Program Evaluation in Clinical Education (EDUC91355)

Overview

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Subject Available 2026

This subject builds on students’ foundational knowledge of evaluation specific to clinical teaching to encompass evaluation of programs, initiatives and courses in health professions education. Evaluation is fundamental to assuring the quality of our educational interventions and in contributing to continuous improvement of teaching, learning and assessment. This subject will equip students with skills to design a program evaluation specific to health professions education, to gather data to address evaluation questions and to interpret and utilise evaluation data to inform improvements. Students will gain extended understanding of approaches to evaluation, developing evaluation questions, selecting evaluation methods and communicating evaluation results. The subject will also consider evaluation in the context of accreditation of health professions education and training programs, reinforce the ethical principles underlying evaluation practice and equip students to critically appraise evaluation activities.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Describe the purposes of educational program evaluation.
Identify common approaches to program evaluation and their strengths and weaknesses.
Select appropriate methods to address evaluation questions with consideration to their advantages and disadvantages.
Design and utilise appropriate instruments (surveys, interview schedules, observation checklists) to gather evaluation data.
Justify an evaluation approach with consideration to purpose, context, and feasibility.
Critique evaluation findings with consideration to design, sample, methods and analysis.
Interpret evaluation evidence and effectively communicate evaluation findings to stakeholders.
Formulate approaches to ensuring evaluation evidence underpins accreditation standards for health professions education.
Evaluate the ethical implications of program evaluation activities, with particular consideration to the rights of participants and with cultural sensitivity.

Generic skills

demonstrate cognitive, analytic and problem solving skills;
access and use relevant research literature;
identify and implement best practice principles;
demonstrate understanding in concise oral and written formats;
demonstrate the ability to work either individually or as part of a team;
demonstrate reflective practice and integration of theory into practice through oral and written formats.

Last updated: 4 March 2025