CHOIR Evaluatiom

EVALUATION
Continuous monitoring and evaluating procedures constitute the strength of the CHOIR project. Evaluation and monitoring processes are intended to form the basis for the improvement of the activities together with the planning of work over the two years of the project period and beyond.

The results of the monitoring activity will be used to inform board members and teachers involved, leading to the formative evaluation that will be used as the concrete input to improve the quality of projects whilst they are running. The evaluation activity of web-based interactions will be part of the monitoring of platform work. To maximise effectiveness, an electronic form will be created for use by all participants with regular update and distribution amongst partners.

Evaluation of the project will be developed on the formative model ensuring that changes in organisation, technical systems, use of learning styles and teaching and learning methods are captured and recorded. Data generated by students and teachers in frequent short meetings with stakeholders must be a part of the documentation of the programme and form part of both the formative and eventual summative evaluation. On a daily basis, the project will seek to make use of self-assessment and to encourage self-reflection, particularly amongst teachers students and board members.

An external evaluator will be attached to the project as a Critical Friend. The concept of the Critical Friend is to provide an external professional, unconnected with the project team but looking at development and offering advice and comment on a continuous basis. The Critical Friend will evaluate formative activity and will work with the project partners to develop and define the summative process.
Particular attention will be paid to the monitoring of ongoing projects through study visits by the evaluator and by the use of the electronic forms and other online mediated resources and systems.

The evaluator will co-operate closely with Danish partner who will have overall responsibility for the management of the CHOIR project.

During the project the Danish partner intents to promote evaluation through:

•    The creation of a very specific workplan for evaluation and dissemination and through training all partners in their tasks in relation to the approved workplan.

•    Collecting all learning and other materials, minutes, presentations and other information which will be added to the project website and will, in the end, become an essential part of the evaluation and dissemination process.

•    The creation and management of an electronic form/log to be used of all partners in the Project

•    The use of an evidence based evaluation tool which can clarify the approaches of the project.