Weirding Word® There is this ridiculous intersection in Wiliamsburg, VA. As soon as westbound traffic passes through, the cars must then choreograph a merge in a very short space of time -- literally no more than about 20 feet and 3 seconds Now, merging is just a pain under normal circumstances, but this merge is a left-to-right maneuver; not the standard right-to-left. Yes, folks, the left lane (the side with the oncoming traffic) disappears about 3 seconds after you cross the intersection. Not only do you need to find a way to play nice with the folks in the other lane, you've got to make sure you don't stray over the double-yellows into the grill of some guy's F-150. And, truly, this is how it is merging in professional life. Are the right people at the table? Putting a damper on your euphoria? Gaea Honeycutt blog at WeirdingWord.com Weirding Word®, a division of G.L.
Program evaluation The process of evaluation is considered to be a relatively recent phenomenon. However, planned social evaluation has been documented as dating as far back as 2200 BC.[4] Evaluation became particularly relevant in the U.S. in the 1960s during the period of the Great Society social programs associated with the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.[5][6] Extraordinary sums were invested in social programs, but the impacts of these investments were largely unknown. Program evaluations can involve both quantitative and qualitative methods of social research. People who do program evaluation come from many different backgrounds, such as sociology, psychology, economics, and social work. Some graduate schools also have specific training programs for program evaluation. Doing an evaluation[edit] Program evaluation may be conducted at several stages during a program's lifetime. Assessing needs[edit] There are four steps in conducting a needs assessment:[9] Assessing program theory[edit] Validity[edit]
MN student testing faces big cuts after lawmakers slash budget Listen Story audio Minnesota students will see big changes in the number of statewide exams they take next school year after the Legislature chopped Minnesota's testing budget in half during the special session. Lawmakers repealed several required high school tests and stopped paying for all juniors to take the ACT college entrance exam, something they had ordered in 2013. This was the first year for those payments. Two weeks after lawmakers finished their work, the Minnesota Department of Education is still combing through the education bill to see how the changes ordered by the Legislature will affect statewide assessments. The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment GRAD tests in writing, reading and math will end. Gone as well are the Explore, Plan and Compass ACT tests, exams that helped students plan for college or a career. The MCA tests that students take every year in grades three through eight, and in 10th and 11th grades, will remain in place. Rep. State Sen.
Excel Tutorials | Ann K Emery Walk through the analytical process one technique at a time. Newest Tutorials Import and Merge Datasets Learn how to import, export, and merge datasets in Excel by using features such as text to columns, vlookup, and hlookup. Organize Your Spreadsheets When you’re staring at a spreadsheet for hours on end, a little organization can go a long way. Clean Data and Recode Variables Before you can analyze your data, you’ll need to check for missing data and recode some variables. Explore Your Dataset Use exploratory data visualization techniques like color-coding and sparklines find initial patterns. Calculate Summary Statistics (with Formulas) Summarize your data by finding the mean, median, standard deviation, and other descriptive statistics. Calculate Summary Statistics (with Pivot Tables) Pivot tables are the fastest, most accurate way to analyze your data — and they’re easier than you think. Putting It All Together Learn intermediate and advanced spreadsheet skills. Extra Time-Saving Techniques
Training Evaluation Blog 22 January 2013 Written by Dave Basarab Frequently I share best practices in the training and development field. Those of you have a read my posts previously know that I believe in a Learning to Performance approach . Here is a recent success in using this approach with one of my clients. My client and their business issue. The solution. Step 1 – The Impact Map. Step 2 – Redesigned Work Processes & Tools . We also agreed to use an on-line project management collaboration tool called Smartsheet as the software for all project teams. Step 3 – Design & Development . Step 4 – Management Prep Team Session . The project management workshop Project management principles & processes How to make project management work and be an executive sponsor Meeting with your employee before and after the workshop Providing post-workshop support After this session, I met with the Steering Committee to talk about next steps. Step 6 – Organizational Support by the Management Team. (1) Source: The Standish Group
Basic Guide to Outcomes-Based Evaluation for Nonprofit Organizations with Very Limited Resources © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Marketing and Evaluation. Description This document provides guidance toward basic planning and implementation of an outcomes-based evaluation process (also called outcomes evaluation) in nonprofit organizations. This document provides basic guidance -- particularly to small nonprofits with very limited resources. NOTE: This free, basic, online guide makes occasional references to certain pages in the United Way of America's book, Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach (1996). NOTE: Outcomes-based evaluation is but one type of evaluation -- there are many types of evaluations. Table of Contents Reasons for Priority on Outcomes-Based EvaluationBasic Principles for Small Nonprofits to Remember Before Starting Outcomes PlanningWhat is Outcomes-Based Evaluation? Also see Related Library Topics Also See the Library's Blogs Related to Outcomes Evaluations No! No!
