Who is this course for?
We've designed this course specifically for program managers. Through our consulting work, we've met so many program managers who have to evaluate their programs, but aren't sure how to do that.
They've got great skills already – they can manage people and processes and think critically about their work. But they haven't been trained in evaluation.
This course is for people who are not evaluators. It's for people who work in programs and want to learn more about how evaluation can help them do better.
This course is for you if a few of these points resonate:
- Evaluation is not currently your main task
- You run a program, or will be running one soon
- You work alongside evaluators and want to understand their work better
- You've been tasked with evaluating your program and you don't know where to start
- You want to learn more about how evaluation can improve your program
- You need to create an evaluation plan
- You want to feel more confident about evaluation
Module 1: Designing Your Evaluation
Jump right in to evaluation planning. Learn about what evaluation is, how it's useful, and how to craft your perfect plan.
Module 2: Collecting the Right Data the Right Way
Explore the most common methods for collecting data: surveys, interviews and focus groups. You'll also learn about structuring and analyzing the data you already use in your program.
Module 3: Making Sense of It All
Get practical, easy tips for presenting your findings and using them to drive improvement.
What's Included?
Program Evaluation for Program Managers includes three modules. Each module is made up of several videos and accompanying activities that you can complete at your own pace. You'll get a pdf workbook for each module, and high-value templates:
- Our tried-and-tested Evaluation Plan Template, including all the components you need to consider
- An Evaluation Budget Template, with prompts to consider various evaluation expenses
- Interview Guide and Focus Group Guide Templates, along with Information Letter Templates
You'll also become a member of our community discussion board, where you can learn from other students and our experienced Eval Academy moderators. Students can use the community to problem solve and get inspiration about all things evaluation.
"Original approaches and ideas provided throughout this training taught me some refreshed approaches to managing programs and I am excited to enter a 'non-eye-rolling' era of evaluation. I will be busy planning my data party soon!"
-- Course participant
Course Curriculum
- Lecture 1: Why are you here? (6:27)
- Lecture 2: What is evaluation? (11:28)
- Lecture 3: Why evaluate? (8:38)
- Lecture 4: Who gains from evaluation? (4:25)
- Lecture 5: Planning your evaluation (4:12)
- Lecture 6: Step 1 - Define your purpose (6:02)
- Lecture 7: Step 2 - Articulate your program theory (19:17)
- Lecture 8: Step 3 - Write evaluation questions (10:40)
- Lecture 9: Step 4 - Develop indicators and choose methods (9:47)
- Lecture 10: Step 5 - Confirm timelines and assign responsibilities (8:03)
- Lecture 11: Step 6 - Clarify reporting requirements (4:52)
- Lecture 12: Step 7 - Budgeting (5:27)
- Lecture 13: Implementation (and Module 1 survey) (2:22)
- Lecture 1: What will we learn today? (1:27)
- Lecture 2: Quick review - how do you choose methods? (3:56)
- Lecture 3: Common method 1 - Surveys (18:24)
- Lecture 4: Common method 2 - Interviews (15:51)
- Lecture 5: Common method 3 - Focus groups (14:46)
- Lecture 6: Ethics and consent (14:21)
- Lecture 7: Use the data you have (25:57)
- Lecture 1: What will we learn today? (1:58)
- Lecture 2: Analyzing your qualitative data (8:23)
- Lecture 3: Preparing charts and tables (11:31)
- Lecture 4: Options for sharing your findings (8:11)
- Lecture 5: Reflecting on your results (7:03)
- Lecture 6: The big report (9:46)
- Lecture 7: Sharing findings with your board (10:24)
- Lecture 8: Sharing findings with your staff (5:01)
- Lecture 9: Using your findings to drive improvement (6:07)
- Lecture 10: Reflecting on what you've learned (2:14)
"I thought the instructor was phenomenal. Thank you for developing and sharing this evaluation course."
-- Course participant
We Are Evaluation Capacity Builders
We've built Eval Academy for people who are interested in evaluation and aren't experts. Hundreds of eval-curious people just like you have downloaded our free resources, and thousands more read our articles or follow us on social media. Our articles, resources and learning content are created by well-trained, experienced evaluators who spend all day, every day evaluating.
Meet Your Instructor
Shelby Corley is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, and lives and works in Treaty 6 Territory. She is a Credentialed Evaluator who has been working in research and evaluation for over 15 years.
Shelby is the CEO of Three Hive Consulting and Eval Academy. After years of serving clients in the non-profit, government and healthcare sectors, her approach to evaluation has become highly practical. With a graduate degree in anthropology, Shelby inherently prioritizes equity and systems thinking.
Shelby regularly presents at evaluation conferences, and loves the opportunity to talk about evaluation. Workshop participants always provide positive feedback on her content knowledge and delivery.