Abstract
King Abdulaziz University (KAU) took extra measures in response to COVID-19 in March 2020. The current research evaluated an Emergency Training Session (ETS) Knowledge Model during the pandemic with the aim of identifying for the Deanship of e-Learning and Distance Education (DeLDE) to evaluate how the e-learning services support learning and teaching at KAU beyond the pandemic. The Knowledge Model gathered quantitative data regarding the learning management system (LMS) e-service usage from students (n=2359 female and n=1580 male) and teachers (n=414). Also, the model used insights from qualitative data that came from the critical reflections of the trainer-researcher. We offer critical insight from the review of the literature and the results of the evaluation. First, the evaluation outlines the importance of evaluators bringing some assumptions with them when evaluating programmes. In the case of DeLDE, the assumptions promoted the interest of DeLDE in generating knowledge from different perspectives regarding DeLDE's e-learning services contextualised as the ETS Knowledge Model. The assumptions gave importance to behaviourist and constructivist learning theories and a goal and decision-making philosophy of evaluation. Finally, contextualising the participant-researchers as the Dean and trainer at DeLDE, the evaluation gained from the participants' familiarity of the ETS Knowledge Model's context.