7 Evaluation in education

Question 1

Evaluation is a process which involves looking back ________ at what has been accomplished and measuring the ________ position against the original _____.

Answer 1

Evaluation is a process which involves looking back systematically at what has been accomplished and measuring the present position against the original aims.

Question 2

Review is the action following the _________ which usually involves making a decision about whether we wish to continue with an activity, reject it, or modify it in the light of it being _________.

Answer 2

Review is the action following the evaluation which usually involves making a decision about whether we wish to continue with an activity, reject it, or modify it in the light of it being evaluated.

Question 3

Monitoring = _______ on an activity whilst it is going on. So monitoring could be complementary to _______ and provide data for the evaluation.

Answer 3

Monitoring = checking on an activity whilst it is going on. So monitoring could be complementary to evaluation and provide data for the evaluation.

Question 4

TIMING: Evaluation is often undertaken to check on the ________ of an innovation, or at the ___ of an activity or at a recognised ___ point before a new ‘_____’ of activity takes place, for example at the end of a school year, term or semester or the end of a project intended for school improvement. As a result of an evaluation recommendations for _______ action can be made

Answer 4

TIMING: Evaluation is often undertaken to check on the success of an innovation, or at the end of an activity or at a recognised end point before a new ‘round’ of activity takes place, for example at the end of a school year, term or semester or the end of a project intended for school improvement. As a result of an evaluation recommendations for future action can be made

Question 5

The importance of evaluation:
with the knowledge of where their ______ and ________ lie, and with the tools to evaluate themselves, even the worst schools can _______
(????, ????)

Answer 5

The importance of evaluation:
with the knowledge of where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and with the tools to evaluate themselves, even the worst schools can improve
(MacBeath, 2000)

Question 6

Evaluation as a management tool can serve a number of purposes. According to ???? (????) in education, the purposes of evaluation may be for/to:

Answer 6

Evaluation as a management tool can serve a number of purposes. According to MacBeath (1999) in education, the purposes of evaluation may be:

• for organisational development as in development planning
• to improve teaching
• to improve learning
• political
• for accountability
• for professional development.

Question 7

Some examples of where an evaluation could be applied in education are:

Answer 7

Some examples of where an evaluation could be applied in education are:

1. At the end of a course or workshop run by a paid consultant and intended for the professional development of teachers;
2. After the introduction of a new curriculum development for students aged 14 –16;
3. To estimate the quality of the teaching of a particular course to undergraduates in a university;
4. The usefulness of parents’ evenings in a school;
5. The efficient use of the sports facilities in a community college.

Question 8

Need to think of the _________ for evaluation and what the intended ________ is. Will it lead to recommendations for change that are then implemented? Evaluation is at the heart of __________ activity and can inform all types of decisions. it is important to match the methods to the ____________ of the evaluation.

Answer 8

Need to think of the motivation for evaluation and what the intended outcome is. Will it lead to recommendations for change that are then implemented? Evaluation is at the heart of management activity and can inform all types of decisions. it is important to match the methods to the circumstances of the evaluation.

Question 9

Evaluation is a process
Evaluation is one type of _______ research… Evaluation is primarily concerned with describing and finding the ______ of a particular approach, policy or programme.
(????, ????)

Answer 9

Evaluation is a process (Robson):
Evaluation is one type of applied research… Evaluation is primarily concerned with describing and finding the effects of a particular approach, policy or programme.
(1993)

Question 10

In advising on the choice of research methods for evaluation, ???? (????) stresses the importance of the evaluator’s sensitivity in choosing the appropriate research strategy:
A thorough __________ of the programme being evaluated is an essential precursor to your selection and subsequent sensitive use of the _____. What is advocated is an open-minded exploration of the most suitable strategy and best methods for the task in hand. Rigour and systematic data collection are important. But what is particularly important is the usefulness of the data for the purposes of the ________, and not the method by which it is obtained (????, ????)

Answer 10

In advising on the choice of research methods for evaluation, Robson (1993) stresses the importance of the evaluator’s sensitivity in choosing the appropriate research strategy:
A thorough knowledge of the programme being evaluated is an essential precursor to your selection and subsequent sensitive use of the methods. What is advocated is an open-minded exploration of the most suitable strategy and best methods for the task in hand. Rigour and systematic data collection are important. But what is particularly important is the usefulness of the data for the purposes of the evaluation, and not the method by which it is obtained (Robson, 1993,

Question 11

The evaluator works with __________ to design an evaluation that includes any and all data that will help shed light on important evaluation _________, given constraints of resources and time.
(????, ????)

Answer 11

The evaluator works with stakeholders to design an evaluation that includes any and all data that will help shed light on important evaluation questions, given constraints of resources and time (Patton, 1987

Question 12

What to ask when designing evaluation:

Answer 12

What to ask when designing evaluation:

• when should an evaluation take place?
• who should do it?
• how should they do it?
• what exactly is the evaluation meant to achieve?
• who ‘owns’ the outcomes of the evaluation?
• what happens to the outcomes?

Question 13

These evaluations can be undertaken either _____ as ___-review where the purpose is linked to _________, or can be undertaken by an external body of inspectors, where the purpose is more likely to be __________.

Answer 13

These evaluations can be undertaken either internally as self-review where the purpose is linked to improvement, or can be undertaken by an external body of inspectors, where the purpose is more likely to be accountability.

Question 14

What is important is the _________ of the evaluation and the perceived purpose. __________ and ownership are important in improvement initiatives and the same applies to evaluations. An important aspect of this is whether the evaluation is undertaken as part of on-going improvement or whether the purpose is perceived as being to ______ up on progress, in other words it’s being done to ensure accountability to a higher authority.

Answer 14

What is important is the ownership of the evaluation and the perceived purpose. Collegiality and ownership are important in improvement initiatives and the same applies to evaluations. An important aspect of this is whether the evaluation is undertaken as part of on-going improvement or whether the purpose is perceived as being to check up on progress, in other words it’s being done to ensure accountability to a higher authority.

Question 15

Key features of model of school self-evaluation was intended for/to:
????? (?????)

Answer 15

Key features of model of school self-evaluation was intended:
-for development and improvement not for the production of a report for external accountability
-to extend beyond review to development for improvement
-to involve all the staff in the school;
-that any decisions about the outcomes should be made by the teachers and others concerned within the school.
(McMahon et al, 1984

Question 16

Although both external and internal evaluation may lead to school _________, an internal evaluation where the process involves ______ staff who identify their own priorities and plans of action is more likely to lead to improvement and __________.
An external evaluation may lead to improvement by virtue of being a ‘_____-up call’ or by endorsing ________ knowledge about the school, but it may also undermine the _______ of staff, possibly leading to decline rather than improvement and almost always to a post-inspection ‘dip’ in morale. From the point of view of accountability to both the government and the community, an external inspection with published outcomes does ensure that the progress and difficulties of schools are reported back rather than being kept confidential.

Answer 16

Although both external and internal evaluation may lead to school improvement, an internal evaluation where the process involves all staff who identify their own priorities and plans of action is more likely to lead to improvement and development.
An external evaluation may lead to improvement by virtue of being a ‘wake-up call’ or by endorsing existing knowledge about the school, but it may also undermine the morale of staff, possibly leading to decline rather than improvement and almost always to a post-inspection ‘dip’ in morale. From the point of view of accountability to both the government and the community, an external inspection with published outcomes does ensure that the progress and difficulties of schools are reported back rather than being kept confidential.