Course Syllabus
Course readings
Course readings include articles related to broader theories and practices of evaluation, evaluation how-to guides and resources, and examples of written evaluation studies.
There is one required text for this course:
Diamond, J., Luke, J. J., & Uttal, D. H. (2009). Practical evaluation guide: Tools for museums and other informal educational settings (2nd ed.). Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.
The remainder of the course readings will be made available through the course Web site. Students are responsible for downloading their own articles.
Course requirements
The main course requirement is the development of one final deliverable at the end of the semester: a formative evaluation of an educational product. Throughout the semester, students will develop and pilot test instruments, collect and analyze data, and draft a final evaluation report. Students will work in teams to evaluate individual products, but will also have clearly defined individual roles and responsibilities related to the development of one instrument and the analysis and reporting of the data from that instrument.
There are five assignments throughout the semester, each of which builds upon the prior assignment and is designed to assist students in conducting a thoughtful evaluation (due dates are listed below):
- Assignment #1: Evaluation plan
- Assignment #2: Instrument(s)
- Assignment #3: Completion of human subjects training
- Assignment #4: Data analysis
- Assignment #5: Final evaluation report
Detailed information about each assignment will be posted on the course Web site.
Students are required to complete the assignments on time. This is especially important in this class due to the need to ensure that the final evaluation is conducted within a timeframe that will make it useful to the end user (the media producer). Students who are not able to complete the assignment on time must contact the lecturer or teaching fellow via email at least one day in advance to request an extension. Extensions will be granted on a per-case basis. Students who fail to complete assignments on time and do not receive prior approval for an extension will be deducted one-half grade for each day the assignment is late.
Students are required to use American Psychological Association (APA) style formatting for all papers, including citations and references. Students are encouraged to use the Gutman Library tutorial, APA Exposed, to learn more about the APA style guide: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=apa_exposed
In addition to completing the assignments listed above, students are also required to read the assigned readings prior to each class. Readings are an integral part of the course. Students are expected to discuss and reflect upon the readings during each class session.
Finally, students are required to attend class sessions. Each session will feature activities, discussions, and presentations that are designed to facilitate deeper learning about formative evaluation. Students are allowed one excused absence during the semester. Further absences will impact student’s class participation grade.
Grading
Grading is based on the course requirements specified above, and will be calculated as follows:
Assignment #1: Evaluation Plan 15% (Pass/fail)
Assignment #2: Instruments 15%
Assignment #3: Human subjects 10% (Pass/fail)
Assignment #4: Data analysis 15%
Assignment #5: Final report 30%
Students who receive a grade below A- may choose to make changes to their original deliverable and resubmit it for a higher grade. Deadlines for the resubmissions will be negotiated between the student and the lecturer.
Information for students with disabilities
Students with disabilities should consult with Harvard University Graduate School of Education Access and Disability Services Office:
119 Gutman Library
6 Appian Way
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
617-496-9608
ads@gse.harvard.edu
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/about/administration/access/
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PDF Version of Complete Syllabus
Course Summary:
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