Practitioner Research and Evaluation Skills Training (PREST)
Contents
- 1 About this course
- 2 User Guide
- 3 PREST Core Modules
- 3.1 A1 : Doing educational research and evaluation in ODL
- 3.2 A2 : Planning research and evaluation
- 3.3 A3 : Getting and analysing quantitative data
- 3.4 A4 : Getting and analysing qualitative data
- 3.5 A5 : Mixed research methods
- 3.6 A6 : Reporting on research and evaluation to support or influence change
- 4 PREST Handbooks
- 4.1 B1 : Using programme monitoring in research and evaluation
- 4.2 B2 : Measuring outcomes
- 4.3 B3 : Cost and economics of open and distance learning
- 4.4 B4 : Programme evaluation and its role in quality assurance
- 4.5 B5 : Researching marginalised and disadvantaged learners
- 4.6 B6 : Researching tutoring and learner support
- 5 Covers
- 6 Online versions on Moodle
- 7 PREST brochure and review
- 8 Note on copyright
About this course
The Practitioner Research and Evaluation Skills Training (PREST) series is published by Commonwealth of Learning in collaboration with the International Research Foundation for Open Learning.
The PREST training resources provide practitioners working in open and distance learning (ODL) with convenient access to basic knowledge on how to conduct research and evaluation in their everyday work. Written for ODL practitioners by ODL practitioners, the interactive materials aim to develop practical skills through engagement in research tasks that draw on research and evaluation methods from education and social science, but use illustrative examples from international open and distance learning contexts.
PREST fills a gap in current provision for practical, first-rung research and evaluation skills training of immediate relevance in the workplace and aims to promote research and evaluation as an part of professional development for all ODL practitioners. The materials provide a strong foundation for progress to higher-level research programmes and qualifications.
The PREST materials are designed for use by two target groups - ODL practitioners wanting self-study or reference materials and training providers looking for flexible research training resources to integrate into a variety of training contexts (e.g., face-to-face workshops, e-learning or reference materials).
User Guide
The User Guide is available to download here.
PREST Core Modules
Providing a foundation in research and evaluation methods explored within ODL contexts for inexperienced researchers.
(20 to 40 reading hours each, plus activities)
The documents below are available to download in PDF or OpenOffice versions.
A1 : Doing educational research and evaluation in ODL
by Alan Woodley (an introduction)
A2 : Planning research and evaluation
by Anna Robinson-Pant
A3 : Getting and analysing quantitative data
by Alan Woodley
- A3 Module PDF
- A3 Module OpenOffice
- Resource files:
A3Analysing1.xls
A3Analysing2.xls
A3Correl.xls
A3M101.xls
A3Summarising.xls
A3Women.xls
A4 : Getting and analysing qualitative data
by Rob Walker
A5 : Mixed research methods
by Christine Spratt, Rob Walker & Bernadette Robinson
A6 : Reporting on research and evaluation to support or influence change
by Janet Stuart & Colin Latchem
PREST Handbooks
Guides to conducting research and evaluation in a particular field of ODL
(20 reading hours each, plus activities)
B1 : Using programme monitoring in research and evaluation
by Neil Butcher
B2 : Measuring outcomes
by Charles Potter
B3 : Cost and economics of open and distance learning
by Hilary Perraton
B4 : Programme evaluation and its role in quality assurance
by Merridy Wilson-Strydom
B5 : Researching marginalised and disadvantaged learners
by Barbara Spronk & Jason Pennells
B6 : Researching tutoring and learner support
by Jane Brindley
Covers
Online versions on Moodle
[In progress]
PREST brochure and review
Note on copyright
Individuals accessing this site may reproduce (download/print) copies of the PREST materials and any accompanying third-party copyright materials for their own personal non-commercial use only. Any further reproduction or transmission of any such content is prohibited except by permission of the copyright holder of the relevant material.
