Many introductory evaluation guidebooks, manuals, videos, and even self-paced courses exist. Did the world need another one by Valeo? Yes! Because we take a completely different approach, focusing on the essential, underlying concepts of evaluation.
Three key features that sets Valeo’s introductory evaluation course apart from the rest
1. We provide a solid foundation in core evaluation concepts and practices. Many intro courses and guides attempt to give you a crash course in evaluation from A to Z: from what evaluation is to the nuances of data analysis and reporting. Instead of shallow learning about all aspects of evaluation, we deliver deep learning on the fundamentals, providing you with a strong foundation for growing your expertise. At the end of the course, you’ll be familiar with key terms used within evaluation literature and by funders that require evaluations of the work they support. You’ll be able to identify the key elements of evaluation as they play out in formal and informal evaluation activities.
2. We start from what you already know. Evaluation is something you already do every day. Valeo’s introduction course unpacks evaluation as a commonplace activity to reveal its essential components. Whether you’re giving a friend your opinion of a new restaurant, writing a product review on a retail website, or weighing your options for a big purchase – the basic structure and components of evaluation are the same. And the same structures and components are present when evaluating highly complex initiatives in a professional context. You’ll observe the connections directly, demystifying evaluation and shortening your learning curve.
3. We engage you in using what you learn right away. You don’t have to wait to try out what you learn. You will see evaluation in action and identify its core elements. You’ll practice determining and applying criteria as you evaluate different items. In our course, you’ll learn by being immersed in realistic evaluation situations and master core concepts and terminology as you progress.
Learn the essentials of evaluation with Valeo
Whether you've dipped your toes in academic evaluation or found yourself tasked with workplace assessments, Valeo’s introductory evaluation course is for you. Through engaging activities and practical examples, this course illustrates how everyday evaluation relates to professional evaluation. In less than an hour, you’ll learn the essentials of evaluation, empowering you to apply evaluation know-how across diverse contexts.
After completing the course, you’ll earn a certificate summarizing what you learned. Our downloadable guides provide refreshers on core concepts when you need them.
Valeo is powered by The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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About the Course Authors
Lori Wingate and Kelly Robertson work at The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University and have Ph. D.s in interdisciplinary evaluation. Lori coauthors the Program Evaluation: Alternative Approaches and Practical Guidelines (5th ed.) and has led 75 workshops and webinars on diverse evaluation topics. You can read more about Lori here. Kelly has extensive experience conducting social justice-focused evaluations and has been featured in webinars hosted by the American Evaluation Association, including its Graduate Education Diversity Initiative, EvaluATE, and the Vera Institute. You can read more about Kelly here. Two other colleagues, Kelly and Lori, coedited Core Concepts in Evaluation Classic Writings and Contemporary Commentary.
