This is an invaluable course that opens opportunities for upcoming instructional designers to assume roles as advisers, internal and external evaluators or even consultants to name a few. The course looked at the need for social programmes but a far greater need to measure whether these programmes are impactful or effective at meeting their societal needs. Typically, social programmes exist with an aim to improve or reform a dysfunctional area in society. However, several are neglectful at evaluating their performance. Consequently, this results in counterproductive programmes that add little benefit to their participants and society. Therefore, EDID 6504 is designed to equip course participants with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to systematically evaluate programmes using sound, evidence-based evaluating methods, tools and strategies.

Course participants are exposed to the rigour process of programme evaluation and research skills are honed throughout the process. Using a social programme in one’s country, learners explored and analysed its impact and effectiveness against its goals. We were afforded opportunities to whet our research appetites as we interviewed programme managers to find out the programme’s background context, its need, assumptions, outcomes and so on. Subsequently, we designed questions that would lead the evaluation but firstly commenced the investigation with an evaluability assessment to determine whether it would be feasible to proceed with the evaluation. We then continued on with the data analysis process until we reached the stage of reporting results to programme managers so that they in turn could improve on their own internal decision making and meet their internal and external information needs. Because of its rigour, while going through this process, course participants will work closely with ethics in the industry so that their process would have high validity and integrity. It is important to note that the research methods and strategies used here will serve learners as they progress throughout the course and into their careers.

Select the artefact that follows to peruse a depiction of how I used a three-phase systematic approach to rebirth and evaluate a social programme in my country.