Delivery and evaluation of an e-Learning framework through computer-aided analysis of learners’ reflection text in a teacher development course

Abstract

This study aimed at proposing an e-Learning framework in school education. The proposed framework consisted of technology and pedagogy dimensions. The method of computer-aided analysis of learners’ reflection text was used to evaluate the pedagogical delivery of the proposed framework. A study involving 33 in-service teachers in a teacher development course was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the pedagogical delivery. The computer-aided analysis of learners’ reflection text on “what is e-Learning” before and after the teaching of the course showed that learners deepened their understanding about the technology use and the importance of pedagogy in e-Learning, to consider more the component on theories/models/principles/strategies in pedagogical design and practices, emphasize more the reflection and discussion in learning and teaching activities, and also realize more the possibility of pedagogical decision-making using data collected from online learning. The questionnaire survey and focus group interview with learners also indicated that the pedagogical delivery of the e-Learning framework with the support from the computer-aided analysis of learners’ reflection text coupled with hierarchical visualization of analysis results was positively perceived. The research findings contribute pioneering insights into the use of a computer-aided approach for an accurate and efficient evaluation in teacher development courses on e-Learning.