SOCCLEAD 707 : Programme Evaluation

Education and Social Work

2025 Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced topics and approaches to programme evaluation. The course will examine high level evaluation specifications, plans and reports to identify methods and options for critical evaluation serving the specialised needs of programme managers, sponsors and publics. Through the lens of real-world issues, politics of innovation and change will be considered in preparing an independent programme evaluation.

Course Overview

This course will enable participants to gain understanding of the purposes, approaches and methods used in programme evaluation, in particular, in Aotearoa New Zealand. By analysing and critiquing evaluation specifications, plans and reports, participants will build competence and confidence in designing, implementing and reporting on evaluations that meet the needs of sponsors, stakeholders, managers, agencies, communities and the wider public. The critical role of evaluation in issues and debates around innovation and change in contemporary society and political discourses will be scrutinised.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and articulate the contemporary issues and debates that characterise the field of programme evaluation globally and in particular in Aotearoa New Zealand. (Capability 3, 4, 6 and 8)
  2. Identify their practice strengths and areas for further development with regards to the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluator Competencies. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8)
  3. Develop a robust research-informed programme evaluation plan (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Annotated bibliography 25% Individual Coursework
Evaluation plan and presentation 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Essay
Annotated bibliography
Evaluation plan and presentation

Students must complete all components of the Assessment Tasks to achieve an overall pass on this course. Completion to the satisfaction of the examiners means that students must achieve at least 50% for the course and submit all assessments.

Next Offered

2025 Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)

Teaching & Learning Methods

This is a hybrid course with online and face-to-face synchronous and asynchronous deliveries. Students will be expected to read and view material prior to each session. Sessions will contain group discussions and activities for both online and face-to-face students.

Module

Module 1: Introduction to evaluation and programme evaluation.
Module 2: Evaluation theories and contexts
Module 3: Evaluation approaches and designs
Module 4: Implementing evaluations
Module 5: Making sense of evaluation findings
Module 6: Evaluation reporting and reflection

Exam Mode

  • There is no final exam for this course

Workload Expectations

This course is a 30 point course delivered in a hybrid mode consisting of six non-consecutive weeks of intensive face-to-face/online or recorded lectures and workshops, on-line tutorials and self-study tasks.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of face-to-face or recorded lectures, 6 hours of on-line tutorials focusing on assignment preparation, 30+ hours of self-study, reading and thinking about the content and 30+ hours of work on assignments and presentation preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, such as lectures and workshops, including on-line tutorials to receive credit for components of the course. The on-campus activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery across six Saturdays.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and some aspects of lectures or workshops will not be available as recordings. Attendance on campus is required for the presentation task.

Study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials and these will not be recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for the presentation task.

Study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Required readings for each Saturday block will be provided on Canvas at least two weeks ahead of time.
Supplementary readings and relevant resources will also be provided as the need arises.
Guidance on how to read academic papers and complete the assessments will be provided as part of the workshop sessions.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student feedback from the first iteration was mostly positive but recommendations for improvements were:
More sessions, spread out over a longer period of time but each of a shorter duration.
Clearer assignment expectations.
Improved use of available technology to better engage online students.

Other Information

Regular attendance and engagement is essential to complete the assignments to the required standard.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Built-in conversations with peers and the lecturer will be regular features of the course delivery to ensure assignment integrity.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 04/12/2024 09:51 a.m.