Conducting a Language Program Evaluation

Our work in this chapter explains how to conduct a program evaluation. Because of our commitment to an interdisciplinary perspective, we advocate the use of the open-source, generic ‘Rainbow Framework’ developed by BetterEvaluation [ betterevaluation.org ]. Importantly, the site provides a wide range of materials that can be used under licence from Creative Commons that allows “everyone from individual creators to large institutions a standardized way to grant the public permission to use their creative work under copyright law” [creativecommons.org]. Our chapter highlights the need to assess institutions and programs for their readiness. Next, we explain the seven categories of the Rainbow Framework using examples from our field. In subsequent chapters, selected stages of the Rainbow Framework are integrated in illustrative case studies of differing language programs.