The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Liliana Rodriguez

Doctoral Associate, The Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University, USA

Rigoberto Rincones

Doctoral Associate

Involving the Community in Education Initiatives:
An Evaluation of a Neighborhood-based Small Business Training Program

Abstract

This paper describes the strategies used to enhance the quality of the education offered by a business training program, while using a community's collaborative approach. The authors examine the role of evaluation in helping organizations learn, and they offer techniques for proactively involving the community in all the stages of this process in order to gain their support, as well as providing continuous feedback for improvement.

This paper provides useful guidelines for organizing, applying, and reporting evaluation findings that will produce meaningful information for the training program. Also, it shows how a partnership between community and evaluators is necessary for achieving important educational goals, by transforming the evaluation into a joint responsibility process. The authors illustrate the usefulness of evaluation for addressing neighborhood differences, and other multiple perspectives on the training program. Finally, this formative process encourages the community's participation, and promotes systemic decision-making steps to guarantee the program's success.

Bionotes

Liliana Rodríguez-Campos is studying a Ph.D. in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research Design at WMU. She received her Bachelor's in Systems Engineering, her Master's and Specialist degrees in Project Management in Engineering with Summa Cum Laude Honors, and her Master's in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research Design with a President's Special Recognition.

Rigoberto Rincones-Gómez is studying a Ph.D. in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research Design at WMU. He received his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, his Master's and Specialist degrees in Project Management in Engineering with Summa Cum Laude Honors, and his Master's in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research Design with a President's Special Recognition.

Presentation Type
Virtual

Country
USA