Learning Activities: No Last Week, This Week Video

Learning Activities1 No Last Week This Week Video This Weekwelcome

Learning Activities 1. No Last Week-This Week video this week. Welcome to the second to the last week of the semester! This week while you are working on your reflection papers, I will be finishing my grading of the ROI assignment, evaluation plan, and the graduate student writing projects. Let me know if you have questions this week, otherwise I will see you online and talk with you again week 17!

2. No reading for this week. Assignments 1. DUE: Reflection paper (15 points). You are strongly encouraged, but not required to share your reflection paper with your classmates for feedback before you submit the paper. The assignment sheet for this paper was first shared in the week 14 framework. Here is the assignment again in case you need to look at it.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment requires you to write a reflection paper based on your experiences and learnings from the semester, focusing on your role as a learner, your understanding of evaluation, and your personal biases as an evaluator. You are encouraged to consider your strengths and weaknesses in communicating evaluation results, whether written or oral, and strategize on how to enhance your skills and minimize biases.

Specifically, your reflection should address the following key aspects:

  • Your overall reflections and insights gained throughout the semester, including your growth as a learner and your understanding of evaluation concepts and skills.
  • Your personal biases that might influence your evaluation process or judgments, along with strategies to recognize and mitigate these biases.
  • Your strengths in communicating evaluation findings and areas for improvement, with actionable steps to develop or leverage these skills.

While peer sharing for feedback is optional, submitting a well-articulated reflection will maximize your learning experience and can support your ongoing professional development. The paper should be clear, concise, and reflective, approximately 1,000 words in length, and structured with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Use academic language, cite relevant sources where appropriate, and ensure proper formatting.

This assignment is designed to deepen your understanding of the evaluation process, foster self-awareness, and enhance essential communication skills vital for effective evaluation practice. Remember, this reflection not only impacts your grade but also contributes to your professional growth as an evaluator.

References

  • Caffarella, R. S., & Zinn, L. (2010). Planning Programs for Adult Learners: A Practical Guide. Wiley/Jossey-Bass.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2008). Utilization-Focused Evaluation (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
  • Scriven, M. (1991). Evaluation Thesaurus (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
  • Fitzpatrick, J. L., Sanders, J. R., & Worthen, B. R. (2011). Program Evaluation: Alternative Approaches and Practical Guidelines (4th ed.). Pearson.
  • Shadish, W., Cook, T., & Campbell, D. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference. Houghton Mifflin.
  • Bamberger, M., Rugh, J., & Mabry, L. (2012). RealWorld Evaluation: Working Under Budget, Time, Data, and Political Constraints. Sage Publications.
  • Wholey, J. S., Hatry, H. P., & Newcomer, K. E. (2010). Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation. Jossey-Bass.
  • Mertens, D. M. (2014). Research & Evaluation in Education and Psychology: Integrating Diversity with Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
  • Ling, T., & Milne, D. (2016). Evaluation Capacity Building: Building Evaluation Capacity in Communities. American Journal of Evaluation, 37(2), 214–230.
  • Miscellaneous sources relevant to evaluation bias and communication (e.g., peer-reviewed articles, reputable evaluation frameworks).

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