Program Overview

Program Overview

The program in question is the Evaluation for Social Change and Transformational Learning Certificate, with a specific focus on the course EVAL860: Design and Implementation of Evaluation for Transformation and Learning.

Course Description

In this course, students learn how to design and implement a transformative evaluation and synthesize the learning from the experience. Building on their knowledge of evaluation through a reconciliation lens, of evaluators as change agents, and of evaluative thinking as a leadership function, students explore issues such as:

• Engaging with primary intended users to co-design and co-create transformative evaluations
• Using mixed methods and triangulation techniques to validate data
• Emergent and adaptive designs consistent with complexity theory

Course Details

• Location: Online
• Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Tuition: $970–$995
• Can be applied to: Evaluation for Social Change and Transformational Learning Certificate

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Design and implement an evaluation that adheres to the principles of transformative evaluation and learning
• Ask evaluation questions that facilitate change and innovation
• Describe consequential validity and its implications for evaluation design and implementation
• Facilitate and engage in an evaluation that results in high ownership by primary intended users and deep buy-in by both primary intended users and organizational/community leaders
• Design culturally responsive evaluations
• Use mixed methods and triangulation techniques to validate data
• Anticipate data analysis, interpretation, and communications at the design stage
• Involve stakeholders, primary intended users, and leaders in design and method decisions
• Incorporate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action in design and data collection decisions

Course Structure and Evaluation

• Students are expected to spend about 10 hours per week on coursework
• The course includes advance reading, weekly assignments, and group exercises
• Evaluation is based on:
  • Class participation
  • In-class assignments
  • Post-class reflection assignment

Learning Materials

No textbook is required, as all course materials are provided online.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, students need a computer with audio and microphone connected to the internet. The course utilizes the Canvas online system.