Evaluation for an instructor led course (the materials)
The following is a guide for evaluating materials for an instructor led course. This is not a guide for evaluating a person teaching the course.
Criteria | Description | Scale | ||||
N/A | Comments | |||||
Content | ||||||
Working memory/Cognitive load
|
Learners can hold 5-7 concepts in their working memory at one time. Does this content ask learners to work with more at one time (per screen/topic)? Thus screens should have limited text/bullet points.
|
|||||
Multimedia principles
|
Images and text (or narration) that explain for one another are better for learning and communication then just one by itself. Thus PPT or lecture should follow this model.
|
|||||
No extra details – only what is required | Extra images, text, or colors distracts | |||||
Highlight important information
|
Use of cues or color coding for important concepts | |||||
No busy screens/backgrounds/fonts
|
These distract learners | |||||
Objectives are clear | What is the point? | |||||
Content is inline with objectives | Does the site do what it says? | |||||
Assessment is inline with content | Is there an assessment and does it asses each objective? | |||||
Flow | Introduction, content, ending | |||||
Learning strategies | Are learning strategies apparent and appropriate? | |||||
Motivation | Are motivation (ARCS) applied? | |||||
Learners apply/problem solve (ie case studies) | Are the learners actually learning more than factual information? | |||||
Sources | To back up claims | |||||
Assessment | ||||||
Is there an assessment? | ||||||
Assessment measures high level knowledge | Does the assessment measure more than factual information? | |||||
Is there a satisfaction survey? | ||||||
Style | ||||||
Colors/fonts/layout
|
These should be standard throughout | |||||
Colors | Should NOT be more than 2-4 colors on screen | |||||
fonts | Are fonts legible | |||||
layout
|
Grid and organized | |||||
Simple and natural dialogue
|
Speak the users’ language – informal is better than formal for learning
|
|||||
Rule of thirds
|
Does the screen utilize them? | |||||
Technical | ||||||
Audio | Sound/voices volume, background noise, easy to understand | |||||
File formats | Are they compatible with all hardware | |||||
Video | Does it play well/take a while to load? | |||||
Develop for the output technology
|
Resolution – is the resolution look correct or pixelated?, colors look right on screen, golden ratio/rectangle (organization and layout look correct) | |||||
Instructor Guide | ||||||
Time | How long does it take to complete each section? | |||||
Narration | Does it tell the instructor what to say? | |||||
Notes | Are there notes for the instructor? | |||||
Materials | Are all materials provided for the instructor? | |||||
Facilitating/teaching | Does the instructor guide contain enough information that one could pick it up and teach the course (assuming they have all the materials, know the content, know how to teach)? | |||||
Student Guide | ||||||
Schedule | Do students know the schedule of the course and topics? | |||||
Objectives | Do students have the objectives? | |||||
Content | Do students have a copy of the PPT/Materials to take notes and follow along? | |||||
Materials | Are student materials included in this guide? | |||||
Job aid | Is there a job aid for students to take with them to help them transfer knowledge from course to job? |