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Session Title: New Tools for Old Methods: Using Technology for Evaluation Methodology and Technical Assistance
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Panel Session 338 to be held in Room 113 in the Convention Center on Thursday, Nov 6, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM
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Sponsored by the Integrating Technology Into Evaluation
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| Chair(s): |
| Rashon Lane,
Northrop Grumman Corporation,
rlane@cdc.gov
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| Abstract:
Advances in technology provide new ways to improve efficiency in conducting traditional evaluation activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) aims to foster a skilled and engaged public health workforce by incorporating technology into evaluation, including collecting evaluation data, conducting focus groups, and structuring a needs assessment. DHDSP also piloted a professional network for evaluators in state health departments who have advanced evaluation skills. However, effective and appropriate uses of technology involve more than skill in operating a new tools or software. Evaluators must also incorporate into their evaluation planning an understanding of the potential impact of a new technology that differs from traditional methods that are well-understood. This panel session provides three examples of how technology was integrated into traditional evaluation activities and illustrates the range of skills needed by evaluators to attain competency in using technology for evaluation.
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Visceral Reactions to Virtual Panels
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| Susan Ladd,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
sladd@cdc.gov
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| Joan Ware,
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors,
ware@chronicdisease.org
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| Lazette Lawton,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
llawton@cdc.gov
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) often incorporates expert panels in developing CDC recommendations, guidance and products. Experts with the level of knowledge and experience sought by CDC are in high demand. As a result, scheduling in-person meetings is very difficult. To address this issue, DHDSP collaborated with the Cardiovascular Health Council of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors to convene a focus group using a browser-based software tool that facilitates management of a group process. The interactive tool eliminated participant travel time and provided real-time group interaction for considering options, reaching consensus, and setting priorities. We describe how the tool was used, share feedback from focus group participants and summarize the benefits and challenges of using the web-based system.
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Conducting a Training Needs Assessment Using a Live Web Discussion Board
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| Rashon Lane,
Northrop Grumman Corporation,
rlane@cdc.gov
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| Susan Ladd,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
sladd@cdc.gov
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| Jan Jernigan,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
jjernigan1@cdc.gov
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| Linda Redman,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
lredman@cdc.gov
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| Margaret Casey,
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors,
casey@chronicdesease.org
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The Division For Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention increases the skills and capacity of the heart disease and stroke public health prevention workforce by holding an annual skill building training. To inform the planning of this training, DHDSP used a live web discussion board to conduct a needs assessment. Advantages of this approach were that participants provided real-time responses when probed by facilitators and communicated with one another through threaded discussions, thus enhancing the level of detail in their responses. The web board responses allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of participant needs so that training planning could be sharply focused. This presentation will explain the application of a live discussion board process and illustrate the multiple roles of the evaluator in structuring an online evaluative process.
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Professional Networking Among Advanced Evaluators: The Pilot of the Advanced Evaluation Network (AEN)
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| Lisa Levy,
Northrop Grumman Corporation,
llevy@cdc.gov
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| Michael Schooley,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
mschooley@cdc.gov
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CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) strives to foster a skilled and engaged public health workforce. To address the needs of experienced evaluators in various state based chronic disease programs, DHDSP piloted a professional networking group called the Advanced Evaluation Network (AEN). Relying on technology to promote distance based networking among evaluators, AEN connected six advanced level state health department program evaluators from across the U.S. for five teleconference calls. AEN tested the concept of a self-directed network with the goals of sharing information and peer-to-peer learning across chronic disease evaluators. This presentation will describe the concept and process of distance based professional networking and how future applications of technology can be used to meet advanced evaluation needs. Highlights of professional networking among evaluation members, assessment, and pitfalls of the pilot will also be discussed.
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