Rockman et al is pleased to participate in two sessions at Evaluation 2017, the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association, which is being held this year in Washington, DC!
Kristin Bass will be presenting a Birds of a Feather session on Thursday, November 9th from 12:15pm to 1:15pm. She will be presenting with Linda Thurston (Kansas State University), Pam Bishop (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) and Lisa Kaczmarczyk (PhD Consulting, LLC). Their session is entitled “Multi-scale evaluation and INCLUDES Alliance projects.”
Jennifer Borland will be presenting as part of a panel titled “The next best thing to being there: Telepresent Data Collection,” Thursday, November 9th from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in the Thurgood Salon South.
See below for more details on Jen and Kristin’s presentations!
Abstract for Telepresent Data Collection:
Most evaluation professionals have encountered a desire or need to be in two places at the same time to collect data from geographically distant sites. Likewise, most evaluators have also likely experienced situations where travel to a remote site may not be feasible for one reason or another. While teleporters are still the stuff of science fiction, new technologies that facilitate telepresence may be the next best thing to actually being in two places at once. This presentation will explore the potential evaluation applications of mobile robotic devices that incorporate two-way audio/video functionality, such as the Beam Smart Presence System. Controlled by an off-site researcher, such systems enhance the types of data collection that can be performed from a remote location because they enable greater researcher-control as well as opportunities for live interaction. However, along with the promise of enhanced modes of telepresent data collection, challenges must be explored as well.
Abstract for Multi-scale Evaluation & INCLUDES Alliance projects:
At a recent workshop for INCLUDES pilot projects that aim to broaden participation in STEM education and careers using a social innovation framework, participants expressed the need to continue the conversation. This session is organized by four participants from that event with a goal of discussing special issues and factors related to alliance projects that require multi-scale evaluations with a collective impact framework, as well as evaluations that are culturally responsive and inclusive of all populations.