Course Content

There are seven modules in this course, each containing several lessons. The diagram below shows the tasks covered in each of the remaining modules. Review this table, then read through the module descriptions that follow.
 
 

 

Course Outline

Module 1: About This Course
This module includes three short lessons to familiarize you with the course and the learning environment.

  • Lesson 1 - Introduction to Fundamentals of Evaluation
  • Lesson 2 - Course Overview
  • Lesson 3 - The Learning Environment

Module 2: Getting Started with Evaluation
This module includes a series of introductory lessons to increase your understanding of the purpose and value of program evaluation.

  • Lesson 1 - Evaluation Basics
  • Lesson 2 - Types of Evaluation
  • Lesson 3 - Evaluation Planning

Module 3: Focus the Evaluation
This module includes practical lessons to help you understand how your program is supposed to work and to define the approaches and resources required to assess whether it is working as it should. In this module, you’ll use a sample evaluation plan to make important choices about how to conduct your evaluation.

  • Lesson 1 - Describe Your Program
  • Lesson 2 - Define Your Evaluation

Module 4: Collect Data
These lessons will guide you through the different ways to collect data for your evaluation, including interviews, focus groups, observation, and questionnaires. In this module, you will use the same evaluation plan to practice defining data collection approaches.

  • Lesson 1 - Data Collection Planning
  • Lesson 2 - Individual Interviews
  • Lesson 3 - Focus Groups
  • Lesson 4 - Observation
  • Lesson 5 - Questionnaires

Module 5: Analyze and Interpret Data
This module includes lessons that will give you the techniques and tools needed to analyze the collected data and interpret the results.

  • Lesson 1 - Prepare the Data
  • Lesson 2 - Analyze the Data
  • Lesson 3 - Interpret the Data

Module 6: Report Results
In this module you will learn how to identify the report goal, the recipients of the report, and the type of report that best communicates your evaluation findings. You will be given details about what should be included in a report in order to send the best message, and you will have access to a variety of sample reports.

  • Lesson 1 - Define Your Report
  • Lesson 2 - Put Your Report Together
Final Lesson: Finding a Professional Evaluator
Once you are ready to conduct an evaluation of your program, you may determine that you do not have the time, resources or skills necessary to implement your evaluation plan. This final lesson explains what to look for in an evaluator, how to find an evaluation professional that fits your needs, important issues to consider, and what to do if problems arise.