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Hi, Nancy:

I think it depends on what your "stated goals" are.  If these goals are
to increase the likelihood of further museum visits, that would imply
one evaluation strategy.  If they are to increase their interest in
science, that would suggest a different strategy.  Similarly with
increase in scores, etc.

Also, the kind of program you are evaluating will define the evaluation
strategy as well.  Is the program a museum visit, one hour workshop, or
a semester of after school activities?

It sounds to me like you may need the advice of a professional
evaluator, of whom there are many in this field.  And most of them
would probably enjoy a trip to the Bishop!

Eric Siegel
Director, Planning & Program Development
Connections Project Director
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11369
[log in to unmask]
www.nyscience.org

>> I am trying to establish an evaluation procedure to assess the extent
>> to which
>> our outreach programs accomplish our stated goals, specifically in
>> terms of
>> student learning.  Does anyone have any advice or recommendations
>> about how to
>> get a true picture of the impact our program had on students?  We are
>> interested in both what content students learned and how their
>> attitudes
>> changed because of our program.  This is not intended to evaluate how
>> well the
>> students or teacher liked the program.  I am mainly considering some
>> type of
>> pre/post test that teachers conduct and return to us, but if anyone
>> has other
>> ideas I'd be happy to hear them.  Also, if anyone has evaluation
>> samples they
>> are willing to share, that would be great.
>> Thanks,
>> Nancy
>>
>> ****************
>> Nancy Alima Ali,  Science Educator
>> Bishop Museum
>> 1525 Bernice Street
>> Honolulu, HI 96817
>
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