Understanding Evaluation: Monitoring What Matters

Beth Neill, Masters in Social Science, Postgrad Diploma in Community Psychology

Understand how to create more meaningful evaluations

This workshop will cover the basics of evaluation and will suit anyone who is involved in delivering, managing or funding a project or service. It has been designed for people from public sector agencies; managers and staff of provider and social service organisations; field advisors working with community groups; trainers and contractors; and self employed consultants.

Understanding Evaluation Workshop contents

You will leave this workshop with a sound working knowledge of:

• how to identify, nurture and evaluate what matters about your service or project
• the differences between evaluation research and monitoring and how each can help you
• how to track progress and identify what difference your service or project is making
• what funders, managers, clients and communities want to know and why
• practical tools to use in monitoring and reporting

The starting point

• What quality and value mean to people with different roles and viewpoints - the manager, the workers, the funder, the client, the community - and how this can be integrated into evaluation and monitoring.
• Devising good evaluation questions.

Foundations of evaluation

• Results Based Accountability, evaluation research, monitoring and reporting – what they have in common, how they differ and why it matters.

Inside evaluation and monitoring

• How to match evaluation and monitoring to every stage of the project/service delivery cycle, and identify what stages matter most for your work.

What to measure when

• Milestones and outcomes
• Practical indicators of progress and change
• Techniques for data collection
• Tools to use for monitoring and reporting

Relationships and communication

• Establishing open and effective lines of communication with stakeholders.

Your plan of action

• Plan your short-term evaluation and monitoring actions.

Includes comprehensive workbook, lunch, morning and afternoon tea.

Course Presenter

Beth Neill is best known in Northland for her work with the Ministry of Social Development. She is a registered psychologist, with a Masters degree in Social Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Psychology. Over the last twenty years she has taught evaluation research, developed programmes and services, and conducted evaluations with the University of Waikato, government agencies, organisations and communities.

In 2010, she established her Northland-based practice, Work on Purpose, and now assists organisations with their research and professional development activities; and facilitates practical evaluation research and monitoring workshops.

Beth’s training approach is hands-on and practical. You will have fun in a safe and stimulating learning environment.

Email us to ask about our next Understanding Evaluation training dates.

Terms:  Please register early. A fee of $50.00 will apply for re-scheduling or cancellations received prior to 5 working days before the course. No refund for cancellations received within 5 working days of the course.  Substitutes from the same organisation are permitted at any time prior to the course at no cost.  Venture Group reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the course. You will be sent confirmation of registration and an invoice for payment upon receipt of your registration form.