Evaluation is the structured interpretation and giving of meaning to predicted or actual impacts of proposals or results. It looks at original objectives, and at what is either predicted or what was accomplished and how it was accomplished. So evaluation can be formative, that is taking place during the development of a concept or proposal of the project, with the intention of improving the value or effectiveness of the proposal of the project. It can also be assumptive, drawing lessons from a completed action of the project a later point in time or circumstance.
A systematic and regular evaluation helps you to determine success of your project better. You can thus regulate not only the process of planning and implementation, but also you can say something about the effect of your project at the end. Besides, you learn what others think of the project and if they share your estimation of your success.
An Accompanying Process
Evaluation is a process accompanying your whole work. You check the work thus not only, when a problem arises – “Oh, tomorrow is the registration deadline and we have only ten instead of fifteen people” – or everything is done. It makes more sense to examine your work process several times, for example when a task or a project phase is accomplished.
Participative Evaluation of Learning
A cooperative evaluation in a training. Each participant marks his or her fish. Near the surface means +, at the ground means -.
There are situations where we don't like to face critical thinking, when we are tired after intensive days of facilitating, when we face confrontative discussions. On the other hand decisions are only good decisions when they reflect all perspectives. Having a diverse group in a seminar means having different tastes and impressions. Making the seminar relevant for all those individuals is a difficult task. Realizing this and accepting the gap between your planning and your realistically evaluated results is an important step. It’s your challenge of making the gap smaller.
This page gives you criteria and inspiration for the selection of methods for evaluating and reflecting learning processes.
An overview over different methods for evaluation for evaluation in between and at the end of a learning process.
Reflecting Teamwork
What's inside this section?
After
Evaluation is the structured interpretation and giving of meaning to predicted or actual impacts of proposals or results.
