| Session Title: Understanding Contextual Factors to Build Capacity Among People Who Don't Think They Are Evaluators |
| Think Tank Session 306 to be held in Sebastian Section L3 on Thursday, Nov 12, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM |
| Sponsored by the Organizational Learning and Evaluation Capacity Building TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Julianne Manchester, Case Western Reserve University, julianne.manchester@case.edu |
| Discussant(s): |
| Molly Engle, Oregon State University, molly.engle@oregonstate.edu |
| Julianne Manchester, Case Western Reserve University, julianne.manchester@case.edu |
| Abstract: Often programersrs ignore evaluation in favor of developing the program and think of evaluation only after the program has been implemented. Building evaluation capacity of programersrs who deliver trainings in complex organizations will contribute to useful evaluations. By considering the importance of relational and organizational factors on program planning and evaluation, session participants will identify the contextual factors affecting their evaluations. Questions posed to the audience will include, "What characteristics of partnerships affect programming? What characteristics enhance access to practice-based evidence? Can trainee data and the utility of results with multiple groups (curriculum designers, faculty) be used to build capacity? How is evaluation planning shaped in the absence of adequate partners? How can using logic modeling as a tool be useful in building evaluation capacity among program planners? What logic model formats maximize evaluation capacity?" Knowing when to introduce systems tools may facilitate evaluation capacity building. |