HRD 6303

Evaluation & Assessment in HRD

Fall 2014 (8.2514)

Instructor: / Carole E. Goodson, Professor
Office: / 301 Cameron
Office hours: / Tuesdays 10- 11am and by appointment
Phone: / 713-743-4046 (office)
Fax: / 713-743-4033 (main office fax)
E-mail: / Use Blackboard email (preferred) or UH email
Course Access:
Blackboard / Access course at https://elearning.uh.edu or http://www.uh.edu/blackboard/
  • Login using your Cougarnet ID and password by clicking “Logon to “Blackboard LEARN”
  • Click on UH Help (top of page) to check your browser compatibility and plugin information (you will need Acrobat Reader for this course) before accessing the course.
  • Click “HRD 6303” from courses

Course Overview & Objectives

Welcome to HRDE 6303: Evaluation and Assessment. This course will focus on developing your knowledge and skills around evaluating organizational learning and development programs. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe key models, theories, and approaches of evaluation practice.

2. Identify appropriate evaluation designs for studying human resource development initiatives.

3. Explain ethical and political issues of conducting effective evaluations.

4. Choose appropriate data collection and analysis procedures for evaluation studies.

5. Develop data collection tools for use in an evaluation study.

6. Develop and present an evaluation plan for assessing a HRD program or intervention.

Required/Recommend Textbooks:

Russ-Eft, D. & Preskill, H. (2009). Evaluation in organizations. (2nd ed.). New York: Basic Books.

Barksdale, S. & Lund, T. (2001). Rapid evaluation (ASTD Learning and Performance Workbook Series). Virginia: ASTD Press.

University Calendar and Policies

The link below contains specific information about Disabilities, Religious Holy Days, the Academic Calendar, and Academic Honesty. For more details: http://www.uh.edu/provost/stu/policy-updates/index.php

Student Evaluation/Grading

Grades will be based on module quizzes and commentary postings (20%), the evaluation report presentation (15%), the evaluation interview (15%) the midterm evaluation (20%) and the evaluation project (30%). See the schedule for deadlines.

  • Use of APA (6th ed.) to cite references and format papers. All students will be expected to correctly cite any references used in a paper.
  • Use correct grammar and spelling, paragraphs, number usage, tense, and sentence structure. If you desire help in these areas, UH has an excellent writing resource center where students can learn strategies that will enhance their written communication skills. Please see the UH Writing Center website (http://www.uh.edu/writecen/index.htm) for information about this free resource.
  • Double-space all formal papers. Margins should be 1 inch and serif font (ex. Times New Roman) should be used.
  • Use inclusive language.

Dropping the Course

If you decide it is necessary to drop the course, adhere to the related guidelines presented in the Schedule of Classes-University of Houston.

Course Assistance

At times, access to the course may be down due to server problems. The UH Distance Education Center will make students aware of such “downtime” whether expected or not. Please see the “Announcements” section of the Blackboard Vista main access page (http://www.uh.edu/Blackboard) for messages concerning Vista maintenance issues.

Blackboard Vista functionality issues: If you have difficulty accessing the course, please contact the Blackboard Support staff at , phone: (713) 743-1411 or a live chat available most days at http://www.uh.edu/infotech/livechat.

Course functionality issues: Your instructor has made every effort to aid you in navigating the Blackboard course and with using the Blackboard tools with the specific course content. However, if you need assistance, please consider the following options in order:

  1. Help Tool: Use the “Help” tool located at the top section of your Blackboard course pages. This tool allows you to search for instructions or help for all Blackboard functions. This tool is especially good for describing the Blackboard tools (i.e., Assignments, Email, Discussion Forum, Chat, and Compiling Notes).
  1. Contact Course GA or Instructor: If you cannot locate the answer or need additional information, contact your instructor using Blackboard email or other contact options. You may also contact your instructor when you have questions concerning assignments (accessing, using, submitting, grading etc.).

Be sure to always refer to the Course Schedule and Modules posted to the course web site for due dates.

Week / Topic /

Module/Text Readings, Due Dates

(EO: Evaluation in Organizations; RE: Rapid Evaluation)
1 / M1: Understanding Evaluation in HRD / Reading: Ch. 1 (EO)
2 / M2: Evaluating HRD Initiatives: Learning & Change / Reading: Ch. 2 (EO)
3 / M2: Evaluating HRD Initiatives: Learning & Change / Reading: Ch. 3 (EO)
4 / M3: Evaluating HRD Initiatives: Politics & Ethics / Reading: Ch. 4 (EO)
5 / M3: Developing the Evaluation Plan / Reading: Ch.5 (EO); Ch. 1 (RE)
Evaluation Methods Report (2)

6

/ M3 Continued / Reading: Ch.5 (EO); Ch. 2 (RE)
7
/ M3 Continued / Reading: Ch.5 (EO); Ch. 2 (RE)

8

/ Midterm / Midterm Post Due, 11pm

9

/ M4: Collecting Evaluation Data / Midterm Critique Post Due, 11pm
Readings: Ch. 6 (EO)

10

/ M4: Collecting Evaluation Data: Choosing Options / Readings: Chs. 7 -11; Chs. 3-8 (RE)
Evaluation Methods Report (2)

11

/ M4 Collecting Evaluation Data:
Sampling, Analyzing / Readings: Ch. 12-13; Chs. 9-11 (RE)

12

/ M5: Communicating & Managing the Evaluation / HRD Interview Papers Due
Readings: Chs. 14-16 (EO)

13

/ M5 Continued / Readings: Ch. 17 (EO)

14

/ Continued work / Evaluation Report Due

15

/ Last class / Evaluation Report Presentations posted

Refer to the Modules for a complete list, including suggested notes and web sites

HRD 6303 Required Readings (Fall 2013)

These readings are required to extend your text reading and will be discussed in class sessions. Please review the readings prior to the in-class discussion of each module.

You can easily located these using the UH Library Database or a general internet search (i.e., Google Scholar) during the first few weeks of the semester. Note: Some articles and book chapters will need to be requested via Interlibrary Loan (http://info.lib.uh.edu/services/interlibrary-loan).

Module 1: Understanding Evaluation in HRD

American Society of Training and Development. The Value of Evaluation (2009). Alexandria, Virginia: ASTD Press. Retrieved at on January 2, 2013.

Module 2: Evaluating HRD Initiatives

Bates, R. (2004). A critical analysis of evaluation practice: the Kirkpatrick model and the

principle of beneficence. Evaluation and Program Planning, 27(3), 341-347.

Jaen, C.R. et al. (2010). Methods for evaluating practice change toward a patient-centered medical home. Annals of Family Medicine, 8(1), S9-19.

Saks, A.M. & Burke, L.A. (2012). An investigation into the relationship between training evaluation and the transfer of training. International Journal of Training and Development, 16(2), 118-127.

Module 3: Developing the Evaluation Plan

Phillips, J. A. (2009). Achieving business alignment with the V-Model. In Proven: Beyond the Process, 2(4), 8-14. Retrieved at on January 2, 2013.

Module 4: Collecting Evaluation Data

Edwards, G., & Turnbull, S. (2012). A cultural approach to evaluating leadership development. Advances in Developing Human Resource Development, 14(4), 1-15.

Watkins, K., Lyso, I., deMarrias, K. (2011). Evaluating executive leadership programs: A theory of change approach. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 13(2), 208-239.

Module 5: Communicating & Managing the Evaluation

No readings.

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