Maryland in Europe Graduate Programs

EDMS 647: Introduction to Program Evaluation

Instructor: Dr. Ken J. Kovach

Term: III: 20 Jan-4 Mar 2001

PSC 37, Box 3414

Credit: Three (3) hours

APO AE 09459

Ph/fax: +44 1353 860 671

KJKovach@cs.com

Prerequisite: EDMS 645

Meetings: Saturdays and Sundays (0900-1600 hours)

20/21 Jan, 3/4 Feb, 17/18 Feb, & 3/4 Mar

Room: TBA (Heidelberg, Germany)

Required Text: Royse, A.T., Thyler, B.A., Padgett, D.K, & Logan, T.K. (2001). Program evaluation: An introduction. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Course Description: Overview of the program evaluation process; problems encountered in the practice of program evaluation.

Purpose: The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with terminology, approaches, procedures, and issues associated with program evaluation. Emphasis is on current evaluation theory and methodology, with application to counseling programs. Specifically, major areas of study include needs assessment, formative and summative evaluations, analyses, and reporting.

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

Grading

Written assignments

20 points

Participation

21 points

Written exercises

25 points

Final project

34 points

Total

100 points

Written assignments: These will be established during class sessions and will require students to accomplish minor research into current data. Topics may include program evaluation theories/practices and others.

Participation: Class four-hour sessions will normally be assessed at one point: each weekend meeting equates to 4 points and five points for overall effort.

Written exercises: In class work, to include group effort, will involve practical exercises relating to the subject.

Final project: A written and oral report will be presented during the last session that will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the course topic, program evaluation. This will involve a student accomplishing a brief proposal to identify a topic of study in a brief introduction, needs assessment information, data collection procedures and analyses, measurement tool(s), and anticipated findings. Overall, the report will be approximately 15 pages. The report will be in APA format and will be graded for content and presentation. Class discussion and instructions will provide more details in this effort.

Class Policies and Procedures: This class is meant to be a fun and enjoyable time in learning about program evaluation. Student participation will be most important, and depending on student enrollment and interest, adjustments to the syllabus may be made with prior notice by the instructor. Importantly, student participation requires that any missed class session be made up by extra course work. This may include an extra report analysis, student presentation, or other effort relating to the course material. Academic integrity will be met by all, and the instructor reserves the right to make course adjustments when necessary and appropriate, giving prior notice to for any course work. The possibility exists, for example, of the third weekend session being accomplished by independent communications. Communication will be the key to success! Please notify the instructor before, if possible, any missed sessions or course work requirements.

CLASS SCHEDULE:

Date Topics

20/21 Jan 2001 Introduction/orientation

Assignments: Review the course text. Read chapters 1, 2, and 15. Obtain and review the APA. Accomplish a search through an internet service provider using the descriptor program evaluation, then use other descriptors as desired. Be prepared to discuss this activity.

3/4 Feb Needs assessment

Assignments: Read chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, & 10 of the text. Review other materials helpful in learning. Complete a 5-8 total page report on the above five subjects. Presentation will be of your choice but the information will cover all the topics. Select any method or approach as you wish to cover these topics.

17/18 Feb Data collection methods

Assignments: Read chapters 7, 8, 11, and 12 of the text and review material relating to questionnaire development or other data collection methods. Complete a sample data collection instrument and explain each item of the form relating to its purpose, use, and analysis.

3/4 Mar Reporting and Analysis

Assignments: Read chapters 13 and 14 of the text. Review material helpful in learning to report data collected. Discuss formative and summative evaluations. Complete a report on a program evaluation project to include an oral briefing of its purpose, key terms, intended application, and final analysis and use.

Return to: Graduate Programs Syllabi