Abstract
Background. Fundamental to the development of educational programs and curricula is the evaluation of processes and outcomes. Unfortunately, many otherwise well‐designed programs do not incorporate stringent evaluation methods and are limited in measuring program development and effectiveness. Using an advertising lesson in a school‐based tobacco‐use prevention curriculum as a case study, the authors examine the role of evaluation in the development, implementation, and enhancement of the curricular lesson. Methods. A four‐phase formative and summative evaluation design was developed to divide the program‐evaluation continuum into a structured process that would aid in the management of the evaluation, as well as assess curricular components. Results and conclusions. Formative and summative evaluation can provide important guidance in the development, implementation, and enhancement of educational curricula. Evaluation strategies identified unexpected barriers and allowed the project team to make necessary “time‐relevant” curricular adjustments during each stage of the process.