Evaluation Guidelines for Internship Committees

Evaluation
The purpose of evaluation is to enable a person to learn and grow in ministry. It is an assessment of the learning plan which the student and supervisor have established as their agenda for ministerial growth and development.

Criterial to be used for evaluation

• Evaluation by the Internship Committee should be a constant factor, present at all times, and should be formalized at stated intervals.
  • Written evaluations need to be simple, clear, direct, and confidential.
  • No surprises should appear in the formal evaluation. No new material should be introduced. The report should be completely predictable from previous conversations.
  • Evaluation reports should be the end product of a consultation process between the committee and student.
  • Evaluation should focus from beginning to end upon the ministerial growth needs of the student.
  • Evaluation should be with reference to observed behavior, not assumptions or hear-say.
  • Evaluation follows naturally from the learning plan.
    • It is specifically related to the student's learning plan.
    • It is based upon assessment data which the student generates.
    • It incorporates input from persons who are acquainted with the ministry of the student.
• The written evaluation also needs to address:
  • The quality of key relationships, e.g. supervisor, peers, and people being served;
  • General insights, feelings, frustrations, anxieties, and new directions which have emerged during the evaluation period;
  • How you have worked together as a committee.
    

The Process of Writing the Evaluation Report

Note-taking By the Field Supervisor and Internship Committee
The supervisor and internship committee should each identify and reflect upon the essential elements of the evaluation and feedback provided the student over the course of the semester. It will be helpful in this regard to keep some written record of sessions held with the student, noting both general topics of discussion and specific points which have been raised.

The Preparation of an Outline for Mutual Discussion
The student, supervisor, and internship committee should each prepare a structured outline of what they plan to include in the evaluation report. If desired, this might take the form of a first draft of the report. They should then arrange to share this information with one another and discuss it together prior to writing the final version of the report.

The Writing of the Evaluation Report
The writing of the evaluation report should take into account the discussion resulting from step 2 (above). Strict adherence should be given to the specified due dates, included in Section II of the Field Education Handbook under the heading of "Course Requirements."

At the conclusion of the internship, the supervisor and the internship committee should send the Office of Professional Education:

• a brief self-evaluation, and
• a brief evaluation of the field education program.