Proposal for an E-Learning Systems Evaluation Meta-Model As a Tool for Operative Governance

E-learning valuation is a complex matter, which requires i) the clear definition of the object to evaluate (a course, a learning structure or a learning system), ii) the learning goals: the higher the complexity (from a course to a system), the greater the variables’ number. The valuation process considers two types of learning activity results: the outputs, intended as performances, and the outcomes, that is the effects induced by the behaviors of users who participate in a learning activity. Appling such an assessment activity to e-learning systems, means going through the wide and complex range of different approaches, models, used technologies and purposes of e-learning implementation in different organizational contexts, that introduces the same complexity even in the evaluation strategies and methodologies when applied to the different system sets, as affected by the environmental conditions. The goals of the paper are twofold: (i) present the review of the literature on e-learning valuation and (ii) propose a framework evaluation model (meta-model) which can help managers involved in e-learning activity in the operative governance of their systems.