Construct a 1-2 page course definition with an accompanying alignment table for a nursing education course using a topic of your choice. Include a 1-2- page memo to a department supervisor that contains a rationale for the assessment and evaluation strategies you plan to use in the course. Introduction Assessing and evaluating program effectiveness requires you to understand the entire alignment of a course, from the way it is presented to potential learners to the final analysis of aggregated data. Whenever you begin the process of designing a course, it is important to begin with the end in mind. Assessment and evaluation strategies are key elements of the design process. How will the course fit in with a larger organizational outcome or continuing educational requirement? What do you want your learners to know or do after they have completed the course? How will you determine whether your learners have met your learning objectives? Program outcomes and learning objectives create a framework to help you determine the learning activities and the types of assessment that will best tell you whether your objective has been met. Preparation As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community. What is the difference between assessment and evaluation? What are the differences between formative and summative evaluations? How would you address each of the following domains, when designing assessments and evaluations of learner skills and knowledge? Cognitive. Psychomotor. Affective. Scenario Imagine that you are a nurse educator in a local organization. You have been asked to create a new course for your nurse education program. You have been given latitude to select both the topic and the nurse population. Your supervisor would like you to create a course definition document that includes the following elements: A course title and course description. The learning objectives. The related program description and program outcomes. Alignment of the external standards or regulatory guidelines that pertain to the educational program offering. This year, the department is asking all nurse educators to pay particular attention to how the evaluation and assessment design of courses help ensure that both learning and program outcomes will be met. In addition, leadership has recognized the importance of evidenced-based practice and standards of care. To that end, at least one external national nursing standard should be aligned with the objectives for your assignment. Part One Course Definition and Alignment Table Identify a specific health care issue, setting, and learner audience.