Overstretched school counselors would get state relief under new plan Listen Story audio Rosemount High School counselor Chad Terry helps students plan for college, work through emotional crises and pass their classes. Nearly 500 students depend on him. That's more than 100 students higher than the national average for secondary school counselors. Terry said he's overstretched and can't give students all the support they need. "I've met with 45 students in the last couple days, when I look back on my calendar." A proposal to fund grants for new support staff cleared its first legislative hurdle Thursday. Districts would match state funding for the first four years. Terry told a state Senate education committee the grants could help "close achievement gaps, educate and train students for jobs that are open now and in the future, and continue to work through the complications of an evolving mental health epidemic in our youth." Minnesota has one of the nation's worst student-to-counselor ratios. • More: Money for student counseling takes a back seat
Each Little Spark | I am a writer who hasn't yet figured out exactly what I want to say. This is my practice space. The Challenge of Organizational Learning (July 13, 2011) Disseminating insights and know-how across any organization is critical to improving performance, but nonprofits struggle to implement organizational learning and make it a priority. A recent study found three common barriers to knowledge sharing across nonprofits and their networks, as well as ways and means to overcome them. Illustration by Anna & Elena Balbusso. Reinventing the wheel—this well-worn phrase describes one of the oldest of human follies: undertaking a project or activity without tapping into the knowledge that already exists within a culture or community. Consider the views of Kim Oakes, director of sharing and communities of practice at the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), a national network of 99 charter schools serving 27,000 students via 1,900 teachers. Or consider World Vision, an international Christian development organization with an annual budget of more than $2 billion operating in 93 countries. Authors ranging from the late business historian Alfred D.
Student support gets boost in Minnesota's supplemental budget School districts will have an opportunity to hire more social workers, counselors and other student support staff with a $12.1 million grant program included in the Legislature's end-of-session spending plan. Sen. Susan Kent, DFL-Woodbury, has pushed for the funding for several years. Last year's $95 million proposal didn't make it into the final budget. This year, she scaled back the request to $13.1 million, but the Republican-controlled House countered with a proposal to study the idea without dedicating money. "The House had a much smaller target than the Senate did for education, and the fact that, I think, in the process of compromise that ours is pretty close to intact — I think it sends an important signal about how much this is valued," Kent said. Education experts say support staff can be critical to keeping students at risk of dropping out of school on track for graduation. • Related: Without support, Minnesota students left behind at graduation Sen.
angry chicken Evaluation home All faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin-Extension Cooperative Extension are responsible for quality educational programs that produce positive and equitable results. To support a learning organization and to ensure the wise investment of resources, evaluation is part of each person’s job responsibilities. Written evaluation plans are developed as part of the program planning process. In recent years, the organization has moved to an outcome-based planning and reporting system with evaluation playing a critical role in learning, program improvement and accountability. PDE is charged with providing leadership and capacity building in program evaluation through in-service education, resource material development, consultation, administrative support and managing high priority evaluations. Recipient of Distinguished Evaluator Award
Money for student counseling takes a back seat Listen Story audio Lots of young, enthusiastic people want to be school counselors in Minnesota. Test scores and graduation data show there's plenty of need for the kind of support counselors provide. Without the intervention of counselors and other support staff, students can get off track for graduation, end up dropping out and find themselves with few options for employment. "Kids can't perform as well academically if they've got some social and behavioral issues that aren't taken care of," said Lauren Salonek, a graduate student in Minnesota State University Mankato's counseling program. • Related: Without support, Minnesota students left behind at graduation But compared to schools in other states, Minnesota schools don't hire many people like Salonek. School counselor-to-student ratios nationwide, 2014 MPR News graphic | Source: National Center for Education Statistics via American School Counselor Association He thinks Minnesota has put the issue on a back burner. State Sen.