1. Beyond Data Why does evaluation seen so foreign to most?

2. Feeing frustrated?  Have you ever gotten frustrated with the evaluation process?  Have you ever wondered how to take the data you have collected and tell the success stories of your programs?  Have you ever found you had wonderful programs but could not communicate your successes to others?

3. Why is Evaluation so Important?  It can:  define who the program serves  how the program functions  determine if it is working as intended  tel us what needs to change  determine if it is it worth the investment  market your wonderfulness  make a case for your funding

4. Myths and Facts  Evaluation comes at the end  Using the same form for each teaching group is a good practice  Someone else should evaluate your program

5. Just the Facts  Evaluation starts at the beginning  We are often guilty of planning by starting in the middle  Determine what you want to happen (objectives)  Evaluate only large efforts not short sessions (satisfaction vs. impact)  Evaluate a series of efforts toward the WHOLE

6. Into the Beyond…  It’s not that foreign  Remember a few things  Maximize your outreach  cyfernet.org/ncsu_fcs/ beyonddata/

7. What do you want to change?  Knowledge & Attitudes  Skills  Motivation  Behaviors  Policies

8. Evaluation tips  Include evaluation in initial program design  Don’t do it alone; create evaluation teams  Include stakeholders in all phases  Go beyond satisfaction data  Combine quantitative and qualitative data  Don’t let your data go into a black hole unused

9. Example  Sample Program Objectives:  Teen parents will express that they feel more social/emotional support and resource support by being part of a parent support network.  Teen parents will interact appropriately with their toddlers 80% of the time when observed.  Community partners will work together to organize a resources center to be completed by June 2009.  Evaluation methods  Case studies  Interviews  Observation check sheets (pre and post)  Standardized instruments (pre and post comparisons)  Phone surveys  Demographic tracking  Public hearing, forums

10. Telling your story  Executive summaries, abstracts  Annual reports  Brochures, exhibits  Fact sheets  News releases  Posters  Graphics, slides

11. Drawing conclusions into a report  Give background  Outline objectives of the program  Tell what was done  Summarize into paragraphs  Tell the numbers (percentages and frequencies at least)  Use powerful quotes  Edit, spell check, design a professional cover or “look”

12. Example Coded head counts Self-report follow-up after learning Coded learning sessions by topic

13. Report “Look”

14. Report “Look” too

15. More help  Program planning website  Beyonddata website - http://cyfernet.org/ncsu_fcs/beyonddata/  www.cyfernet.org - click on EVALUATION www.cyfernet.org  Planning a Program Evaluation - learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/G3658-1.PDF