Utilisation-focused evaluation of ICT in education: the case of DFAQ consultation space

Ng’ambi, Dick; Brown, Irwin

Utilisation-focused evaluation of ICT in education: the case of DFAQ consultation space

Journal Article

2004

Journal Title

Journal of Educational Technology & Society

Link to Journal

https://dx.doi.org/10.7196/sajs.718

Department

School of Education

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper describes an evaluation of a web-based consultation space (a dynamic frequently asked questions environment - DFAQ) in which learners consult one another using questions, and in which both the flow of interaction and its artefacts become a resource available to a community of learners. The DFAQ is a special form of a Computer-Mediated-Communication tool specifically developed to facilitate question-based interaction. We argue that education is too complex a social structure to be evaluated using deterministic positivist quantitative approaches. Given the volatility of determining what constitutes value, costs, inputs and outputs and the complexity of dynamics of socialization, a non-deterministic qualitative approach, utilisation-focused evaluation approach is used. Our conclusion is that the DFAQ does contribute to students' academic performance and frees the lecturer-learner consultation time.