Author: Charlie Tulloch (Policy Performance)
This session at the start of the conference orients new, emerging and non-evaluators to the types of topics and content they will encounter over the coming days. It provides a foundational overview of evidence-related fields (e.g. evidence, monitoring, evaluation, learning), debunks key concepts/language, offers insights into what evaluators do day-to-day, discusses values/valuing, ethical considerations, competencies and key steps usually considered when completing high quality evaluation projects.The session strengthens defines the boundaries and intersections of evaluation and other disciplines to understand this field of endeavour, the pathways in and the opportunities it offers.
The session’s main aims are to share and discuss:
- How evidence is used in different policy and organisational landscapes
- The roles and types of projects led by evaluators
- Techniques frequently used by evaluators•Ways that evaluators think (logic, data, outputs, outcomes, impact)
- Why and when evaluations happen (or do not)
- Practical tips for evaluation commissioners and working with evaluators
- Capability building (skills and knowledge) to promote use of evaluation in-house
- A seven-stage approach to planning and conducting an evaluation project
- Essential skills of evaluators, including logic modelling, defining key/interview questions, forming value judgments, and selecting effective evaluation approaches/methods.The session will provide attendees with an opportunity to ask questions anonymously, so they feel very comfortable as the conference commences.
Questions will be addressed during the session, creating an open, interactive discussion.The session will also provide an overview of the conference structure, learning opportunities and flow, to provide a guide to attendees about how to gain the most value from their time.
