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Beyond Freelancing: Building a Lasting Evaluation Business
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| Presenter(s):
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| Leah Goldstein Moses, The Improve Group, leah@theimprovegroup.com
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| Abstract:
With increased attention to accountability and results, evaluation will likely be a growing industry in the coming years. The presenter will describe her experiences building an evaluation firm, changes over the last decade in the field of evaluation as practiced by consultants, and emerging trends that will affect the business of evaluation in the coming year. The session will answer the following key questions:
- How do you build a pipeline of new projects while honoring existing commitments?
- How do you balance expenses so that you have adequate resources to support your work, without increasing overhead costs that are then passed on to clients?
- What opportunities are there for collaborating with evaluators in other settings, such as academia, government, and internal evaluators at nonprofits and foundations?
- What risks and opportunities increase as your business grows?
- Who are your competitors, and how should you prepare to compete?
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Sharing Evaluation Information across Programs: Providing a Larger Picture of Some of the Issues and Challenges Stakeholders Face
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| Presenter(s):
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| Kathryn Race, Race & Associates Ltd, race_associates@msn.com
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| Abstract:
Based on an exemplar case study approach involving multi-year evaluations, this paper will highlight the benefits of sharing evaluation information across programs when appropriate and when clients agree to this arrangement. Evaluations of two separate science literacy programs are highlighted; both programs conducted by informal science institutions; one directed toward pre-service teachers and the other directed toward experienced elementary public school teachers. One program offers structured summer courses in science content and pedagogy while the other offers professional development opportunities and courses throughout the academic year and summer. Pre-program assessment of participants, however, showed that both pre-service and experienced teachers struggled with attitudes toward their confidence in teaching science, addressing inquiry and reform-based instructional strategies, and reluctance to abandon more traditional teaching methods. Sharing similar data patterns across programs helped both institutions better understand some of the issues and challenges they face in fostering reform-based instructional strategies in science.
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When Non-Monetary Benefits Outweigh Cost: Choosing a Pro-bono Project
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| Presenter(s):
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| Meghan Lowery, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, mrlowery@siu.edu
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| Nicholas G Hoffman, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, nghoff@siu.edu
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| Abstract:
Decisions to tackle pro-bono work can be made for many reasons. The importance of occasionally doing pro-bono work will be discussed, along with non-monetary benefits that can be gained. The presentation will discuss previous pro-bono projects and the equivalence of compensation gained from participating in these projects. Applied Research Consultants (ARC) is a graduate-student run consulting firm at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. ARC takes on pro-bono projects for the training benefits afforded by such projects,. This presentation will also address how evaluators can make sure pro-bono projects do not overrun paid project time.
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