Evaluation Course Highlight: The online MESA program helps to lay the foundation for the evaluation process

There is an increasing demand for professionals that understand the evaluation process. Evaluation is a powerful tool that helps organizations and communities examine the quality or success of different interventions.

The UIC online Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA) programs offers evaluation courses to introduce students to the concepts, methods, and guiding principles used to conduct evaluations and make informed decisions. Dr. Rebecca Teasdale, PhD, Assistant Professor, introduces students to evaluation in her course, EPSY 564: Evaluation I Principles and Methods.

Dr. Teasdale is an evaluation methodologist whose research agenda is grounded in her previous work in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research, evaluation, and education. Learn more about her 564 course and how it lays the foundation for student learning.

Why is it important for the online Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA) program students to be introduced to the concepts and methods used to conduct evaluations?

Over the last few years, we have seen an increasing demand for professionals that have the knowledge and skills to conduct evaluation studies to feed into their organization’s decision-making process. The evaluation process examines the quality or the success of different interventions, such as educational programs, public health initiatives, or social services, and informs decisions, like how interventions are designed, how they are implemented, and how resources are allocated. The evaluation approach and findings can inform very real-world decisions and have a large impact on people and the community.

Why should students take the EPSY 564 course?

The EPSY 564 course lays the foundation for students interested in conducting evaluations, as well as for those that need to be able to use the findings as an informed critical consumer.

One of the reasons that a class like EPSY 564 is important is because evaluation is not a standardized activity. It won’t be implemented the same every time. The course helps students build their understanding and skills of how to implement and customize the evaluation process, and how to work with all the different people that are involved or affected.

The course description says students will “gain the knowledge to design an evaluation plan for a real-world intervention.” Can you give us an example of an evaluation plan?

This is a very flexible assignment. One of my favorite things about teaching in the MESA program is that we draw students across all parts of the country and world and from different disciplines. As faculty, I try to maximize the different strengths students bring to my courses and encourage them to choose projects based on what they care about.

In the past, students have created evaluation plans for their workplace, their community, their child’s PTA or sports teams, or for a particular curriculum or study in their master’s program or PhD program.

How can students apply their evaluation skills from 564: Evaluation I: Principles and Methods to a future job role? 

The EPSY 564 course lays the groundwork for students who are interested in evaluation-related work within educational, government, or health organizations, and in external evaluation roles in university-based research or evaluation firms. All these organizations need staff that know how to analyze an intervention and figure out how to plan and implement an evaluation.

The course also helps when a student is at the table when an evaluation is needed and being planned. Even if they are not the person who is doing the evaluation, our students will be able to have that conversation with the evaluation team. They can ask good questions, advocate for what the organization needs, and troubleshoot any potential problems that might arise. Evaluation exists within very real-world constraints so it is important to have people at the table that will help take everything into account to make sure the evaluation and its findings will be relevant and useful.

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.