Language Program Evaluation

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Evaluation is critical to understanding the outcomes of language programs. In conducting evaluation, it is important to take a comprehensive approach that considers the needs of learners and instructors, the requirements and capacities of administrators, parents and other stakeholders, the values of the discipline and the contributions of the program to the local, national and general society. However, recent research at the Assessment and Evaluation Language Resource Center shows that K-12 language program evaluation is frequently misunderstood and infrequently implemented; evaluation at the postsecondary level is also inconsistent. Thus, this course provides participants a theoretical and practical approach to language program evaluation in the K-12 and post-secondary context. The course will use both scenario-based and actual participant contexts to explore the concepts we discuss and to identify areas of potential success and challenge for implementation. During the course, participants will first define program evaluation for their own contexts. Next, they will learn to design a program evaluation for their own macro or micro contexts by setting goals, determining outcomes and defining the instruments needed to conduct the evaluation. Participants will also utilize and adapt existing instruments or develop new instruments for their context. Finally, participants will learn how to best communicate, apply and implement evaluation results to a variety of contexts.