This blog post does a deep dive into the concept of STEM identity, including what this concept is, how it might be incorporated into your program outcomes, and how evaluators think about assessing it.

New publication in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution: Impacts of a Near-Peer Urban Ecology Research Mentoring Program on Undergraduate Mentors.

We’re chatting about citizen science and evaluation.

We’re chatting about evaluation approaches for informal STEM learning.

We’re chatting about informal STEM learning outcomes.

We’re chatting about informal learning and measurement in STEM.

Learn about the difference between evaluation and research, how to begin evaluating your impact, and why evaluating impact is so important for nonprofit organizations in this lecture for The Greater Sum Foundation.

Outcomes beyond academic achievement - like science interest, science identity, and 21st Century Skills - can be important for STEM learning and persistence.

Learn the difference between anonymous and confidential data, plus when - and how - to collect each.

Get an inside view on how we go about choosing evaluation methods that suit your audience.

Hear from Principal Evaluator Sarah M. Dunifon on “Planning for Impact through Evaluation” for STEM Advocacy Institute

Hear from Principal Evaluator Sarah M. Dunifon on “Evaluating Your Impact” for The Greater Sum

As evaluators, we’re meaning-makers, truth-uncovers, and question-askers for not only the organization itself, but for all the stakeholders involved as well. It’s only through active listening that we’re able to gain meaning and provide the necessary insights.

Rather than an afterthought, measurement and evaluation (M&E) should be at the forefront of every nonprofit’s organizational strategy. But where to begin? Measurement and evaluation are commonly thought of as late-stage efforts, particularly occurring at the conclusion of a program. It seems unfitting, if not downright premature, to outline M&E at the start. More than that, M&E seems inaccessible - too specialized and niche. However, both barriers are misconceptions.

I'd like to thank Fanuel Muindi, PhD and the Stem Advocacy Institute (SAi) for inviting me to speak on all things evaluation on behalf of Improved Insights for SAI's monthly seminar.

Take a look at the video linked here if you'd like to hear our conversation about why evaluation matters, what you might measure, and how to find an evaluator.

I also had the chance to answer some thoughtful questions from the audience about embedding an equity-based lens into evaluation, improving response rates, and how to share evaluation findings back with your participants.