Dear Colleagues,

> Further to my previous emails, please find attached a collation of information about some Subject Centres' approaches to evaluating their small-scale projects programmes. To summarise the information:
>
> Types of Projects
> * Similar size (£~2-5k) and number (~20-30 total) across those SCs that responded.
> * SCs use a variety of dissemination methods, e.g. projects booklets, workshops, web-sites.
> * There's generally a mixture of pedagogic research and development projects.
> * Few Centres have had 'directed calls' for particular themes.
> * Evaluation to date has mainly been in terms of progress and outcomes monitoring.
>
> Purpose of Evaluation
> The outcomes of the projects are generally evaluated or reviewed as they are produced. So, the main purposes of further evaluation seem to focus on the wider programme rationale and process including:
> * Impact on project teams, their departments and the wider community: including both the impact of the project outcomes and the impact of making funding available (e.g. profile raising, ownership).
> * Value for money: is this a good way to be spending money. Again in terms of both outcomes and profile.
> * Effectiveness of support offered by Subject Centres.
>
> Where next?
> * There are two studies currently being conducted within LTSN looking at small-scale projects. Escalate are conducting an extensive impact study on their own projects; and HLST (through Laura Wood) are looking at identifying good practice across the LTSN in running projects and disseminating outcomes .
>
> * LTSN Annual Conference: I am submitting a proposal for a session with Laura Wood to share and discuss her findings and to help develop some general principles for managing small-scale projects.
>
> * Learning & Teaching Conference: I am submitting a proposal for a session with our external evaluator (Prof Harold Silver) to share and discuss our evaluation of impact. WE hope to also include examples from other Subject Centres (particularly linking in to Escalate's study) and from HEIs, in order to develop a better understanding of the rationales and values of small-scale project awards in UK HE in general.
>
> I hope this is/ will be useful to you. In particular, I think this is a key opportunity to share practice between LTSN and educational developers in HEIs and to generate some discussion, ideas and general principles for an activity which we all have in common. If you are interested in getting involved in this discussion and sharing your experiences of running small-scale learning and teaching projects please get in touch or come along to our session at the L&T conference in June.
>
> Best wishes,
> Helen
> > <<Subject Centres Matrix.doc>>
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Dr Helen L King AFSEDA
> Manager: LTSN-GEES
>
> Tel: +44 (1752) 233 532
> Fax: +44 (1752) 233 534
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.gees.ac.uk/
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>