Evaluation

The Appreciative Evaluation course will demonstrate how to incorporate Appreciative Inquiry into evaluation, including an exploration of the research behind appreciative inquiry, recent developments in positive psychology, and the ways in which an appreciative lens can drive the development of indicators, data collection instruments, analysis and reporting. This four-module course provides an overview of Appreciative Evaluation and then moves through Appreciative Evaluation design, data collection, analysis and reporting.

Organizations are increasingly being asked to use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their evaluation practices. To guide employees in leveraging these new technologies, organizations must develop AI policies to clarify what is and is not allowable and what ethical considerations must be taken into account to ensure its responsible use. In this course, participants will learn about the principles of AI-enabled evaluation and how to develop an AI Policy to guide their work. They will review sample policies, consider what should and should not be included in a policy, and learn about best practices in launching an AI Policy and overseeing compliance.

The purpose of this course is to provide new and experienced evaluation professionals and funders with strategies, tools, and skills to: (1) develop realistic evaluation plans, (2) negotiate needed adjustments when issues arise, (3) organize and manage evaluation teams, (4) monitor evaluation activities and budgets, (5) protect evaluation independence and rigor while responding to client needs, and (6) ensure the quality of evaluation products and briefings.

Evaluation facilitation is a specialized niche within the larger world of facilitation. It applies and adapts general facilitation knowledge and techniques to the specialized challenges of working with stakeholder groups involved in program evaluation. The purpose of such facilitation is to enhance the relevance, credibility, meaningfulness, and utility of evaluations. This session will build skills in skills cultural competence, communication, facilitation, and conflict resolution.

Are you eager to begin using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance your evaluation practice, but unsure about what tools to use and when? This course offers a hands-on approach to harnessing the power of AI for optimizing evaluation practices. Participants will gain practical experience with AI tools and techniques, learning to implement and integrate them into real-world evaluation scenarios. The course showcases a range of tools and focuses on the possibilities and considerations evaluators must think through when deciding whether and how to use them.

This three-module course will survey the range of qualitative research methods and methodologies that can be applied to program evaluations. The course will begin with an overview of the foundations of qualitative inquiry and their purposes in evaluation. Then, participants will work through the practical aspects of developing evaluation questions, framing instruments, data analysis, and reporting. Topics include qualitative methods of observation, interview, document analysis, and qualitative methodologies of case study, action research, and ethnography.