Evaluation framework for assessing network assisted courses based on learning management system

In a contemporary Chinese full time college education, it is an emerging need to know how to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the network-based courses which have played a more and more important role in assisting classroom instruction. In this study, an evaluation framework for assessing network assisted courses is proposed based on the particular functions of the THEOL learning management system, which has been used in more than two hundred universities in China. This evaluation framework has four features: 1) The evaluating approaches include questionnaire surveys of experts and students, and computer-generated quantitative reviews; 2) the data sources include questionnaires, documents and log files which are automatically generated on the learning system in instructional activities; 3) the audiences could be administrators, instructors and students relevant to the online courses and the designers of the learning system as well; 4) The evaluation results include not only the summative report which indicates quality and effectiveness of the courses for administrators but also the formative analysis provided to the instructors.