16 March 2012 - Evaluating Impacts of Non-formal Learning and Public Engagement with Schools and Young People

(University of Warwick Seminar Series in London)

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement

Venue: Dana Centre, London

Evaluating Impacts on School Pupils and Teachers (Morning)

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.

Evaluation Research with Young People: Adolescents and Impact (Afternoon)

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?

Register for the seminar series at the following secure web address:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement/register

Speakers include:

Sarah Thomas (Head of Discovery and Learning, Zoological Society of London
Professor Sir John Holman (Senior Fellow in Education, Wellcome Trust and Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of York)

Grace Kimble (Doctoral Researcher, Institute of Education)
Andy Lee (Programme Manager, Real World Science, Department for Learning, Natural History Museum)
Dr Eric Jensen (Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick)

More information available on the website:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement

--------------- 
Dr Eric Jensen, Fellow Higher Education Academy 
Assistant Professor of Sociology 
University of Warwick http://warwick.academia.edu/EricJensen  
Office: Ramphal Building (2.17) 
Office Tel.: 024 7652 8427 

‘Evaluating Impacts of Public Engagement and Non-Formal Learning’ Seminar Series: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement 

Commentary on science communication evaluation in the journal Nature: http://warwick.academia.edu/EricJensen/Papers/402817/Evaluate_Impact_of_Communication  

Master of Science in Science, Media and Public Policy at Warwick: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/pg/prospect/programmes/smpp/  

Visiting Senior Research Fellow Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London / University of Cambridge: http://www.zsl.org/science/ioz-staff-students/jensen,1424,AR.html  

Associate Education Research Fellow, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust