Evaluation Model Advantages Disadvantages

EXPERTISE AND CONSUMER-ORIENTED

APPROACHES

Experts (evaluator) make decisions and judge
the program being evaluated
Standards are set
Improvement encouraged through self-study
Valuing the product or program is central
Valuable information given because it relies on
professional judgment
Personal bias
May increase product cos t

PROGRAM-ORIENTED EVALUATION
APPROACHES

Simplicity (easy to understand, follow and
implement)
Results are relevant and legitimate
Purpose of objectives are specified
Focuses on how the objectives are achieved
Single-mindedly focused only on stated
program outcomes or objectives
Other outcomes or findings are ignored
Judgments may be incomplete
Neglects gaining understanding

DECISION-ORIENTED EVALUATION
APPROACHES

Addresses problems and helps stakeholders
make decisions
It focuses on decisions
Social equity and equality are not values
directly addressed (basically neglects the
those with less power)
Inability to respond to questions or issues that
may be significant

PARTICIPANT-ORIENTED EVALUATION
APPROACHES

Flexibility
Encourages dialogue with powerless
stakeholders
Greater use of results and improved validity
Increase in understanding
Encourages multiple data collection methods

Manageability
Credibility of results to non-stakeholders
Stakeholders may be bias or may have
difficulties being objective when evaluating
their program
Increased time and cost
Competency of stakeholders

Explain your choice of model for your program evaluation: I have decided to go with a program-oriented and participant-oriented
evaluation approach. Its straightforward procedure of using objectives to determine a programs success or failure and to serve as a
foundation for program improvements, maintenance, or termination of program activities has proved an attractive prototype
(Fitzpatrick, Sanders, & Worthen, 2011 pp.165). This type of approach will help to determine if the objectives of the combined curriculum
being tested is obtaining the goals set as a success or a failure. It can also help determine where improvements need to be made or if
terminating the program is the best solution. I will also use the participant-oriented evaluation approach to help encourage dialogue and
help improve the validity of the program. The stakeholders involved will be able to understand and determine best practices because of
their direct experience and wanting to do what will help them be able to build the program on a firm foundation. Combining the two


approaches will help balance out the limitation of using stakeholders in a program-oriented approach and the involvement of using too
many stakeholders in the participant-oriented approach.

Running Head: Program Analysis 1


Program Analysis
Walden University
Program Evaluation

Montrice Lucas
11/10/2013





Program Analysis 2

The name of the organization is Calvary Resurrection Christian Academy, (CRCA). It is
a private Christian school in Birmingham, Alabama that has been using the A Beka program to
educate their students since the school began. In previous years they have serviced students from
the age of 18 months up to five years.
This school year they have decided to advance to kindergarten and first grade by using
the combined A Beka classroom curriculum program. This combined classroom approach has
been used by the Pensacola Christian Academy and has worked in the past. This year Calvary
wanted to test this approach because they want to advance each year until they are a fully
incorporated Fine Arts Christian School that goes all the way to Twelfth grade.
The program that I will be evaluating is the combined Kindergarten and First grade A
Beka classroom curriculum approach that this organization is using for the first time. This
program is Christian-based and it combines two different age groups of children in the same
classroom, but each grade level has its own lesson plan or curriculum to follow.
There are also some portions of the curriculum that can be combined to teach both grade
levels. The educational approach is founded on biblical principles that address the nature of the
learner and learning, the nature of truth and authority, and what is important to learn and
know(A Beka, 2013). Drill, repetition, and memorization are the approaches taken to help
students learn using this curriculum. The teacher guides gives specific directions on what to do,
what materials to use, and exactly what and how to say something when presenting different
lessons. The student books are very appealing, and they include drills and activities for the
students to complete.
Program Analysis 3

The purpose of the program as stated by A Beka is that, Todays students need to be
taught the accumulated wisdom of the past from a biblical worldview so they will have a firm
foundation from which to evaluate the present and make proper decisions for the future (A
Beka, 2013). Calvary Resurrection Christian Academy (CRCA) also states its reasons or purpose
for why it uses the A Beka curriculum as well. The A-Beka Curriculum provides a basic
program of study designed to result in students having increased self-esteem, self-awareness, and
high levels of competence in the use of communication skills that include reading, writing,
speaking and listening. The A-Beka curriculum also provides development of study habits that
can lead to success and test taking skills that enable students to perform well on standard tests
CRCA, 2013).
Over the years that CRCA has used the traditional A Beka program and it has been
successful. The students are pushed to excel above their grade level academic standards, and they
enjoy the way the lessons are presented as well. The task at hand will be fitting all the lessons
into the allotted time frame provided in each day, and following the directions when presenting
the lessons. The materials that have been purchased are for general traditional classrooms, and
the goal is to adapt the materials and lessons to fit the combined curriculum schedule. The
purpose of the evaluation will be to reveal any weaknesses or things that need to be revised to
make the program better, and ensure that it will be successful in the upcoming years as more
grade levels are added.



