Increasing student evaluation capacity through a collaborative community-based program evaluation teaching model

Abstract

The evaluation literature reflects a long-standing interest in ways to provide practical hands-on training experience in evaluation courses. Concomitantly, some funders have shown rising expectations for increased accountability on the part of Community-Based organizations (CBOs), even though agencies often lack the associated funding and expertise required. This paper describes a training evaluation model, developed and refined over the past ten years, that partners student needs for real-world evaluation experience with CBOs needs for technical expertise and assistance in conducting evaluation activities that support program improvement. The process of developing and implementing the model is presented, and content analysis of ten years of student feedback is summarized.

Keywords

• Capacity building
• Community partnership
• Nonprofit community agencies
• Content analysis
• Course evaluation