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The Next Event (24 February 2012) (
programme now available!)
Web Access Option!
Previous Seminar Events (Archive Access)
Cost
Contact
About the Seminar Series
About the Seminar Organiser
Upcoming Seminar Events
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Communication Technologies and Evaluation Research: Evaluation Online and Evaluating Online Engagement, plus Mobile Learning and Software Analysis Tools (18 May 2012, Dana Centre)
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Intensive 1-day Training Seminar in Advanced Qualitative Evaluation Research Methods (Dana Centre)
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Intensive 2-day Training Seminar in Advanced Quantitative Evaluation Research Methods (University of Warwick)
Register for the seminar series at the following secure web address:
NEXT EVENT - 24 February 2012 - 'Surveying Impact' Seminar / Workshop
Using Questionnaires to Evaluate Learning and Engagement Outcomes
(Arrival from 10:30am) 11am to 4:45pm
Seminar Programme Available Here!
Venue: Dana Centre, London
Summary:
Questionnaires offer a standardised method of collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The sampling, distribution and analysis of questionnaires must be very carefully designed. This seminar will go over best practice principles as well as new and innovative ways of using questionnaires to validly and reliably measure impacts.
This seminar will tackle head on the major dilemmas involved in using questionnaires in these kinds of settings. It will discuss good practice in survey design as well as specific genres of questionnaire such as teacher feedback forms. There will be a workshop component during the day for you to work through the details of using survey-based impact evaluation methods.
There is a substantial workshop component during the day for you to discuss with speakers and other delegates how different questionnaire-based impact evaluation methods could be best used in your own practice.
Questions to be discussed in this seminar include:
• What are some new and innovative models for using questionnaires to evaluate impacts?
• What are the strengths and limitations of teacher feedback forms?
• How can the results of questionnaire-based evaluation research be used to inform practice?
• On a practical level, how can questionnaire data collection and analysis be effectively managed?
• How can the limitations of self-report measures be overcome?
• How can causal claims be made about the impacts of a single visit or public engagement activity?
• How can learning, emotional and attitudinal impacts be evidenced in valid and reliable ways using questionnaires?
• How do you know who to ‘sample’ for your questionnaire study, how many respondents you need?
Speakers:
- Dr Brady Wagoner by video link (Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Aalborg, Denmark)
- Dr Eric Jensen (University of Warwick)
- Andy Moss (Education Research Officer, Chester Zoo)
- Marie Hobson (Audience Research and Advocacy team, Science Museum)
- Monae Verbeke (University of Warwick)
Register for the seminar series at the following secure web address:
Going Beyond the Usual Publics: Evaluating how to Reach New Audiences and Non-Visitors
(Arrival from 10:30am) 11am to 4:45pm
Summary:
Unsurprisingly, engagement and non-formal learning practitioners are almost exclusively focused on their current visitors when they conduct evaluation research. However, it is at least as important for organisations to evaluate why they are not reaching broader publics or how they can more effectively reach beyond the usual audiences and visitors. This seminar will examine specific examples of research with non-traditional audiences or ‘non-visitors’ and the implications for understanding this crucial yet elusive category of publics.
Speakers include:
- Dr Kate Noble (Education Officer, Fitzwilliam Museum)
- Dr Maggie Esson (Education Programmes Manager, Chester Zoo)
- Emily Dawson (Doctoral Researcher, King’s College London)
- Sarah Thomas (Head of Discovery and Learning, Zoological Society of London)
- Dr Eric Jensen (Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick)
*29 June 2012* [New Date] - Evaluating Impacts of Non-formal Learning and Public Engagement on School Pupils, Teachers and Adolescents
Evaluating Impacts on School Pupils and Teachers (Morning)
Summary:
Evaluating impacts within the context of formal learning programmes and other modes of engaging schools raises both unique opportunities and challenges. This seminar will examine the best ways of gathering both routine more robust evaluation data to inform practice and evidence impact.
New ideas and approaches will be discussed, along with a critical consideration of longstanding methods of evaluation such as teacher feedback forms.
Evaluating Impacts on Adolescents: Developing Impact Frameworks and Age-Appropriate Evaluation Methods (Afternoon)
Summary:
Evaluation research with adolescents is a surprisingly under-developed aspect of public engagement and non-formal learning overall.
This seminar addresses key issues and case examples of evaluation research with this age group.
The seminar will also discuss models of evaluation and research that can be used by engagement and non-formal learning practitioners to enhance practice and outcomes.
Issues to be addressed include:
· How can you develop systems to measure the long-term impact of informal learning and public engagement interventions aimed at influencing adolescents’ attitudes and future career choices?
