Evaluation pedagogy: recommendations for evaluation instruction

The purpose of this study was to make recommendations for evaluation instruction at the graduate-level. Using qualitative methods, interviews were conducted and teaching strategies were identified. Four over-arching domains were identified. These were evaluation course development, evaluation course content, characteristics of the evaluation instructor, and evaluation pedagogy. This study found that evaluation courses should blend theory and method with practice. It found that adequate preparation is important to an evaluation course, in part due to the variety of competencies needed of evaluators and in part the real-world fieldwork necessary for evaluator training. Evaluation courses should include analytical skills and interpersonal skills. Evaluation instructors should be experienced evaluators and continue evaluation practice concurrently with teaching. Finally, this study found that exemplary evaluation instruction utilizes each of the learning concepts described in Kolbs learning cycle. These findings were used to develop a list of recommendations for evaluation instruction.