EvaluATE

?? Funding Alert for ATE Evaluators! ?? EvaluATE is offering up to $1,500 in travel support and covered registration costs to attend the High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) in Minneapolis (July 21–24)! Connect with fellow ATE evaluators, expand your network, and share your insights at the ATE Evaluators Workshop. Don’t miss this chance for professional growth—apply by April 25, 2025! ??Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gqiUH8D6 #ATEevaluation #HITEC2025 #ProfessionalDevelopment #Evaluator

?? Calling all evaluators and grant writers! The American Evaluation Association STEM TIG is hosting a great event: Getting it Write: Best Practices for Evaluators when Working with Grant Writers on March 20 at 4 p.m. ET. ??? The interactive session, led by Natasha Goldman, PhD, will provide insights into strengthening collaboration and crafting stronger proposals—especially relevant for ATE projects! Don’t miss it. ?? Register now on Zoom: https://lnkd.in/gxQrCisE #Evaluation #GrantWriting #ATE #STEM #NSFfunded

?? Great news for the evaluation community! The latest issue of?New Directions for Evaluation, guest edited by?EvaluATE’s Lyssa Becho and Megan L., is now?fully open access!??? This special issue dives into?Evaluating Evaluation Capacity Building (ECB)—a crucial practice that strengthens how programs, initiatives, nonprofits, and more engage with evaluation. ?? Why does this matter? Meaningful evaluation capacity building practice can lead to increasingly?impactful?evaluations. This issue is designed to?spark imagination, provide guidance, and inspire ECB practitioners?to elevate their work. ?? What’s inside? ? Examples of ECB evaluation from?seven countries?across diverse contexts—from education and community-based organizations to federal agencies and international development. ? Articles organized into?four sections:?theory, methods, application, and a call to action. ? Insights into?how to capture the work of ECB practitioners—and how to do it better. ?? Read the full issue here:?https://lnkd.in/ezsV58Ku Let’s keep the conversation going! What stands out to you from this issue? Share your thoughts in the comments!??? #Evaluation #ECB?#EvaluATE

?? Join the Conversation: Why Evaluation Matters for Your ATE Project ?? EvaluATE’s next Community Conversation is Tuesday, March 18, at 1 p.m. ET—and you’re invited! These informal discussions bring together ATE PIs, project evaluators, and staff to share real-world strategies for making evaluation a meaningful and effective part of your project. This month, we’re talking about how to communicate the value of evaluation—because when stakeholders understand why it matters, it strengthens engagement, supports project goals, and demonstrates impact. Come ready to share and learn! Consider these questions before the session: ?? What’s been most effective for explaining evaluation’s importance in your project? ?? What challenges do you face in demonstrating its value? ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/g4iAXeWY #ATEevaluation #NSFATE #Evaluation #EvaluATE #EvaluationMatters

?? Reminder: Interest Forms Due Friday! ?? Are you interested in the chance to join us for the 2025 ATE Evaluation Summit, a virtual event happening May 20-22 from 1–4 p.m. ET each day? ?? Engage with ATE evaluators & project teams ?? Gain early access to evaluation reports, like the State of ATE Evaluation ?? Receive $400 in compensation ? Don't miss out—submit your interest form by March 14! https://lnkd.in/gwJ6Bitx

?? Calling all ATE evaluators, PIs, and project staff! We're inviting you to join us for the 2025 ATE Evaluation Summit — a virtual, three-day event happening May 20–22 from 1–4 p.m. ET. ? Network with the ATE grants community ? Gain early access to evaluation reports, such as the State of ATE Evaluation ? Contribute to thinking about the future of ATE evaluation ? Receive $400 compensation Spots are limited. If you're interested, complete the interest form by March 14: https://lnkd.in/gwJ6Bitx #Evaluation #NSFATE #Evaluate

?? Meet an Evaluator: Leressa Suber In our most recent Meet an Evaluator Q&A, Leressa Suber, Senior Evaluation Specialist at North Carolina State University, shares her passion for qualitative evaluation and the power of storytelling in measuring impact. ?? What makes a successful evaluation? "A truly successful evaluation uncovers lessons learned that may not have been anticipated... expanding the field in ways that open new opportunities for funding and outreach." ?? Plus, she shares her approach to building trust using the READY framework and a memorable experience teaching abroad in Germany! Read the full feature: https://lnkd.in/gaqugBbE #Evaluation #ATECommunity Are you an ATE Evaluator interested in being featured in our next Meet an Evaluator? Fill out the interest form here: https://lnkd.in/gQw_Rakj

?? Measuring complex constructs in ATE projects can be challenging—but also an exciting opportunity for creativity and collaboration! Check out a new blog from Jennifer Gruber of Magnolia Consulting, LLC that shares insights on navigating these challenges, from adapting validated measures to using mixed methods for deeper understanding. ?? Learn how flexibility, collaboration, and multiple data collection methods can enhance your evaluation approach. ?? Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/gvD9AykF #ATEevaluation #ProgramEvaluation #STEM #Evaluation #EvaluationMethods

Congratulations to the team behind Expanding Regional Capacity for Training in Engineering Technology and Data Center Operations—the recipient of our?2024 Outstanding ATE Evaluation Award! This award-winning project, led by Josh Labrie, Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer, and Chris Russell, with evaluation by Jen Gruber of Magnolia Consulting, LLC, showcases the power of strategic evaluation in advancing ATE goals. ? Explore their?award-winning report, meet the honorees and judges, and discover the top three themes from the nomination testimonials that highlight the project’s success here: https://evalu-ate.org/oea/ Interested in nominating your evaluation this year? Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gUJRCRzN

Effective data collection is essential to understanding and improving your ATE project. It helps you track progress, measure outcomes, and identify areas for growth - all key functions of project evaluations. Check out these resources for practical tips on improving your project evaluation through excellent data collection: ?? Explore various data collection methods for your ATE project evaluations with the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice’s?data collection toolkit. Scroll to page 5 for a concise overview of methods, including when to use each and their advantages and disadvantages. https://lnkd.in/g-546YkQ ?? Discover key considerations for creating useful data collection instruments in?this blog post?by George Chitiyo. He explains how to apply a utilization-focused approach to designing data collection tools for ATE programs, ensuring the data gathered is both reliable and actionable. He highlights the importance of involving key participants in the development process, simplifying tools to enhance response rates, and using pilot testing to refine and improve their effectiveness. https://lnkd.in/gYGkegzD ?? Learn how to tell your ATE project's whole story with Barbara Popovec Heath's insights. She highlights key strategies for successful data collection, including building trust with program staff, negotiating data collection plans, and leveraging triangulation to strengthen your findings. These approaches help evaluators and project teams deliver impactful evaluations on time and within budget. https://lnkd.in/gPGNAKtZ ?? Brush up on mobile data collection (MDC) best practices with?this guide?from BetterEvaluation. It offers practical advice on selecting and using MDC, highlights key differences in conducting MDC across various devices, and recommends platforms for effective mobile data collection. https://lnkd.in/gZY8mH46