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Unit of Study CYS03347 - Improving Practice through Program Evaluation (2014)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Unit type

    PG Coursework Unit

  • Credit points

    12

  • AQF level

    9

  • Level of learning

    Intermediate

  • Former School/College

    Former School of Education

  • Enrolment information

    N/A

Unit description

Provides an understanding of theory, issues and contemporary practice of program evaluation across a range of organisational sectors and community contexts. The purpose and value of evaluation are considered and the links between program evaluation, action and change explored. Participants will develop an understanding of the issues to be considered, and practical skills required when negotiating, designing, conducting and reporting evaluations. Contemporary evaluation models and practices are critically evaluated.

Unit content

Module 1 - The role and value of program evaluation

  • What is program evaluation?
  • The purpose and political context of evaluation
  • Evaluation, change and organisational capacity building

Module 2 - Contemporary evaluation models and practices

  • Definitions, theories and philosophies informing program evaluation
  • Types and purposes of program evaluation
  • Choosing appropriate methods and techniques to suit particular purposes

Module 3 - Designing and conducting evaluations

  • Paradigmatic considerations
  • Identifying evaluative criteria and sources of evidence
  • Designing data collection tools - Validity, reliability, and trustworthiness criteria
  • Ethical issues
  • Common barriers and challenges encountered during evaluations

Module 4 - Involving children and young people in evaluation

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online Session 2 Session 2

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 describe the role and value of evaluation in social and educational settings
2 discuss various theories and philosophies informing contemporary approaches to evaluation
3 critically analyse models of evaluation and appropriate methods and techniques in implementation
4 select appropriate evaluation methods to suit different purposes
5 design an evaluation relevant to a specific organisation and context.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. describe the role and value of evaluation in social and educational settings
    • GA1:
    • GA5:
  2. discuss various theories and philosophies informing contemporary approaches to evaluation
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
  3. critically analyse models of evaluation and appropriate methods and techniques in implementation
    • GA1:
  4. select appropriate evaluation methods to suit different purposes
    • GA2:
  5. design an evaluation relevant to a specific organisation and context.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA5:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.