How do you evaluate session outcomes?

1 Define your goals

Before you can evaluate your session outcomes, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your large group facilitation. What are the specific objectives and indicators of success for your session? How do they align with the broader goals and expectations of the stakeholders and participants? You can use tools such as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) or OKR (Objectives and Key Results) to help you define your goals and communicate them to others.

2 Choose your methods

Depending on your goals, you can use various methods to evaluate your session outcomes. For example, feedback forms are surveys or questionnaires that can be distributed to participants after the session. Tools such as Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, or Mentimeter can be used to create and analyze these forms. Interviews or focus groups are deeper conversations that can be conducted with a selected group of participants or stakeholders. Tools such as Zoom, Skype, or Teams can be used to record and conduct these conversations. Additionally, observations or recordings of participant behaviors, interactions, and outcomes during the session can be captured with tools such as cameras, microphones, or notes. Tests or assessments are also measures of knowledge, skills, or attitudes of the participants before and after the session. Quizzes, exams, and self-assessments are tools that can be used to test or assess the participants and compare the results.

3 Collect and analyze the data

Once you have chosen your methods, you need to collect and analyze the data that you have gathered from your session. You can use tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, or SPSS to organize, visualize, and interpret the data. You can also use tools such as NVivo, Atlas.ti, or Dedoose to code, categorize, and synthesize qualitative data. You should look for patterns, trends, gaps, and outliers in the data and compare them with your goals and indicators.

4 Report and share the findings

The final step is to report and share your findings with the relevant stakeholders and audiences. You can use tools such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi to create and present your report. You can also use tools such as Canva, Piktochart, or Infogram to create and share infographics or dashboards. You should highlight the main results, conclusions, and recommendations from your evaluation and provide evidence and examples to support them.

5 Learn and improve

Evaluating your session outcomes is not only a way of demonstrating your value, but also a way of learning and improving your practice. You should use the feedback and data that you have collected to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and to plan your next steps and actions. You can also use tools such as reflection journals, peer reviews, or coaching to document and enhance your learning and development as a large group facilitator.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?