e-learning at the Technological Educational Institute of Crete : An Evaluation Based on the Student Experience

The student experience and the criteria used by the students in evaluating the platform of asynchronous tele-education at the Technological Educational Institute of Crete are in the focus of this study. A measuring tool combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques is presented. An important dimension in the evaluation of a virtual learning environment is the assessment of e-learner satisfaction. Critical elements in the assessment procedure are the learner interface, the course content, the access and interaction with the learning community, the personalization of learning and the degree the teachers establish and promote new learning styles via the platform. Based on these elements, questionnaires were developed assessing quantitatively e-learner satisfaction allowing in addition student comments necessary to extract qualitative data regarding the e-learning experience. Qualitative data were also collected by a limited number of unstructured interviews in order to give a deeper insight in the causes of learner satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The data manipulation is not restricted to descriptive statistics of quantitative data, the results are checked for their validity and reliability by comparison with qualitative data and by the use of statistical reliability estimators. Key-Words: Evaluation, Electronic Learning, e-Learner Satisfaction, Asynchronous Teaching