Program Analysis 4

References
Pensacola Christian Academy. (2013). A Beka Book: Our Foundation. Retrieved from:
http://www.abeka.com/OurFoundation.aspx
CRCA. (2013). Calvary Resurrection Christian Academy: About Us. Retrieved from:
http://www.crcawarriors.com/#!about/cjg9

Running head: EVALUATIVE CRITERIA

Evaluative Criteria
Walden University
Montrice Lucas
December 1, 2013








1 Evaluative Criteria
The main purpose of the program evaluation is to determine whether or not the combined
A Beka curriculum is the best choice for building the Calvary Resurrection Christian Academy
(CRCA) program into a toddler through twelfth grade performing arts school. The school
currently services toddlers through first grade students. The current plan is to advance to twelfth
grade through the combining of two grade levels in one classroom with two different curriculum
formats each year.
Five Evaluation Questions
1. What are the advantages of combining two grade levels using the A Beka curriculum?
2. Will the combination of the grade levels be an asset or disadvantage to any of the
stakeholders (students, teacher, Director)? If so, how?
3. Is advancing to twelfth grade by combining grade levels a realistic goal for CRCA and
are stakeholders open to other options for getting to the goal of servicing students up to
twelfth grade?
4. Is the combined curriculum just a cost-efficient way of advancing or are learners needs
truly being considered and met through this combination?
5. How can CRCA increase the number of students attending as the grade levels increase?
These evaluative questions will impact the evaluation by giving guidance on what to look for
and how to get the best results from the evaluation. The Pastor, Director, teacher/staff, parents,
and students are the major stakeholders in this evaluation, and the overall goal is to do what is
best for everyone that will be affected by the program. The Pastor, Director, and teacher/staff
will play the role of the SMEs because they know the program and have been using it, as well
as, get to see the advantages and disadvantages of the program first-hand.

2 Evaluative Criteria
They can use their knowledge to answer questions about benefits and disadvantages of the
program. The parents of CRCA students can be used to brainstorm ideas on how to get more
students to come by being advocates for the program and expressing what made them bring their
children and why they will continue to bring their children to CRCA.
This evaluation should be conducted in order to ensure that the advancement of the
program will be a success. It is needed to ensure that students will still be able to learn and
function appropriately with each other although they will not be learning the same content. It is
also needed to show the Director and teacher what needs to be done to improve efficiency,
increase the number of students, and ensure that as CRCA advances, it will not be a burden
financially or in any other aspect.
The A Beka curriculum has been proven to be an effective curriculum that has been used
by CRCA for many years, which is why the usefulness of the curriculum is not being evaluated.
We know for a fact that the students do learn and excel in their academics from using this
program. What we will be evaluating is, the logic of combining two grade levels of students in
one classroom using the A Beka combined curriculum to advance to twelfth grade, and how
parents and students will be encouraged to come and become a part of the school. There has to
be a plan set to acquire more students because the more students that come, the more financially
stable CRCA will be and it would also give them a purpose for advancing beyond first grade.





3 Evaluative Criteria
Evaluation Model Advantages Disadvantages

EXPERTISE AND CONSUMER-
ORIENTED APPROACHES

Experts (evaluator) make
decisions and judge the program
being evaluated
Standards are set
Improvement encouraged
through self-study
Valuing the product or program
is central
Valuable information given
because it relies on professional
judgment
Personal bias
May increase product cost

PROGRAM-ORIENTED
EVALUATION APPROACHES

Simplicity (easy to understand,
follow and implement)
Results are relevant and
legitimate
Purpose of objectives are
specified
Focuses on how the objectives
are achieved
Single-mindedly focused only on
stated program outcomes or
objectives
Other outcomes or findings are
ignored
Judgments may be incomplete
Neglects gaining understanding

DECISION-ORIENTED
EVALUATION APPROACHES

Addresses problems and helps
stakeholders make decisions
It focuses on decisions
Social equity and equality are not
values directly addressed
(basically neglects the those with
less power)
Inability to respond to questions
or issues that may be significant

PARTICIPANT-ORIENTED
EVALUATION APPROACHES

Flexibility
Encourages dialogue with
powerless stakeholders
Greater use of results and
improved validity
Increase in understanding
Encourages multiple data
collection methods

Manageability
Credibility of results to non-
stakeholders
Stakeholders may be bias or may
have difficulties being objective
when evaluating their program
Increased time and cost
Competency of stakeholders

