Evaluating on-line learning platforms: a case study

Our "information-oriented" society shows an increasing exigency of life-long learning. In such framework, online learning is becoming an important tool to allow the flexibility and quality requested by such a kind of learning process. In the recent past, a great number of on-line platforms have been introduced on the market showing different characteristics and services. A series of features should be taken into account when one evaluates e-learning platforms, starting from the function and usability of the overall learning system in the context of the human, social and cultural organization within which it is to be used. Obviously, the analysis of the features of a system is not sufficient: it is also important to understand how they are integrated to facilitate learning and training and what principles are applied to guide the way the system is used. To evaluate them both pedagogical and technological aspects must be carefully evaluated. This paper proposes a model for describing and characterizing on-line learning platform component. The model is then used to evaluate the most known existing commercial platforms.