The purpose of an Evaluation

Full Answer Section

For example, a formative evaluation of a new educational program might be conducted to assess how well the program is being received by students and teachers, and to identify any areas where the program can be improved.

Summative Evaluations

Summative evaluations are conducted at the end of a program, project, product, or service. The purpose of summative evaluations is to assess the overall success of the program, project, product, or service, and to identify any lessons learned.

For example, a summative evaluation of a marketing campaign might be conducted to assess how effective the campaign was at reaching the target audience and increasing sales.

Example

A school district might conduct a formative evaluation of a new math curriculum during the first year of implementation. The evaluation might involve collecting feedback from teachers and students, and observing math classes. The feedback and observations would be used to identify any areas where the curriculum could be improved.

At the end of the second year of implementation, the school district might conduct a summative evaluation of the math curriculum. The evaluation might involve comparing the performance of students on standardized math tests to the performance of students in previous years. The evaluation might also involve collecting feedback from teachers and students about the curriculum.

The results of the summative evaluation would be used to decide whether to keep the math curriculum, modify it, or replace it with a different curriculum.

Sample Answer Evaluation An evaluation is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information to determine the value of something. Evaluations can be used to assess programs, projects, products, services, and people. The purpose of an evaluation is to: Identify strengths and weaknesses Assess progress and impact Make informed decisions Improve performance and outcomes Formative Evaluations Formative evaluations are conducted during the development or implementation of a program, project, product, or service. The purpose of formative evaluations is to collect feedback and identify areas for improvement.