Credible and useful evaluations require selecting appropriate evaluation models or approaches. Research has shown that choosing an approach can be challenging for various reasons. This course will make these decisions more manageable and transparent. Facilitators will cover essential concepts in evaluation and focus on the characteristics that distinguish evaluation approaches in practice. Participants will learn about multiple evaluation approaches using the Garden of Evaluation Approaches, an empirically based framework appearing in several evaluation journals. This framework describes the roles of values, valuing, social justice, context, use, engagement, and power dynamics in evaluation. The course combines interactive lectures, hands-on exercises, and case-based applications to ensure a dynamic and engaging learning experience that facilitates the use of what will be learned. Participants will also reflect on their own evaluation practice, preferences, and assumptions. Using the Garden of Evaluation Approaches, participants will create their own personal evaluation practice flower. This process encourages practitioners to think critically about their implicit choices when designing evaluations and visualize their practice in a new way. This course is intended for graduate students, early career scholars and practitioners, experienced evaluators and researchers, and evaluation commissioners interested in updating their evaluation knowledge and skills. Participants would benefit from having a basic understanding of research design, but it is not a prerequisite. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to (a) describe the unique dimensions of evaluation practice, (b) apply different evaluation approaches in practice, and (c) judge the usefulness of various evaluation approaches in different contexts. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet. All necessary materials, including case studies and handouts, will be provided.
