Course Highlight: Assistant Professor’s evaluation course focuses concept, theory models, and real-world application

After students learn the steps to conduct an evaluation in the EPSY 564 course, the UIC online Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA) program curriculum introduces students to EPSY 565: Evaluation II: Theory and Practice. Students learn the complexity of each evaluation step and are provided with the tools to choose which methods to use and which stakeholders to prioritize.

Taught by UIC Assistant Professor Dr. Rebecca Teasdale, PhD, the EPSY 565 course explores how evaluations are customized and responsive to specific interventions, communities, and contexts. Dr. Teasdale helps students get “under the hood of evaluation” and focuses on giving students conceptual and theoretical models to help them do better work in their field.

Learn more about Dr. Teasdale’s 565 course and the in-depth knowledge they’ll gain to prepare them for any evaluation challenge they may encounter in their careers.

Why is the EPSY 565: Evaluation II: Theory and Practice course such an important class for MESA students to take? 

The EPSY 565 course focuses on giving students conceptual and theoretical models that can help them do better work as evaluation professionals. In order to be a competent evaluation professional, students need to know how to not only conduct an evaluation, but they also need to know why evaluators do what they do when assessing targeted populations.

Students will learn that evaluation theory is customized and responsive to specific interventions, specific communities, and specific contexts. Students need to know how to navigate different points of view when conducting evaluations and evaluation theory will give them the tools to make those decisions. My course helps students get under the hood of evaluation and think about what is needed when searching for a desired outcome.

Are there any projects or real-world concepts taught in this course that students can look forward to? 

For every concept or idea we’re talking about in class, we’re applying it to real-world examples. I ask students to share real-world examples of interventions they’ve encountered in their communities, workplaces or classes that they might want to work with over the course of the semester. We use their case examples to apply any theoretical ideas that we’re working on. Since our MESA students come from so many different disciplines and fields, it’s great to see them choose their own projects and collaborate, as well as learn from their peers.

Another project is that every student completes a project over the course of the semester where they choose an aspect of evaluation theory and practice that is most interesting and relevant to them. For instance, there might be a particular approach to evaluation that seems like it would be valuable in a student’s work and this project gives them the opportunity to dive deeper into that topic.

How can students apply their evaluation skills from 565: Evaluation II: Theory and Practice to a future job role?   

The 565 course gives students a deeper and a broader understanding of evaluation and how it can be customized to bring value to different organizations and communities. It will also help them be more responsive to situations that might require the knowledge of an external evaluator.

We also discuss different debates that are ongoing in the field of evaluation. For example, we talk about ‘What counts as credible evidence?’. This tends to resonate with a lot of students, specifically for those who want qualitative data. We discuss what makes evidence credible and dig into really understanding the role of evaluation social justice and equity. This is really helpful when applying evaluation theories and practices into their everyday jobs.

How does evaluation fit into the overall MESA program and the other skillsets that are taught? 

One of the things that I really like about teaching in MESA is that the four components, measurement, evaluation, statistics and assessment, complement one another and build on one another. From the perspective of evaluation, evaluators use all four of the different skill sets in their work applying them to examine the quality of their success in a particular intervention.

For example, evaluators might use different measurement or assessment approaches to gather data and then use statistics to analyze the data that they’ve gathered. The trick is figuring out when and how to use those different approaches to evaluation.

Evaluators really draw on all the components of MESA and apply them to real-world interventions in communities to try to help people make better decisions.

Each skill area in the online MESA program – Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment – can help you advance your career. Choose from two online programs, a Master of Education Degree or a Graduate Certificate, and begin your journey today. Submit the request information form to learn more about these online programs.