Evaluation, like needs assessment, is not always given the attention it requires in the process of instructional design. In real world situations, the timeline often drives the work and is usually too short to fully incorporate everything that should be done.

Creating an Evaluation Plan, as part of the initial design, helps you to make a lot of decisions before getting underway and to integrate evaluation tasks as you move forward with a project.

Your Evaluation Plan should include at a minimum:

• List of objectives for the evaluation – why are you evaluating the instruction and to whom will the results be reported?
• Description of the data you need to collect and why – what kind of information do you need to collect in order to find out if the instruction is effective?  This can cover a wide range of measures, including:
  • Content accuracy
  • Learning outcome achievement
  • Usability of delivery format
  • Cost-effectiveness of the project
• The logistics of how the evaluation will take place – How, when, where, and who will be involved in evaluation? Will you use surveys, administer tests, conduct interviews, etc.?

There are a lot of options in terms of models. You’ll find these to be very comprehensive in most cases. Consider creating a customized plan for your project or work context.

• CIPP Checklist – Stufflebeam
• Kirkpatrick Model – Kirkpatrick Partners
• Quality Matters – The Quality Matters Program
• Rubric for Online Instruction – California State University – Chico

There  are full examples of  evaluation plans available online. Two to review:

• Higher Education:  Report from North Carolina State University
• Government/Industry: US Department of Agriculture

What is your experience with evaluation as part of the instructional design process? Please consider sharing your experiences related to priority, timeframe, and method. Is evaluation conducted by members of your design team or by an outside group?

Photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography, Flickr