EvaluATE

We’re excited to share a new blog post by Leressa Suber, Ph.D., titled "Steps for Communicating Evaluation Design to P*s." In this post, Leressa provides a step-by-step guide to effectively engage with ATE P*s, from designing an evaluation plan to refining it post-award. Whether you're a seasoned evaluator or new to the field, this blog offers valuable insights to enhance your practice.

Read the full blog here: https://hubs.li/Q02LK2d-0

🏆 Submit a nomination for the 2024 Outstanding ATE Evaluation Awards! 🏆

Recognize and promote excellence in ATE program evaluation by submitting your nomination. The awards focus on the evaluation's utility, accuracy, and overall quality and winners are showcased on our site as exemplars of ATE evaluation!

🗓️ Deadline: August 30

📋 View the rating form, eligibility, and more information about the nomination process here: https://hubs.li/Q02GMgjn0

🌟 See what made past honorees shine here: https://hubs.li/Q02GMZpx0

🚀 Stay in the Loop with EvaluATE! 🚀

Join our mailing list today and choose your subscription level to stay updated with the latest from EvaluATE!

🔹 Receive insightful blogs written by members of the ATE community
🔹 Get invitations to events, including webinars and monthly community-based webchats
🔹 Enjoy our monthly newsletter featuring helpful resources, upcoming events, and more
🔹 Be the first to hear about brand new resources

Don't miss out—subscribe now and join our vibrant community: https://hubs.li/Q02GMvWd0

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Great news! The recording of our webinar, "Evaluation Essentials for Non-Evaluators: Understanding the Basics and Benefits of Evaluation," is available to view now: https://hubs.li/Q02GMZpw0

But wait, there's more! Join us for the second webinar in the series on July 24! We'll explore strategies and insights into evaluation plans for NSF ATE proposals to help attendees:
🔸Gain an understanding of the essential elements of an evaluation plan
🔸Learn how to integrate evaluation throughout your proposal
🔸Dig into practical strategies for writing evaluation questions, identifying evaluation indicators, and developing evaluation data matrixes.
🔸Receive just-in-time resources for writing a strong evaluation section.

Register now: https://hubs.li/Q02GMX0Q0

Join us for our upcoming webinar, "Strategies and Insights into Evaluation Plans for NSF ATE Proposals!

📅 Wednesday, July 24
⏰ 1 p.m. EST
💡 For non-evaluators and evaluators alike who want to gain a deeper understanding of the evaluation requirements for NSFA TE proposals

Gain an understanding of:
🔸Practical strategies for writing evaluation questions
🔸Identifying evaluation indicators
🔸Developing evaluation data matrixes

PLUS, you'll leave with just-in-time resources for writing a strong evaluation section that is both clear and compelling!

Register now: https://hubs.li/Q02DThh10

New Blog Alert!

Are you an ATE PI or project staff member new to working with external evaluators? 🤔 Wondering what the process looks like? EvaluATE has got you covered!

In 2020, nine ATE P*s shared their experiences and insights on evaluations. Here are four key takeaways to help you make the most of your evaluation:

1️⃣ Evaluators Wear Many Hats: They often serve as grant writers, cheerleaders, coaches, and more. Their broad perspective can bring unexpected value to your project.

2️⃣ Strong Relationships Matter: Good PI-evaluator relationships foster empowerment and collaboration. Frequent, clear communication is key.

3️⃣ Build Good Rapport Early: Face-to-face interactions, even virtual, can ease initial uncertainties and build a strong partnership.

4️⃣ Value of Evaluations: Evaluations provide critical insights and help measure impact. Use them to drive communication plans, reconsider priorities, and share results widely.

Check out our full blog post for more inspiration: https://hubs.li/Q02CCkD20

Tim Tewalt, founder of Mechatronics, shares his journey of updating educational programs to meet industry demands, revealing that proposal writing isn't just about having a great idea—it's about crafting a logical and achievable plan. Here are some key insights:

🔍 Evaluators and Funders Look for Detailed Steps: Beyond lofty goals, what steps will you take? How will new equipment fit into your curriculum? How will faculty be trained to use it effectively?

