Explain how you will measure the objectives to determine if you have reached your goals.
In previous weeks you have been learning about the various components of a program plan and, this week, about the importance of evaluation in ensuring the goals are met. [http://www.bezern.com/] To evaluate whether goals are being achieved, you must have measurable objectives and be able to find the necessary data with which to measure if those objectives are being met. [http://www.bezern.com/] For example, if one of the goals of your program is to reduce the percentage of overweight schoolchildren in that area, a measurable objective might be “have 50% of children exercise for 60 minutes every day. [http://www.bezern.com/]” But how would you actually measure whether this objective is being met? Getting ahold of reliable and valid data with which to evaluate the objective can be difficult and costly. [http://www.bezern.com/] In this example of children’s exercise, would you gain the information through direct observation? Would you survey parents? Would you be able to use data that others have gathered, such as a national or school survey? There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these ideas, but some are clearly more feasible and cost-effective than others. [http://www.bezern.com/] For this Application, explain in two to three pages how you would evaluate your hypothetical program, addressing the following: * List the 3 – 5 measurable objectives you already identified in the Week 6 Application. [http://www.bezern.com/] Revise them if you can improve on them. [http://www.bezern.com/] * Explain how you will measure the objectives to determine if you have reached your goals. [http://www.bezern.com/] Include a description of how you will get the data with which to evaluate your objectives. [http://www.bezern.com/] Remember the need to be realistic in your use of resources and, wherever possible, aim to use data that are being collected by others. [http://www.bezern.com/] * Discuss some of the obstacles you can foresee in this process and how you would try to overcome them. [http://www.bezern.com/] * Indicate whether the evaluative measures are process (activities) or outcomes. [http://www.bezern.com/] * Review the budget you created in Week 7. [http://www.bezern.com/] Does your budget reflect the costs for evaluation? If so, do you think it is sufficient? If not, how would you amend to cover the costs of evaluation?