Assess the appropriateness of the evaluation plan and share other information or insights as it relates to the evaluation approach.

Discussion: Evaluation in Programs
As a leader in the field, it is essential to learn from the successes and challenges that others have encountered. Particularly with the design and evaluation of programs, many expensive and difficult lessons have already been discovered through previous endeavors.

For this Discussion, you review the literature and analyze a program’s evaluation plan. As you do this, consider what can be surmised from this example and the others shared by your colleagues to guide the development of your program’s evaluation plan.

To prepare:

Search the literature and select an article of interest that includes a program evaluation. You may also select an article that has been presented in this course.
Consider the following:
Was the evaluation plan appropriate to the design of the program?
Identify the goals and objectives of the evaluation plan.
What were the activities related to this evaluation?
Based upon the data, how valid are the outcomes?
By Day 3
Post a cohesive scholarly response that addresses the following:

Assess the appropriateness of the evaluation plan and share other information or insights as it relates to the evaluation approach.
Include a full citation of your selected article.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6
Respond to two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
Offer and support an alternative perspective, using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.

Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!