Evaluation of a Virtual Online Learning Model for Mexico´s Farming Sector

Abstract

The Evaluation System (ES) for virtual Online-Learning Models (OLM) presented in this study generates information about the educational teaching and  learning model  employed,  as  well  as  its  technical  support  structure which lets us comprehend the virtual learning environment and forms the basis of the decision
making  process. Workshops employing  virtual  methods  were  given  to institutional staff in order to efficiently and expeditiously train human resources to solve water  related problems that  affect  our  society  ,  thus strengthening
technical capacities of staff working in the Mexican water sector. The objective of this  research  was  to define  an  evaluation  model  including aspects  of  a  virtual educational  learning  experience,  and the  associated processes  and teaching
contents. Study  results  show  that  ninety-nine  percent  of  the  students  stated they  had  a  good  learning  experience,  and  ninety-eight  percent  would  agree  to participate  again  in  an  OLM.  Sixty-five  percent  of  the  participants  lamented  the
lack  of  interactive  feedback  which  implies  that  not  only  the  instructional  design and  technological  resources,  but  also  the  fundamental  theory  and  methods employed need to be reworked.

Keywords: Evaluation  model  application,  virtual learning,  OLM,  participant perception.