our methodology, as well as the actual way in which information was conveyed to the listeners. According to “Instructional Strategies: What Do Online Students Prefer,” the majority of online students dislike relying solely on audio based lessons but appreciated their presence in conjunction with other learning tools.

Every system we evaluated had a great deal of text content, and it was difficult to get through it all. However, we were able to ascertain whether the text content of an eLearning platform was appropriate by testing various text pages, then evaluating how well they work with the appropriate and corresponding audio and video files.

We evaluated text sources for their readability, their comprehensive approach to each subject, and their ease of understanding for students who may be familiar with the material, as well as those who may have never heard of it before. Using this methodology for our eLearning software tests, we attempted to get a full and unbiased view of every eLearning tool available on the market.

We also evaluated the web sources of each eLearning platform. By this, we were able to discern which platform had the most quality web sources, as well as the best methods of teaching. The mark of any good research is inherent in the sources, and although the Internet can be an excellent tool for research, the quality of sources varies widely, even just among different eLearning programs.

We evaluated each eLearning platform for ease of use by teachers and coaches.The ability to immediately and easily implement the software was our primary criterion.

	Evaluation Method : Tools For Teachers & Coaches We evaluated each eLearning platform for ease of use by teachers and coaches.The ability to immediately and easily implement the software was our primary criterion.
	Implementation Tips : Software For Teachers & Coaches Check out these tips for ideas on how to properly implement eLearning software for individual coaches and teachers. Ease of use is paramount, and this software should be extremely intuitive.
	Evaluation Method : Platforms For Academic Institutions We evaluated eLearning platforms for Academic Institutions. The completeness of each package was the most important thing we looked at when evaluating programs.
	Implementation Tips : Platforms For Academia Use these tips to implement an eLearning platform in an Academic setting. A wide range of tools available to any institution is the most important part of our evaluation.
	Implementation Partners Listing : Platforms For Academia When looking at platforms for eLearning used in Academia, it may behoove you to look at these partners for implementation.