Program Evaluation: The Key to a Successful Program
The key to a successful program or project is evaluation. Evaluation provides formative feedback that helps guide a program as it is being implemented. It also provides summative data that clearly demonstrates that the program is accomplishing its stated goals and objectives. Without effective evaluation, the program staff may fail to document important impacts the program has on its participants. It may also fail to recognize how different components in the program are affecting the participants or participating institutions. In addition, evaluation helps focus staff efforts and project resources on the specific goals of the program. Without written goals and specific objectives, the staff members often direct their individual efforts toward slightly different goals, thereby reducing the efficiency of the overall program.
In an era where resources for educational programs are limited, those programs that can document their success in having an impact on their participants and in using resources efficiently will be at an advantage for ongoing funding.
The resources provided here by the American Physiological Society were developed as part of a project funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (RU13 GM56019). It was designed to assist directors of programs at U.S. colleges and universities to recruit and retain underrepresented minorities in biomedical research. However, the resources will also prove useful to those planning an evaluation for most types of educational programs or projects.
Major site resources include the following:
Evaluation Planning Short Course: This interactive online short course includes six lessons that lead the user through readings on evaluation basics, questions raised by program directors, and resources available both on and off line. Each lesson includes an interactive component where the user develops an evaluation planning document for his/her program. At the end of the short course, the evaluation planning document is sent directly to the user via email as a Rich Text File (.rtf) that can be opened in a word processing program. Click on “Begin the Short Course” and “Short Course FAQs” buttons above for more information.
Resources and Links: This listing of print and online resources for planning and implementing a program evaluation is updated regularly. Click on “Resources” button above for more information.
About the Project: This description provides more information about the Promoting Effective Program Evaluation program, including goals, objectives, project activities, and program impacts. Click on “About the Project” button above for more information.
This web site, short course, and related resources are provided as a resource for those interested in program evaluation by The American Physiological Society, www.the-aps.org. Funding for the project was provided by the National Institutes for General Medical Sciences (NIGMS, RU13 GM56019). Opinions expressed are those of the project staff and authors and do not necessarily represent those of the NIGMS or APS. There is no stated or implied assurance that their use will assure funding for programs. For more information, contact the APS Education Office at education@the-aps.org.
