LC Workshop Agenda

Turning Point, Inc.-Nevada Evaluation Association

Learning Circle Project:

“What Constitutes Credible Evidence in Evaluation?”

Day 1: May 14, 2009 9:00 a.m. til 3:00 p.m.

Redfield Campus, Room 218

facilitated by Deborah Loesch-Griffin, Ph.D.

Owner/Evaluation Director for TPI

9:00-9:45 a.m. What is a Learning Circle? Exploration of learning circle characteristics, and defining how we will work together over a period of 10-12 sessions using this format

9:45-10:00 a.m. Coffee Break and transition to Introductory Activity

10:00-10:45 a.m. Introductory Activity- A Goal-Free Life; participants will post (via projector on computer so bring a memory stick with your documents or post to the Google site) and discuss/present their pathway to today as a mid-career evaluator

10:45-11:00 Registration and transition to lunchtime workshop on the question; order lunch

11:00-12:00 noon Presentation of the Claremont College Graduate Program Videos on the Topic: What Constitutes Credible Evidence in Evaluation? 2 selections:

Stewart I. Donaldson, Claremont University, “Thriving in the Global Zeitgeist of Accountability and Evidence-Based Practice”

Reaction Panel: Michael Scriven, Western Michigan University Jennifer Greene, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Sharon F. Rallis, University of Massachusetts Amherst Sandra Mathison, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Thomas Schwandt, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

“Limitations of Experimental Approaches”

12:00-1:00 Facilitated Dialogue around two readings and presentations by Learning Circle members:

    • What arguments support your perspective and response to the question? Refute your perspective and response?

    • What are the drawbacks to our profession of maintaining an either/or position?

    • How has our practice as evaluators been influenced or challenged as we are called to evaluate Nevada’s programs, initiativies, and strategies in the health, human service, education and community development arenas?

Readings:

    • American Evaluation Association Response to U.S. Department of Education, Notice of proposed priority, Federal Register RIN 1890-ZA00, November 4, 2003, Scientifically Based Evaluation Methods.

    • Federal Register RIN 1890-ZA00, November 4, 2003, Scientifically Based Evaluation Methods.

    • Opposition to the AEA Statement signed by: Leonard Bickman, Robert F. Boruch, Thomas D. Cook, David S. Cordray, Gary Henry, Mark W. Lipsey, Peter H. Rossi, Lee Zechrest

1:00-2:30 Further exploration and sharing of our personal responses to the readings:

    • What personal challenges and strengths do we see in our current work based on how we approach evaluation?

    • What would we like to learn more about to increase our understanding of the impact of various perspectives to the question on our work and livelihood?

2:30-3:00 Setting our schedule; discussing logistics of how to communicate and what technologies to use. Next steps to prepare for our work in Phase 2 and 3.