7 Additional Workshops to Fit into Your Schedule

With so much going on at the 2013 evaluation conference, it’s likely that you’re having difficulty deciding which workshops to attend. We’ve featured a few of them in previous blog posts, so here are the others that haven’t yet enjoyed the spotlight:

Workshop #1: Developing and Testing the Logic in Logic Models: Rules and Lessons of Experience – Dr. Harry Cummings

The workshop is designed to explore the use of logic models in program and project planning and evaluation.

You will learn:

1. To describe the various types of logic models.
2. To identify ways to test the logic.
3. To apply the tests to programs in various sectors: health, international development, etc.

Workshop #2: Rapid Impact Evaluation – Andy Rowe

RIA triangulates the expert judgment of three different classes of experts to arrive at judgments of the incremental change in effects attributable to the intervention. It employs the ‘negotiated alternative’, a new approach to counterfactuals, as well as a simplified approach to measurement. This workshop introduces the RIA approach to impact evaluation using small groups and group discussion interspersed with short descriptions provided by the facilitator.

Workshop #3: Evaluation of Training Programs – Dr. Sid Ali

This intermediate level workshop will build interactively on participants’ knowledge of logic models and introduce them to Kirkpatrick’s and Guskey’s levelled approaches to training program evaluation.

You will learn:

1. The basics of Kirkpatrick’s and Guskey’s levelled approaches to training program evaluation.
2. How to integrate logic models and the levelled approaches into a hybrid approaches that will be useful in evaluations training programs.
3. To develop an evaluation plan for a comprehensive evaluation of training programs.

Workshop #4: Building Evaluation Capacity and Culture – Dr. Kaireen Chaytor

This workshop will present the conceptual basis for the presence of evaluation capacity and culture. A synthesis of the literature on ‘Understanding Organizational Capacity for Evaluation’ CJPE Vol 23(3) will be integrated into the concepts, and a model to assess and compare capacity and culture will be presented.

Workshop #5: Demonstrating Research Impact: Measuring Return on Investment with an Impact Framework – Dr. Nancy Carter, Rob Chatwin

This workshop will introduce participants to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) framework for demonstrating research impacts and its components. Participants will learn about the model itself and an extensive list of indicators developed to evaluate health research impacts based on this framework.

You will learn:

1. Basic understanding of the concepts of impact evaluation.
2. Canadian Academy of Health Science’s (CAHS) framework and indicators to “Measure Returns on Investment in Health Research” and research in general.
3. To apply the CAHS Framework through a guided case study exercise.

Workshop #6: Write to be Read – Dr. Christine Frank

Evaluation reports that are highly accessible and interesting can generate learning among all stakeholders. Clear, readable writing is especially important for readers whose first language is not English. In this highly interactive workshop, you will practice a number of simple strategies to keep your readers engaged. The session is both fun and valuable, and has been popular at previous national and provincial CES events.

Workshop #7: Survey Research for Evaluation: Advanced Issues in Design and Implementation – Benoit Gauthier, Dr. Simon Roy 

The purpose of this session will be to review and discuss four advanced topics: (1) Moving from the evaluation framework to planning the survey (i.e. operationalization of concepts, sampling, scales, budgeting); (2) Ensuring the meaning of questions is shared (i.e. pretesting and translation); (3) Approaches to enhancing response rates; and, (4) Assessing survey research conducted by others. Facilitators will structure a brief presentation of each topic, frame the issues encountered and provide solutions they have identified in the literature and within their own practice.

View the Program at a Glance for the informative workshops and plenary sessions, or listen to this podcast to hear about the program we’ve got lined up. Join more than 480 of your evaluation peers who have already signed up by registering online using our Registration page. You can also book your hotel rooms online to take advantage of the special rate offered at the Fairmont Royal York.

Watch our blog for more information on the 2013 conference, or subscribe to our bilingual Conference Newsletter and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+.

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