Aligning Efforts to Outcomes: Effective Program Design and Evaluation
This course provides a framework for understanding the continuous and integrated process of program evaluation and program design. The course begins with an exploration of the various types and purposes of program evaluation.
Utilizing the Logic Model as a guide, participants will learn to develop goals and objectives, determine which activities will address those objectives, and develop outcome measurements to determine the impact of programs. More and more funders today require logic models and/or detailed evaluation plans prior to fund allocation.
This class will help a practitioner develop an evaluation plan and learn how to utilize the evaluation results to strengthen the organization’s programs.
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Aligning Efforts to Outcome: Effective Program Design and Evaluation Course Details Heading link
| Section 0125 |
| January 30 - March 5, 2025 |
| Course Fee: $550 |
| Instructor: Robin Berkson |
| Registration Deadline: January 23, 2025 at noon (CT) |
| Location: Online |
| View Course Syllabus |
Course Details Heading link
Topics Covered
- Introduction to evaluations: types and purposes
- Logic models
- Program goals and objectives
- Data collection
- Selecting an evaluator
Course Benefits
- Describe principal uses for an evaluation
- Distinguish between different types of evaluations and their purposes
- Identify key steps in planning for an evaluation
- Understand the purpose of a logic model and create a logical model
- Develop measurable program goals and objectives
- Identify types of data and methods of collection
- Select an appropriate approach to data collection for a given evaluation
- Analyze different types of collected data
- Identify main components of an evaluation report
- Understand a funder’s typical expectations for an evaluation report
- Identify the main uses for evaluation reports
- Be familiar with budgeting requirements for an evaluation
- Develop an evaluation plan checklist
- Design and outline an entire program evaluation plan
Special Features
- A weekly Resource Center provides carefully tailored readings and other relevant resources for program evaluation
- “Studio” activities provide opportunities for new and experienced practitioners to cultivate practical skills
- Original case studies and problem-based learning activities
- In-depth weekly discussions on the real-life challenges of program design and evaluation
- Small class size of 25 participants
Workload
This is an instructor-led course delivered entirely online. It is highly interactive and requires 8-10 hours per week of active participation on discussion boards and completion of assigned projects.