It is suggested that the use of educational software can only be evaluated by considering the use of a package in particular learning situations. This requirement poses an inherent problem for predictive evaluation where, by definition, the evaluation is conducted out of context. Current predictive evaluation tools, checklists and frameworks, fail to address this problem. A novel evaluation paradigm is pmposed which does provide a situated approach to predictive evaluation. This paradigm generates context specific evaluation issues by considering the interactions between the three principal actors associated with the development and use of educational softwarethe teacher, the designer and the studentb). The use of the paradigm is illustrated by the predictive evaluation of a recent CD-ROM package. In conclusion, the paradigm may offer an improved approach to interpretative evaluation, leading to the notion of its use as a comprehensive evaluation tool.
There are very few credible frameworks for evaluation of teacher education programmes. The authors advocate the application of a paradigm originally designed for educational software assessment as a framework for reviewing teacher professional development. The framework is based on a situated view of cognition and this ensures an authentic approach. Five commonly observed foci for teacher professional development are considered in terms of the paradigm, leading to consideration of the comprehensiveness of professional development programmes. The analysis is illustrated by discussion of the professional development programme in place in a school. The analysis strongly suggests that a school-focused approach is appropriate for teacher professional development in the information technology area.
This article surveys existing checklists and investigates the extent to which they enable the expression of useful assessments for software selection purposes. Significant problems and limitations of the checklist approach to software selection are noted, particularly an emphasis on predominantly technical attributes of packages at the expense of consideration of broader classroom environments and activities, learning processes and other educational issues. We make a clear distinction between the processes of software selection and software evaluation, and argue that failure in the past to regard this distinction as important has led to the use of checklists, a valuable tool in evaluation, as well in the selection process to which they are not well suited. An alternative approach to software selection is outlined.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.