Through the use of readings, examples, exercises, and discussions. the course will provide an introduction to the basic principles of the design thinking process, formative and summative evaluation, and other evaluation methods as they apply to learning systems. The course will explore the implementation of evaluation processes in emerging technologies to support learning.
The Design Thinking and Evaluation course helped me move from having a surface-level understanding of evaluation to truly grasping its depth, structure, and impact in learning design. While I had heard of models like Kirkpatrick’s four levels, I didn’t fully understand how to apply evaluation in a way that directly supports the design and improvement of learning experiences. This course broke down the evaluation process step-by-step—types of evaluation, aligning questions to methods, collecting and analyzing data—and helped me understand not just the theory, but the why behind each decision. My biggest "aha" moment came when I developed and implemented a formative and summative evaluation plan for my final project. It was through that real-world application that I saw how evaluation can guide smart, data-informed design choices.
This course has equipped me with a toolkit I’ll carry into future instructional design projects, program planning, and even organizational decision-making. I now see evaluation not as something that happens after a program ends, but as a continuous and essential part of the learning design process. It also shifted the way I think about design thinking—approaching problems with empathy, iteration, and feedback built in from the beginning. I feel more prepared to ask better questions, measure what matters, and use data to advocate for improvements. Whether I’m evaluating a training session, a digital learning tool, or a full curriculum, I now have the confidence and practical skills to design evaluations that are purposeful and actionable.