How to evaluate online learning resources for vocational education? An evaluation scale development in China

Purpose This research aims to construct an evaluation scale of Online Learning Resource for Vocational Education (OLRVE) tailored to assess the vocational online learning resource from the perspectives of vocational students. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the ecological framework of technology uses in school, evaluative items have been established with empirical testing, which was conducted with 1,912 respondents, incorporating item refinement, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance testing and reliability assessments. Findings A three-dimensional evaluation tool called the OLRVE, consisting of the “educational design evaluation” (EDE), “technological design evaluation” (TDE) and “education-technological interaction evaluation” (ETIE) with ten items, has been created. Empirical results position the OLRVE as a robust tool for vocational students to evaluate the online learning resources. Research limitations/implications Because of the limited number of respondents, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed evaluation scale further. Practical implications An evaluation scale for vocational online learning resources has been developed. It enables concrete diagnosis of resource deficiencies and offers actionable insights for iterative online learning resource optimization in vocational education. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to develop an evaluation scale for vocational online learning resources in China, which not only clarifies the evaluation dimensions of vocational online learning resources but also forms a tool for future research.