The assessment and evaluation of on-line courses to determine their content vilidity

Abstract

In looking ahead into the new millennium, technology based training appears to be an integral and vital solution to the challenges of hospitality training. As modern technology is utilized in training, teaching and the delivery of distance learning courses, a close evaluation is needed to assess and analyze the content of the on-line courses, to see that they meet industry requirements. Course evaluations should be used to ensure that the course content is meeting the needs of the students who complete the course and can use their knowledge at a professional level, and is also approved by the industry. It is also essential to ensure that the courses provide quality learning and is relevant to enhance the required skills of the end user. The study will provide an overview on the importance of distance learning and the need for on-line delivery through the Internet. The various facets of the on-line program will be discussed. A review of literature detailing the impacts of on-line education in the future and its influence on education and training will be provided. The sample for the study consists of two groups. A random list of hospitality industry professional who will be willing to evaluate the courses and who would be contacted prior to sending out the survey instrument. The second group will be the supervisors of the students who are currently enrolled in the on-line program promoted by the department. The sample population will be given the course outline along with the course objectives and they will be required to evaluate them on a likert scale (survey instrument enclosed). This study is expected to evaluate and analyze two courses that are to be delivered on-line by the Department of Hospitality and Tourism–UW-Stout. The evaluation will be done by senior professionals from the hospitality industry. The findings of the study will be used by the Department of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. These findings will assist the department in reevaluating the course content and delivering a better product for the student and tailoring it to meet the professional needs of the industry.