Outcomes assessment and program evaluation: partners in intervention planning for the educational environment

Area of Science:

• Higher Education
• Program Evaluation
• Occupational Therapy Education

Background:

• Growing emphasis on accountability in academic institutions.
• Outcomes assessment as a key method for evaluating educational program effectiveness.
• Need for integrating assessment with broader program evaluation frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of outcomes assessment principles.
• To explore the relationship between outcomes assessment and program evaluation.
• To describe the practical implementation of an outcomes assessment program.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on outcomes assessment and program evaluation.
• Case study of outcomes assessment implementation at Kean College of New Jersey.
• Development and discussion of a parallel model for assessment in occupational therapy.

Main Results:

• Outcomes assessment is a vital component of ensuring educational objectives are met.
• Successful integration of outcomes assessment requires alignment with program evaluation.
• A practical model for occupational therapy program assessment was proposed.

Conclusions:

• Outcomes assessment is crucial for institutional accountability in higher education.
• The presented model offers a structured approach for occupational therapy program assessment.
• Effective assessment strategies enhance the quality and relevance of educational programs.