O6.4.1

=Students’ abilities to comply with e-learning technology and media expectations are regularly monitored.=

Evidence
To improve e-learning outcomes it is important to learn from past mistakes, according to Ehrmann (2002), who argues that tracking progress is not only necessary to stay on course but also to identify solvable problems that can attract fresh resources (p. 55). The results of monitoring should be used to inform ongoing and new development, and to support resources and strategy. Information on performance can be used as a tool for improving quality, but only if the information is disseminated. Such validation of e-learning practices and resources is a significant stage in the full cycle of organisational learning that describes success in terms of ‘student performance, student satisfaction, staff experience, and cost effectiveness, as judged in relation to the original intentions’ (Salmon, 2000, p. 236). Salmon discusses validating as one of six activities in the iterative process of creating an effective learning organisation infrastructure that enables ‘the system to learn about itself’ (p. 237).

Students’ capability for effective e-learning is related to their information, communication and technology (ICT) proficiency and skill level, thus there is a crucial need to assess, and understand the ICT proficiency and skill level, and support its development, for all students (Hillesheim, 1998).

Ho et al. (2010) found that e-learning system quality and e-learning readiness influence learning outcomes indirectly through e-learners' competency. Therefore, organizations that would like to implement e-learning with their employees should focus on improving individuals' online learning skills such as self-direction, meta-cognitive, and collaborative skills.

Resources
A pre-course assessment such as an e-passport test could be used to gauge student readiness for e-learning: http://www.e-skills.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/newsletters/passport_issue1_story.html?uid=935 Course activities can then be tailored to needs.

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/themes/elearning/effpraceassess.pdf http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/RM%20Final%20report%20Vfv.doc