Evaluation Made Easy
Evaluation Basics for teams
An introduction to evaluation, minus the jargon
Evaluation has an important role to play in evidencing the difference programs, projects and other initiatives are making. A major block to starting on the pathway to evaluation is understanding the language and knowing the steps.
Evaluation Basics is a four session (4-6 week) flexible course designed to support facilitators in building evaluation capability in their team. And you will be supported in the most effective way of retaining evaluation knowledge and skills - by teaching it!
A visual toolkit will engage and motivate your team in 'doing' evaluation. Regular coaching from experienced evaluation facilitators, a package of easy-to-follow facilitator resources and working in a small group will make facilitation a breeze.
TOOLKIT OF ACTIVITIES
What you get
TEAM RESOURCES
FACILITATOR RESOURCES
REGULAR, EXPERT TRAINING SUPPORT
How it Works
INTRODUCTION TO COURSE FACILITATION
Receive the Evaluation Basics Team Toolkit and Facilitator materials.
Participate in a live online session where you will meet the evaluation coach (Dr. Samantha Abbato) and the other facilitators (Maximum of 8). This includes an overview of how the course and coaching will work for the 4 weeks of sessions.
Approximately weekly commitment is:
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90-120 minutes preparation, coaching, and debriefing
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90-120 minutes team facilitation.
*Additional toolkits are available if you need more for your team.
SUPPORT FOR EACH SESSION AND TOPIC
Participate in group coaching for each of the 4 sessions and topics. Be guided through the materials for each session using a Facilitator's Guide - including a 20-minute video presentation, a PowerPoint Slide Pack and instructions for team activities. All activities are designed so you can support your team to work on building evaluative language, thinking, questions and evaluation planning.
Designed Activity Sheets and Activity Templates will provide direction for applying the topic to your situation. These will be provided in the course toolkit as well as online formats to give you and your team flexibility.
FACILITATE YOUR TEAM AND BUILD CAPACITY
Each week, you will be supported to provide a presentation on the topic to your team. You can choose from a 20-minute video or use an annotated PowerPoint slide pack to present.
Follow the instructions provided in the facilitators guide, on the Toolkit components and the online activity platform to support your team in participating in an activity.
Team reward is to build evaluation capacity whilst working on their own projects.
Additional facilitator reward is roughly 90% retained learning by teaching (compared to 5% from attending a presentation on the topic.
PARTICIPATE IN LIVE VIDEO CONFERENCES
Two scheduled video conference sessions for facilitators are provided.
The video sessions offer:
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A Q&A session on the topics covered
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The opportunity to present your team's work,
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Networking opportunities with other facilitators participating.
In addition, you will be able to access coaching twice weekly via coaching "office hours" on Zoom with any questions along the way. You can opt for working with your team on an online platform where the evaluation coach can provide feedback on the activities you complete with your team.
Coaches monitor facilitators' discussion boards daily, to ensure you get all the support you need.
Training outcomes
TEAM/ORGANISATION OUTCOMES
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A shared evaluation language
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Increased evaluative thinking
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Preliminary evaluation questions
PARTICIPANTS' OUTCOMES
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Clearer understanding of what evaluation and evaluation concepts
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Increased ability to think evaluatively and ask evaluation questions
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Knowledge of the steps involved in planning an evaluation
TEAM FACILITATORS' OUTCOMES
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Participant objectives (above) at a deeper level
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Ability to guide a team in understanding and thinking evaluatively
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Increased practical evaluation facilitation skills
The Sessions and Topics
What others are saying...
01
the language and concepts of evaluation
We invite you on the journey of evaluation using pictures, stories, games, and real-life examples. We de-mystify evaluation concepts and terminology and provide some basic tools and visual definitions.
02
evaluative thinking
Evaluative thinking is not only critical to the success of evaluation efforts, it strengthens decision-making across the organisation. We introduce practical tools and activities to build and monitor evaluative thinking of your team.
03
evaluation questions
Evaluation questions are fundamental to evaluating, but coming up with them can paralyze us!. VIsual 'brainstorming' tools will guide your team in covering the ground of identifying, prioritising, and articulating evaluation questions.
04
steps for evaluation planning
Learn the critical steps to planning a successful evaluation. We take you and your team through an overview of steps, visual tools, and practical strategies for making a start to evaluation planning that will build organisational strength.
Are you ready for it?
The Evaluation Basics (EME-1) training package is ideal for your team if you:
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Have identified the need for evidence of the 'difference' you make
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Want to improve the service you provide to participants using an evidence-base
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Want to rapidly increase your evaluation knowledge and skills by being supported in facilitating a basics course
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Your team is ready to come together to further the initiative and evaluation.
Contact us to take steps to build evaluation capability and organisational strength (Admin@VisualInsights.com.au)