Evaluators

 Evaluators play a dual role in instructional technology.  They act as the an analyst in the “front end’ of instruction and as an evaluator during the process of designing and developing training programs or instruction.  Typical duties include conducting a needs assessment, designing an evaluation method, collecting data, and providing recommendations during and after instruction.  Because evaluators provide critical thinking skills at the end and at the first of a program, they are often viewed as an analyst/evaluator.  Some famous members of the profession are: Donna Mertens, Ph.D. Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Research at Gallaudet University She has served as president and as board member of the American Evaluation Association (1997-2002). As president, she proivded leadership in the development of the International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation. She teaches research methods, program evaluation statictics and educational psychology to deaf students. Her research focuses on improving methods of inquiry by integrting the perspectives of those who experience oppression in our soicety. (feminists, minorities, people with disabilities). AEA has awarded her their highest honor for service to the organization and her contributions to the  the field of evaluations. For more information:   http://www.sagepub.com/authorDetails.nav?contribId=502997 http://edf.gallaudet.edu/x3771.xml Donnald Kirkpatrick  Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of the University of Winsconsin.  Past President of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). He is member of Human Resource Development (HRD) Hall of Fame He first published his ideas in 1959 in a series of articles in the US Training and Development Journal.  Kirkpatrick has written several significant books about training and evaluation. His book "Evaluating Training Programs (The four levels)" is now considered an industry standard accross the human resources and training communities. He is available to help design evaluations forms and procedures for Reaction (level1), measures standards for learning (level 2), Behavior (level 3) and Results (level 4). Also available to design costumized training and evaluation for organizations and make presentations or workshops on evaluation.  For more information:  http://www.letstalkselling.com/Kirkpatrick.html  http://www.businessballs.com/kirkpatricklearningevaluationmodel.htm   Nick Eastmond, Ph.D. Professor of Instructional Technology  1972-1976 - University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, Department of Educational Psychology Doctor of Philosophy     Dissertation:  A Model for Needs Assessment in Higher Education 1967-1969 - Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, M.Ed., Elementary Education (Teacher Corps) 1965-1967 - University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, B.A., Economics He started as assistant professor at USU from 1982-1993, and since that time he has been professor at the Instructional Technology Department. He has published several articles, books, dissertations about technology application in education. He has also written about needs assessment, management  and evaluation in the educational field. For more information:   http://itls.usu.edu/people/nick-eastmond       Sandra Mathison, Ph, D. Professor of Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Program Area: Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodolgy (MERM) Scholarly Interests: Evaluation theory and practice, Sociology of assessment, Qualitative research methods. She has been conducting evaluations, primarily in educational settings, for more than 25 years. She began her career as an internal evaluator at a Canadian community college and has subsequently conducted dozens of external evaluations and served as the Director of Evaluation for the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project for three years. Over these many years and through these many opportunities to do and study evaluation, she has developed an interest in and contributed to evaluation through her emphasis on democratic principles and possibilities.  A deep concern for the limitations and limiting nature of evaluation in schools runs throughout her work.  For more information:   http://web.mac.com/sandra.mathison/SM/home.html   http://www.sagepub.com/authorDetails.nav?contribId=526503     MAJOR EMPLOYMENT Almost everyone employs or hires evaluators, including: Businesses (http://www.eval.org/find_an_evaluator/evaluator_search.asp-- ) Government (http://www.eval.org/Resources/govt_orgs_&_ngos.asp) Consultants (http://www.eval.org/find_an_evaluator/evaluator_search.asp) Education (http://www.eval.org/Resources/UniversityCenters.asp) Educational Requirements There are varying types of evaluators scattered all over Instructional Design. These vary from evaluating your own instructional design to being a full-fledged evaluator. However, each position requires the following requirements and competencies: Requirements Graduate Degree (varying depending on type of evaluator) (http://www.eval.org/Training/university_programs.asp) 2-7 years of experience (depending on type of evaluator) Needed Competencies Needs Assessment Identify target population Identify target environment Identify existing technologies Identify elements of instruction   Professional Organizations: American Evaluation Association (AEA): www.eval.org Main organization for evaluators. This is a cross-disciplanary group that is now for being the leading group for evaluators of any kind. Association for Education Communication and Technology (AECT): http://www.aect.org/default.asp  This organization covers more than evaluation, but evaluators that belong to this group specialize in evaluation for instructional technology.   Cost: AEA $80 - standard fee $30 - full-time students AECT $99 - new standard fee $400 - corporate fee $50 - new student fee Association Benefits http://www.eval.org/membership.asp *The following benefits are taken or paraphrased from AEA's website   Conferences and workshops for new evaluation ideas and trends. Plus the abililty to help shape the thought in evaluation. Suscriptions to leading evaluation journals. Discounts off of the many Association's publishing partners. Being placed an leading evaluator lists to help network and gain further employment oppurtunities. Further networking and association with other leading researchers.