Evaluation

Most of what we do is more commonly called professional development for teachers and school leaders, so why aren’t we called Professional Development Associates? Do we have the wrong name? Should we change? After all, evaluation is more commonly associated with what ERO does, not what teachers do, isn’t it?

So here is the thinking. The essence of all learning, the essence of teaching, the essence of all systematic improvement has, at its core, careful measurement of where things are in relation to where they should be.

In short, the essence of learning, teaching and improvement of any sort, in any endeavour, requires evaluation. Without evaluation, learners cannot know how to adjust what they are doing in order to improve. Without evaluation, teachers cannot adjust what they are doing in order to provide proper support to assist the learner.

Improvement comes from a systematic evaluation of how things are now, an evaluation that indicates the direction for improvement.

So, we are called Evaluation Associates because we recognise that evaluation sits at the core of all learning and improvement. We can help you improve.

If you request our help, the first thing we will do is work with you to evaluate accurately where things are now so that you can determine what you want to learn or improve. Then we will support you to take improvement actions and to learn. Then we will evaluate where things have got to. And so on.

Some people call it inquiry. At Evaluation Associates Ltd we simply call it evaluation. It is what we do. And we do it very, very well.

If you have any questions about this article

Contact Michael Absolum ONZM