An Exploration of Two Novice Evaluation Educators’ Experiences Developing and Implementing Introduction to Evaluation Courses

As the field of evaluation continues to expand, so do evaluation course offerings. However, little is known about the backgrounds of evaluation educators, how they go about planning their courses, challenges experienced, or how they attain competency as teachers. This study offers an initial understanding of novice evaluation educators’ experience in developing and teaching introduction to evaluation courses within a university setting. Factors that influence decisions around course content and pedagogical approaches are also examined. Data collection methods include dialogic conversation notes, reflective journals, course syllabi, and student evaluative feedback. Results indicate that perspectives on the purpose of evaluation and how evaluation should be taught are influenced by evaluation educator professional affiliation, experience with evaluation, and student audience. Implications for teaching and training in evaluation are discussed