MEd program students must complete MDDE601 & MDDE602 prior to all other courses.
Early access to the Moodle Learning Management System begins a few days before the official start date of your course. At that time you will have limited course access.
Overview
In Program Evaluation in Distance Education MDDE 617 you will be introduced to the field of program evaluation, which spans a number of social science disciplines including education and training, nursing and medical education, social work, military training, and business. The course is designed to increase the student’s knowledge and understanding of major forms, approaches, and models of program evaluation and applying that knowledge in the production of a program evaluation proposal.
Outline
This course is divided into five units.
Unit 1Overview of History and Theory of Program Evaluation
Unit 2Program Evaluation Models and Approaches
Unit 3Program Evaluation Forms and Purposes
Unit 4Program Evaluation Methods and Applications
Unit 5Program Evaluation and Distance Education
Learning outcomes
The course is based on the following goals:
discuss how the roots of program evaluation lie in research, particularly scientific measurement.
describe the purposes, uses, and essential activities of various forms of program evaluation.
outline the historical emergence of program evaluation and its role in distance education
discuss a variety of theoretical frameworks and models of program evaluation
discuss aspects of planning in relation to various program evaluation models
discuss the methodology associated with various program evaluation forms and models
develop a proposal for the evaluation of a distance education program.
Evaluation
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1: Evaluation plan and standards/criteria specification.
25%
Assignment 2: Critique of an evaluation report using five forms of program evaluation.
25%
Assignment 3: Development of program evaluation proposal.
35%
Course Participation
15%
Total
100%
Materials
Fitzpatrick, J. L., Sanders, J. R., & Worthen, B. R. (2010). Program evaluation: Alternative approaches and practical guidelines. White Plains, NY: Longman. (eText)
Owen, J. M., & Rogers, P. J. (1999). Program evaluation: Forms and approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (Print)
The Case Study Text contains mostly fictitious evaluation requests for proposals, proposals, and evaluation reports. Selected cases are used to guide the discussion forums and course assignments.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.