1. Preliminary Lessons Learned
Mobilizing Knowledge About the Development of Children, Youth, and Families (MKAD): Focus on Knowledge Transformation and Learning
Background
Preliminary Lessons Learned
Mobilizing Knowledge About Development (MKAD)
Optimizing the healthy development of children and families is a key value in Canadian society. The Community-University Partnership for the Study of Child, Youth, & Families (CUP) and the Alberta Centre for Child, Family & Community Research (ACCFCR) have an interest in knowledge exchange, in keeping with a growing movement to mobilize research-based knowledge to improve programs and policies that influence children and families.
In 2005, SSHRC created the Knowledge Impact in Society (KIS) program (up to $100,000 per year for three years). As knowledge-mobilization (KM) partners, CUP and ACCFCR received KIS funding for the MKAD project along with support from: ACCFCR and the Faculties of Arts, Education, Nursing, Medicine & Dentistry, and Rehabilitation Medicine, and the Office of the Vice President (Research) at the University of Alberta.
Interactive KM strategies supporting the exchange of information are more effective than one-directional and lecture-oriented activities.
Networking is necessary. Not only does it serve a social purpose but it also helps to make sense of research evidence and to create “how-to” knowledge.
CBR is inherently oriented to knowledge creation, sharing, and use.
From the beginning of a partnership, diverse types of knowledge are exchanged and new knowledge is created.
CBR-capacity building needs to be consistent with the nature of CBR which is relational, collaborative, equitable, and respectful.
Potential adopters of research & adult learners:
Need evidence AND “how-to” knowledge (i.e., ways to apply new knowledge)
Apply past experience, prior knowledge, and decision-making abilities:
To make sense of and apply new knowledge to their lives and work.
Community-Based Research (CBR)-Capacity Building:
Evaluation of:
Capacity- building strategies:
Workshops
Grad course
Practicum course
ACCFCR Activities
CBR Workshops
Graduate Certificate in CBR
CUP Events
What is MKAD?
MKAD is a three-year collaboration between CUP and ACCFCR designed to build capacity across campus and community and to engage in collaborative, interdisciplinary, and sustainable relationships for creating and sharing knowledge.
Evaluation Initiative
CBR-Capacity Building Initiative
Objectives:
(a) To study current understandings about KM
in the literature, &
through consulting.
(b) To develop and test a KM framework.
(c) To apply the framework to:
study the effectiveness of our KM strategies, &
share lessons learned in MKAD.
CBR Workshop Series:
Six, sequential workshops covering three competency areas:
Conceptual, methodological, & ‘partnerological’
Spin-off activities toward growing a learning community
Developing a graduate-level, CBR-certificate program:
Interim activities (e.g., customized workshops, guest lectures)
Winter 2009 launch of new graduate course (INT-D 500):
Original ‘target audience’
Unanticipated interest
How to meet the demand? (e.g., online?)
Next Steps
Complete the three-year project and publish findings;
Integrate MKAD activities into core CUP and ACCFCR programming; &
Reflect on and mobilize lessons learned beyond MKAD.
For more information, please contact Sherry Ann Chapman at:
or Tel