🔧 Aligning Equipment with Curriculum: New tech is exciting, but its integration must be thoughtful. Partners want to see tangible results, from course modifications to student feedback.

📊 Evaluation: It's not just about data collection—it's a tool for measuring success and identifying improvements. A solid evaluation plan sets the stage for a project's success.

📍Start with the End in Mind: A strong evaluation plan is key and sets the stage for a project's success.

Read more: https://hubs.li/Q02zsGhB0

📢 Don't miss out! We're on the lookout for a Senior Research Associate! If you or someone you know is interested, get those applications in before March 25!

Find out more and apply here: https://evalu-ate.org/jobs

Here's what you need to know:
💰 Starting Pay Range: $65,155 – $87,960
🔍 Position: Senior Research Associate
📍 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan

And the perks?
✨ Excellent Benefits: Western Michigan University and The Evaluation Center offer fantastic benefits, including an 11% 403b match, tuition benefits, and more! Learn more: https://evalu-ate.org/jobs -benefits

🏞️ Kalamazoo Vibes: Kalamazoo isn't just a great place to work—it's a great place to live! Enjoy a vibrant arts scene, top-notch higher education options, outdoor recreation galore, and The Kalamazoo Promise, covering 65 to 100% of tuition at most Michigan colleges/universities for graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools. Find out more: https://evalu-ate.org/jobs -kalamazoo

🌟 Passionate Team: Join a team that's enthusiastic about teaching others about evaluation, engages in mission-driven work, values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to developing evaluation capacity.

EvaluATE is excited to be a part of this year's ATE PI Conference in Washington D.C. 🏛️

🔍 Dive into the wealth of knowledge and opportunities at our conference events, including pre-conference workshops, enlightening presentations, an engaging breakfast roundtable, and a chance to network at ATE Connects. 🗣️💬

Curious to learn more? https://hubs.li/Q026sDQG0

See you there for an unforgettable experience! 🤝

Episode 5: Barriers and Facilitators in ATE Evaluation 🌉 Uncover the connections, drivers, and patterns influencing ATE evaluation. Create a mind map highlighting systems, players, barriers, and facilitators. 💭 We value your input! What are your thoughts on the mind map? Did anything surprise you? Share your insights!

Ever found yourself in the pre-award stage, scratching your head over crafting a stellar evaluation plan for your proposals? We feel you! The journey to securing those funds can be a bit bumpy, but worry not – we're here to lend a helping hand! We get it, sometimes it's a solo mission and you might not have an evaluator by your side from the get-go. But fear not, we've got your back with some fantastic resources to ace that evaluation plan, even if you're not a seasoned pro🤝

* For those applying to the NSF ATE program, EvaluATE has a number of resources to assist in the pre-award stage, compiled in this toolkit: https://hubs.li/Q020QJD40

* Learn to leverage your project logic model with this blog post by Ama Nyame-Mensah: https://hubs.li/Q020QK490

* Consider other ways to visualize your project’s intended logic with these example structures for program theories by Abt Associates: https://hubs.li/Q020QJ_C0

* Differentiate research plans from evaluation plans with this blog post by Kavita Mittapalli: https://hubs.li/Q020QNJJ0

* Familiarize yourself with the scope and process of evaluation with this manager’s guide to evaluation by Better Evaluation: https://hubs.li/Q020QNmk0

* Write stronger evaluation sections with these 10 helpful hints and 10 fatal flaws by Elizabeth Teles: https://hubs.li/Q020QKWh0

🏆🌟 Attention ATE Community! 🌟🏆

Proud of your ATE evaluation? 📊 Nominate it for EvaluATE's Outstanding ATE Evaluation Award! Recognizing top-notch evaluations that wow stakeholders, nail methods, and stand out for quality. Evaluators, PI's, and program officers are encouraged to nominate evaluations of projects, centers, and small new-to-ATE gems!

🗓️ Submissions due by Sept 15.
🔗 Nominate now: https://hubs.li/Q01_P9820

Join us in celebrating excellence in ATE evaluation. Let's honor the best of the best! 🎉