Evaluation of an in-service course in special educational needs in further education

Abstract

An evaluation of an in-service course in special educational needs in further education. The intention of this study was to evaluate the second phase of a special needs in-service course. The evaluation was to investigate how far the stated course aims had been achieved in relation to course members, and the organisation. Illuminative evaluation was used as a model to investigate the course. Kinder, Harland and Wootten's (1991) typology of effective INSET outcomes was used as a tool to analyse the data produced through illuminative evaluation. The results showed that the course had achieved all outcomes in Kinder et al's typology, thus suggesting that it was a course of effective INSET which had achieved its stated aims. However for future INSET to be effective, the writer suggests, that outcomes related to the management of change need to be considered in the planning and evaluation of INSET programmes.