Abstract

Higher education is going through a crisis, not only due to the quality concerns associated with for-profit, business-focused universities and the inherent concerns related to the Ivory Tower mentality that must be shattered, but the Information Age has introduced yet another level of concern that must be directly and successfully addressed. Traditional, face-to-face learning environments have well documented course evaluations that are completed by the course learners, so as to endeavor towards assessing the success of instructors within the traditional classroom environment. Yet within the newer online and virtual learning environment framework, the traditional course evaluation tool does not reflect the necessary skills to support the online learner. As the saying suggests, the traditional course evaluation tool is “necessary but not sufficient”. Therefore, the question remains: how might one address the online and virtual learning environment’s need for learner-based course evaluations? To address these concerns, an analysis of the current associated professional standards must occur. From this analysis, a framework through which to move forward with transform and repair online and virtual learner-focused course evaluations is elaborated.