Explain your choice of model for your program evaluation: I have decided to go with a program-
oriented and participant-oriented evaluation approach. Its straightforward procedure of using
objectives to determine a programs success or failure and to serve as a foundation for program
improvements, maintenance, or termination of program activities has proved an attractive
prototype (Fitzpatrick, Sanders, & Worthen, 2011 pp.165). This type of approach will help to
determine if the objectives of the combined curriculum being tested is obtaining the goals set as a
success or a failure. It can also help determine where improvements need to be made or if
terminating the program is the best solution. I will also use the participant-oriented evaluation
approach to help encourage dialogue and help improve the validity of the program. The
stakeholders involved will be able to understand and determine best practices because of their

4 Evaluative Criteria

Reference
Fitzpatrick, J., Sanders, J., Worthen, B. (2011). Program Evaluation: Alternative approaches and
practical guidelines (4
th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ.

direct experience and wanting to do what will help them be able to build the program on a firm
foundation. Combining the two approaches will help balance out the limitation of using
stakeholders in a program-oriented approach and the involvement of using too many
stakeholders in the participant-oriented approach.

Reporting Strategy
Stakeholder Reporting Strategy Implications Stakeholder Involvement
Pastor

Personal Discussion- This person
would want to know in-depth
information about outcomes of
the program to ensure that the
expansion will be successful to all
parties involved or that will be
affected through the program.
The results of the report could
affect this person because she
may have to determine a new
way of expanding the school if the
combined curriculum is not
sufficient.
These stakeholders can be
involved in the reporting process
by helping determine results.
They can all work together in
order to determine best practices
and decide what can be done to
help improve the program
because they have more
knowledge of the practices
involved with the program. They
can reflect on the analysis
together and engage in
meaningful dialogue, which help
the evaluator learn the
stakeholders reactions and get
an understanding of how to
communicate the results.
Director

Personal Discussion-This person
would also want in-depth
information for the same
reasonings as the Pastor, but
she would want more information
and would also like to engage in
dialogue about best practices and
what can be done ensure
success.
The results of the report would
affect this stakeholder the same
as the Pastor and would have her
trying to determine how to expand
the program successfully without
exhausting all the resources.
Teacher/Staff

PowerPoint Presentation-The
teacher would want information
on what is working/or not working
and a PowerPoint would be a
great way to briefly show this type
of information and can also show
information on what can be done
to ensure that the learners are
benefiting from the combined
curriculum.
Potential implications of this
report would affect the
teachers/staff by causing them to
have to research more ways of
reaching learners and making
sure that they are being afforded
the information that is needed for
them to be successful learners.
Parents

Photography and video
presentation- I think this would be
beneficial to parents because
they can see how the program
works or is working through
videos and photographs of their
child engaging in the classroom.
Parents the program resources
are very good and are beneficial
to your children. It requires a lot
of organization, time, resources,
and patience to ensure that your
children are getting exactly what
they need to be successful. This
program has been proven to
work, but it requires that the
curriculum is followed precisely. I
Parents really just want to know
that their child is receiving a great
quality education, so I would
involve this stakeholder by
providing them with the
information they desire to have
and by letting them express what
they think can be done better.
believe that as long as the CRCA
teachers are doing what the
curriculum requires the program
will work and your children will not
lack in his/her education.
Students

Cartoons or Drama- These types
of strategies will grasps students
attention, and will also help
explain information simply so that
students will not get confused and
will see the benefits of the
program.
Being in the classroom with
children that may be younger or
older than you can be fun.
Learning from each other and
mentoring each other are just
some of the possibilities of being
in a combined classroom.
This stakeholder would be
involved by the test that will be
given to determine how much
they know. The results of the test
will help determine the programs
outcomes and feasibility.

Values, Standards, and Criteria:
When interpreting data to ensure openness I will ask stakeholders if they have any questions or concerns and will try to provide insightful
information to help improve weaknesses. I will begin by discussing the strengths of the program and what parts seem to be effective. Then I will
provide opportunities to discuss ways of improving the problematic areas of concern.

Potential ethical issues:
Potential ethical issues may arise because if the results of the evaluation are not what the Director and Pastor expect, then they may become
defensive and they may not accept the results. They also may reprimand staff and teachers if they do not receive the desired results of the
program evaluation. Other ethical issues may include teachers and staff not being honest to keep from being reprimanded, and improper
reporting techniques being used if the evaluator does not understand the audience being reported too. Sometimes evaluators might try to scale
back on reporting imperfections because they may not know how stakeholders will react to negative results. Not allowing stakeholders to
participate in interpreting data can be an ethical issue because the evaluator is may not be an expert in the program but the stakeholder can
help by providing valuable knowledge. (Adds to the validity of the results)