Title: Evaluating e-courses based on value flow models estimation

Authors: Konstantinos A. Pazalos, Euripides N. Loukis, Stelios D. Georgiou

Addresses: Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, Karlovassi, 83200, Samos, Greece. ' Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, Karlovassi, 83200, Samos, Greece. ' Department of Statistics and Actuarial-Financial Mathematics, University of the Aegean, Karlovassi, 83200, Samos, Greece

Abstract: Information Systems (IS) evaluation is of critical importance for assessing the value they generate and its main determinants, and identifying weaknesses and improvements priorities. This paper proposes a new approach for the multidimensional evaluation of IS in the domain of e-learning, which enables the assessment of the value generated at various levels and dimensions, and also the identification of the whole mechanism of value creation and flow. The proposed approach has been applied for evaluating an e-learning course in the domain of cultural heritage developed as part of the ERMIONE Project. By using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and in particular the Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach, the value flow model of this e-course has been estimated and used for drawing conclusions concerning the value generated at various levels and improvements priorities.

Keywords: information systems evaluation; e-learning evaluation; value flow models; SEM; structural equation modelling; PLS; partial least squares; electronic learning; online learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASS.2009.028148

International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2009 Vol.2 No.4, pp.376 - 394

Received: 04 Jul 2008
Accepted: 04 Oct 2008
Published online: 08 Sep 2009 *

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