MSU Extension Organizational Development

Practical and useful program evaluation for educational programs is a common goal across the nation's cooperative Extension system. Reporting outcomes of Extension programs is necessary. Extension professionals need tools and skills to conduct this important work. Other land grant universities, outside of MSU Extension, have program evaluation resources that are established, timely, and relevant. MSU Extension staff can benefit from these established resources and training materials.

Evaluation Training/Courses

WMU Evaluation Center has developed VALEO, a practical evaluation training for professionals in the field. With three courses, Introduction to Evaluation, Developing Evaluation Plans for Grant Proposals, and Theoretical Approaches to Program Evaluation Course, Valeo combines evaluation theory, proven practices, and insight from experienced educators to elevate your evaluation practice.

Coursera course: How to Create a Program Evaluation Plan for Your Non-Profit. This short course uses an example situation and walks you through the process of creating a logic model, including program evaluation, for the situation.

Enhancing Program Performance with Logic Models. Online course for  University of Wisconsin Extension. https://logicmodel.extension.wisc.edu/

Evaluation Resources

University of Wisconsin-Extension is the best place on the web for material on developing and using logic models in Extension programming. Find logic model templates, an online training, and examples of logic models. There is also a listing of evaluation quick tips  that provide help hints to Extension professionals looking for information on hosting focus groups, analyzing qualitative data, using pre- and post- tests, and designing follow-up evaluations.

CYFERNet Evaluation Resources supports the CYFAR (Children, Youth and Families At Risk) initiative, funded by USDA-NIFA. This site offers interactive tools and vetted resources designed to build the evaluation capacity of program providers, practitioners, and evaluators, especially those working with at-risk youth and families.

Looking for more in-depth professional development and outlets to learn evaluation skills? Program evaluation is a field of interdisciplinary study. American Evaluation Association is the professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of program evaluation.  There is a topical interest group specifically for Extension Education Evaluation.

MSU Librarian, Suzi Teghtmeyer, has put together a list of resources for evaluation, reporting, and planning on the MSU library website