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Chapter 38. Some Methods for Evaluating Comprehensive Communi... >
Section 2. Gathering Information: Monitoring Your Progress >
Gathering Information: Monitoring Your Progress |
Tools & Checklists | Contributed by Aimee Whitman and Eric Wadud Edited by Bill Berkowitz and Jerry Schultz |
Tool 1: Event Log
Tool 2: Codes for Categorizing Events
Tools
The following tools are available in this section:
1. Event Log: The event log form is designed to help you record major activities of your group's initiative, such as community actions. They are also used to record any changes in the community facilitated by the initiative.
2. Codes for Categorizing Events: This table provides a list of key events, definitions , and examples of items using the observational code for the monitoring system as well as general instructions on how to code key events on the event logs. For more detailed instructions, definitions, logs and procedures, see the Work Group Evaluation Handbook.
Tool #1: Event Log
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Event Log for____________________________
Site:___________________________ Recorder:________________________________ For this form please describe: 1) Actions taken to bring about changes in the community related to your initiative 2) Changes in programs, policies, and practices related to your initiative
| Date | Event | Description | | (MM/DD/YY) | Describe the event in detail. Include: Why is it important? What happened as a result? | a. Who was involved?
b. What organizations were the collaborators?
c. What community sector or objective does this relate to?
d. Was this the first time the event happened? | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Tool #2: Observational Codes for the Monitoring System
| Internal Events (Happens within the initiative) |
| Code | Definition | Examples |
| PP Planning Product | Products or residuals of planning activities within the group | - Statements of objectives - Formation of committees or task forces with established members - Grant application |
| RG Resources Granted | Acquisition of funding through grants, donations or gifts in kind | - Materials received - People's time (except volunteers) - Money |
| External Events (Happens outside the initiative) |
| Code | Definition | Examples |
| CA Community Action | Actions taken to bring about changes in the community related to the initiative's goals | - Actions that attempt to modify or create a new program , policy, or practice - Petitions |
| CC Community Change | Changes in programs, policies, or practices of governmental bodies , agencies, businesses, and other sectors of the community that are related to the initiative's goals | - A new or modified service program - A new or modified policy (e.g. tobacco control) - A new or modified practice (e.g., regarding office hours) |
| SP Service Provided | Events that are designed to inform or educate people | - Classes - Workshops - Communications such as bill stuffers |
| M Media | Each instance of radio time, television time, newspaper article, brochure or newsletter. | - Radio - TV (e.g., public service announcements) |
| X Other | Items for which no code or definition has been created | |
Checklist
Here, you'll find checklists that summarize the major points contained in the text.
You understand that monitoring my community initiative can help you:
____weigh actions against the results to see if we're meeting the goals of the community and the initiative
____understand the initiative
____make decisions concerning the programming of the initiative
____promote awareness of accomplishments;
____recruit support
____secure funding
You understand these 3 key parts of a monitoring system:
____Process and outcome measures
____Observational system
____Regular feedback on performance
You understand that process measures can be used to monitor the following:
____members who participate
____planning products
____media coverage
____financial resources
____services that are ultimately provided
____community actions
You understand that outcome measures can be used to monitor the following:
____changes in programs
____changes in policies
____changes in practices
You understand that the data you gather by using the monitoring system can help the group in the following ways:
____Data can tell you where the initiative places its emphasis.
____Data can point out which groups in the community are affected by your initiative .
____Data can reveal which strategies are being addressed.
____Data can be used by the staff to achieve a variety of results.
Data collection checklist
____Have key project staff and active members of the initiative keep event logs of ALL events
The event logs include the following information:
____the month/day/year of the event
____a description of the event itself, including:
____why it was important and,
____what happened as a result
____a description of the details of the event, including
____who was involved
____what organizations contributed people and resources
____what community sector or objective this relates to
____if this is the first time this event happened
____Complete event logs no later than one week after the event has taken place.
____Give completed event logs to the people in the group who are in charge of evaluation.
____Turn over the information gathered to the people in your group who will put the data into some kind of organized form so that the initiative can use it in a beneficial way.
____Those who organize the information that is gathered summarize the event logs.
____The results are distributed to members of the group.