PA 8081 is also offered in Spring 2025
PA 8081 is also offered in Spring 2024
PA 8081 is also offered in Summer 2023
PA 8081 is also offered in Spring 2023
PA 8081 is also offered in Summer 2022
PA 8081 is also offered in Spring 2022
PA 8081 is also offered in Summer 2021
Spring 2021 | PA 8081 Section 013: Capstone Workshop -- Program Evaluation (65768)
- Instructor(s)
- Class Component:
- Lecture
- Credits:
- 3 Credits
- Repeat Credit Limit:
- 6 Credits
- Grading Basis:
- A-F only
- Instructor Consent:
- No Special Consent Required
- Instruction Mode:
- Completely Online
- Class Attributes:
Community Engaged Learning
Topics Course
- Enrollment Requirements:
- MDP/MHR/MPA/MPP/STEP/MURP major
- Times and Locations:
- Enrollment Status:
Open (6 of 15 seats filled)
- Also Offered:
- Course Catalog Description:
- Project for external client on issue agreed upon by student, client, and instructor. Students apply interdisciplinary methods, approaches, and perspectives from core courses. Written report with analysis and policy recommendations. Oral presentation. Topics vary by term. prereq: completion of core courses or instr consent
- Class Notes:
- Class will be offered REMOTELY. It will be a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous online. Most weeks will be asynchronous, but first (1/25/2021) and last (5/3/2021) weeks will be synchronous. Prereqs: PA 5311: Program Evaluation or equivalent course and Fall 2020 PA 5080: Capstone Prep Workshop. http://classinfo.umn.edu/?kaln0003+PA8081+Spring2021
- Class Description:
The Program Evaluation Capstone builds upon PA 5311: Program Evaluation (which is a requirement for taking this Section), by enabling students to work directly with clients to revise and implement program evaluation plans in community-based settings, such as public agencies, schools, non-profit organizations, and collaborative initiatives. Class sessions and a select number of readings will encourage students to further enhance their understanding of the purpose and best practices of program evaluation in public policy and program delivery as well as best practices in navigating the consultant and client relationship. Students are encouraged to arrange times early in the semester to meet with their groups to successfully implement their evaluation plans and to navigate the client relationship.
As a part of the revised Capstone Project selection process, all students were able to rank their choices from interested clients. The list of possible clients included current clients participating in the 2020 Fall and previous 2020 Spring PA 5311 course that agreed to allow students enrolled in this Capstone course to implement the evaluation plans (after additional feedback and modifications) at their organization. This semester our clients will include: Capitol River District Council, Hands Across the World, and the Minnesota Zoo. While students were assigned to their first or second choice project this semester, the goal is for students to be able to learn from each of the group projects, in order to develop a deeper understanding of the breadth of program evaluation, and to further the client and consultant best practices. - Learning Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the importance of using best practices in program evaluation in order to effectively refine, develop, and implement a program evaluation plan for a specific public or nonprofit program or initiative.
2. Demonstrate effectively working collaboratively with a team of fellow evaluators to successfully implement the evaluation plan, analyses, and reporting.
3. Analyze, synthesize, think critically, and solve problems in program evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methods.
4. Demonstrate effectively working with external partners or clients in order to meet their needs and expectations for the evaluation plan and report.
5. Present findings in clear and relevant outlets, including a summative evaluation report and professional presentation of the program evaluation for the community partner; a short professional presentation for fellow classmates.- Textbooks:
- https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/65768/1213
- Syllabus:
- http://classinfo.umn.edu/syllabi/kaln0003_PA8081_Spring2021.pdf
- Past Syllabi:
- http://classinfo.umn.edu/syllabi/kaln0003_PA8081_Spring2020.docx (Spring 2020)
- Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
- 13 November 2020
ClassInfo Links - Spring 2021 Public Affairs Classes Taught by Emily Kalnicky