Teaching Evaluation Using the Case Method

The absence of readily available teaching cases has been a significant gap in the field of evaluation. This volume aims to begin filling that gap by presenting high-quality evaluation cases developed specifically for use with the case method.

The volume begins by reviewing evaluation issues that cases can be used to surface and provides guidance for using the case method. Three in-depth cases are then presented for quite different evaluation situations. Each has been taught, field-tested, and refined in line with participant feedback. Each case ends with teaching questions and key evaluation points those questions are aimed at elucidating. Following the case chapters, a professional evaluator reflects on his experiences with the cases and offers lessons learned about evaluation teaching and training, including exercises for extrapolating lessons, illuminating ethical dilemmas, understanding and applying alternative evaluation models, and conducting metaevaluations, among other uses. 

This is the 105th issue of the quarterly report series New Directions for Evaluation.

Michael Quinn Patton is on the faculty of Union Institute and University.

Patricia Patrizi is chair of the Evaluation Roundtable.