Evaluation involves the process of making a determination of the value or worth of the course experience as perceived by the students in the class. This allows you - as the instructor -- to get feedback from the students who participated, and to be able to evaluate specific aspects of the course content, instructional techniques, and delivery methods employed. Standard course evaluations can get at some of this, but they are always "after the fact" and may be too general. A distance education course is hopefully equivalent, in terms of desired outcomes, but not "the same" as a live instruction class. Relying on the standard institutional course evaluation may not be enough to evaluate, for example, the effectiveness of the technology or the level of interaction in the course. You may wish to add to the standard course evaluations with one of your own given during the course (formative evaluation) and at the end of the course (summative evaluation).

Formative Evaluations can be conducted once or many times over the length of a course to find out students' reactions, attitudes and achievements, always with a goal of improving the course. The idea behind the formative evaluation is to ensure the course or instructional product is meeting its stated goals. If the course is not meeting its goals, you can still adjust the course - with the feedback you receive from the formative evaluations - before the course ends.