Program Planning & Evaluation

With an emphasis on tailoring programs to school needs and rigorous evaluation, the planning stage of a program with a school is essential. Program planning has a number of components including the following:

Planning Day for Principal, Teachers and Teaching Artist
The first day at a school is a non-teaching day for The Song Room Teaching Artist. The Teaching Artist will aim to meet with the Principal and as many teachers as possible on this day to find out as much information as they can about the school needs, interests and challenges prior to the first session.

Establishing the Program Objectives
In consultation with the classroom teacher/s, the Teaching Artist will develop the specific objectives for the program and set out the expected music / arts and broader student outcomes, including:
Program Objectives focusing on student, teacher and teaching artist development of skills, knowledge and experience
Music / Arts Outcomes: performances, participation, enjoyment and learning.
Broader Student Outcomes incorporating social, broader learning outcomes and personal development.
Capacity Buildingand Sustainability Objectives including resources, skills and community development.

Program Delivery
The Song Room Teaching Artists work closely with the Classroom Teachers in the delivery of their programs. Through this exposure and mentoring relationship during the programs there is an informal transfer of skills and knowledge. This collaborative process of delivery is also important to continual planning and evaluation to ensure evolving needs are being addressed.

Review and Evaluation
At the conclusion of each workshop program the Teaching Artist conducts a formal evaluation of the program. The classroom Teachers are also requested to conduct an independent evaluation of the program. Both evaluations review the impact of the program in terms of the agreed objectives, and enable The Song Room and the school to understand the outcomes achieved as well as to plan for continuous program improvement. It is essential that The Song Room receives the school’s feedback on how the program is performing during the program as well as at its completion. This feedback and evaluation helps The Song Room to continually improve its program design and delivery and to better direct its program types to specific target groups.

Download a copy of The Song Room Post Program Evaluation Data