· To what extent are particular evaluation methods well-suited to this age group?
Speakers for this seminar (morning and afternoon) include:
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Professor Sir John Holman (Senior Fellow in Education, Wellcome Trust and Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of York)
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Sarah Thomas (Head of Discovery and Learning, Zoological Society of London
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Grace Kimble (Doctoral Researcher, Institute of Education)
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Andy Lee (Programme Manager, Real World Science, Department for Learning, Natural History Museum)
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Dr Eric Jensen (Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick)
Register for the seminar series at the following secure web address:
Cost
£75 registration fee* (or £35 for students / unwaged). Lunch, tea and coffee are included in the registration fee.
-Places are limited for this event and are awarded on a first come, first served basis.
*Discounts available if registering for multiple seminars within the series. (see booking page)
*Concessionary places are available (submit a short application to e.jensen@warwick.ac.uk explaining circumstances). If cost is a barrier to attendance, please do not hesitate to apply.
Contact
For further information or to raise any queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us:
Seminar Series Support Officer: Monae Verbeke - mcverbeke@gmail.com or m.verbeke@warwick.ac.uk
Seminar Organiser: Dr Eric Jensen - e.jensen@warwick.ac.uk
Previous Seminar Events (Archive Access)
Recordings and related resources from seminar events that have already taken place can be accessed for the same cost as the webinar option (£20 per seminar, or £10 for students / unwaged). See 'Web Access Option' below for further details.
Previous events currently available include:
'Evaluating Impacts: Core Issues and Debates' (see programme for content: )
'Surveying impact: Using Questionnaires to Evaluate Impact' (see programme for content: )
'Questions of Quality: Qualitative Methods of Evaluating Impact' (see programme for content:
You can register for access to these events here
WEB ACCESS OPTION
We are offering web-based access for individuals who cannot travel to attend the Warwick University Seminar Series: 'Evaluating Impacts of Public Engagement and Non-Formal Learning'. Each event has a 'web access' page featuring audio and/or video of presentations and suggested reading materials and further resources. Web access is archived and most of the video or audio of presentations is made available to participants within 1 or 2 weeks of the seminars. The registration fee for web access is £20 (or £10 for students / unwaged).
Note: Due to technical limitations of the London seminar venue (the Dana Centre), we are no longer able to offer live web broadcasts for events
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Discounts available if registering for multiple webinar versions of seminars within the series and for students / unwaged. (see registration page drop down menus)
You can register for access to these events here
About the Warwick Seminar Series on 'Evaluating Impacts'
This seminar series brings together leading researchers and practitioners to discuss evaluation of impacts in public engagement and non-formal learning. These seminars will address how museums, festivals, zoos, universities, science centres, galleries, schools and other organisations with an interest in engagement, learning or communication can use good quality evaluation evidence to understand and enhance their impacts. Both practical and conceptual issues will be considered, as each of the main evaluation research data collection and analytic tools are discussed in turn.
Running from November 2011 to August 2012, this seminar series offers insights, skills development and networking opportunities for those who currently, or are planning in future to, conduct or commission evaluations of impacts. It will also be highly valuable to those who commission or use evaluation and research evidence to inform their practice. Moreover, these seminars will help anyone interested in public engagement, communication or learning to be a ‘critical consumer’ of research on impacts. For further information, please contact Dr Eric Jensen: e.jensen@warwick.ac.uk
The support of the University of Warwick, the British Science Association, the Dana Centre and the Wellcome Trust for this seminar series is gratefully acknowledged.
About the Seminar Organiser
Dr Eric Jensen is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London / University of Cambridge and Associate Education Fellow at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. He is an experienced evaluation researcher, with numerous peer-reviewed publications on public engagement published in top ranked journals such as Public Understanding of Science and books such as Investigating Science Communication in the Information Age (Oxford University Press). He recently had commentaries published in the journal Nature and the British Science Association publication People & Science and forthcoming in the journal Visitor Studies on the urgent need for substantial improvements in the quality and sophistication of evaluation of impacts in the field of public engagement, informal learning and science communication.
Dr Jensen’s previous research projects include evaluation studies of impacts conducted at ZSL London Zoo, Durrell Wildlife Park, the Cambridge Science Festival and Festival of Ideas and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Recent work with the Natural History Museum centred on developing an integrated evaluation and research framework that can ensure that rigorous long-term evaluation is integrated with the continual development of non-formal learning and public engagement practice.
At the University of Warwick, Dr Jensen lectures on the practice of social research and quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research methods, as well as co-convening the MSc programme in Science, Media and Public Policy. Dr Jensen’s publications can be accessed at: http://warwick.academia.edu/EricJensen
