Academy Phase II – Application Learning Circles

Learning about program planning and evaluation is only the beginning! For if what is learned is not turned into practice, then the outcomes we know are possible for youth won’t happen. The application learning circles of the Program Planning and Evaluation for PYD Impact Academy will provide support and guidance as participants take what they have learned and put it to work in the real world of 4-H Youth Development practice.

Application learning circles consist of small groups of approximately eight academy participants that meet for five monthly sessions (December to April) with a learning circle facilitator. Guided by the interests of participants, the learning circles will encourage the application of learning to specific aspects of 4-H programming. Participants will learn from and support each other as each works toward a specific application goal or project over the five month period.

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Academy Phase I – Content Learning

Welcome to the Program Planning and Evaluation for PYD Impact Academy! We are so happy you are here!

Participants in this academy will revisit the research base of the 4-H Thriving Model that informs everyday 4-H practice. Participants will learn how to move from theory to action through intentional program planning and increase their capacity for the evaluation of PYD as defined by the 4-H Thriving Model.

Specifically, participants in this academy will

• Explore the influence of evaluative thinking on their work and engage in asking the right questions and identifying the sources of evidence to inform their work.
• Be able to articulate their “why”, intentionally design programs to achieve intended PYD outcomes, and be introduced to strategies for assessing the implementation and the impact of positive youth development as defined by the 4-H Thriving Model.
• Develop individual action plans to apply evaluation strategies in their work and leverage that data to make data-driven decisions and share the impact of their work.

Please bookmark this page for future reference as it your portal to the academy sessions. The content for each of the five learning sessions can be accessed by clicking on the buttons below.

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Session One: Introduction to Evaluative Thinking & Theory of Action

This session introduces participants to each other and will review the research base of positive youth development (PYD) and how that research is reflected in the 4-H Thriving Model. It will then explore the influence of evaluative thinking and introduce moving from theory to action through intentional program planning. Self-paced learning assignments include academy welcome and introduction activities, a review of the 4-H Thriving Model, and an introduction to evaluative thinking. During the live webinar session, hosted by an experienced PYD evaluator, participants will learn more about the application of evaluative thinking in their work and the translation of theory to practice in program planning and evaluation. Participants will also be introduced to an individual action planning tool that will be used throughout the subsequent lessons. Session recording and material is available below.

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Session Two: Intentional Program Design

This session will continue to build on moving from theory to practice and focus on establishing the connections between the delivery of youth development programming and the intended PYD outcomes. Self-paced learning assignments will include a review of a continuous improvement model and an introduction to intentional program design. During the live webinar session, hosted by an experienced PYD evaluator, participants will learn more about establishing good performance objectives, following the steps in a program cycle and will be introduced to the Intentional Program Design Rubric.

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Session Three: Measuring PYD Implementation

This session focuses on the implementation and assessment of PYD as defined by the 4-H Thriving Model. Self-paced learning assignments include a review of the Developmental Context Layer of the 4-H Thriving Model and an introduction to methods for gathering participatory feedback. During the live webinar session, hosted by an experienced PYD evaluator, participants learn more about monitoring their performance objectives, discuss the application of feedback in a continuous improvement model, and are introduced to program quality observations and a Developmental Context Fidelity measure.

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Session Four: Connecting Implementation to Outcomes

This session connects the intentional “what” we do to “why” we do it and examine the measurement of outputs vs. outcomes. Self-paced learning assignments include a review of the youth thriving indicators and the developmental outcomes of the 4-H Thriving Model and the research establishing the connection between PYD and the learning outcomes of individual programs. During the live webinar session, hosted by an experienced PYD evaluator, participants explore resources for measuring PYD as defined by the 4-H Thriving Model and discuss strategies for data collection, analysis and reporting in their respective programs.

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Session Five: Sharing PYD Impact

This session will revisit the program cycle and re-examine the connection between program planning and evaluation. Self-paced learning assignments will include instruction on individual action plans, best practices for sharing impact stories and an introduction to data driven decisions. During the live webinar session, hosted by an experienced PYD evaluator, participants will “complete” the program cycle, discuss the value of an evaluation network and discuss the usefulness of connecting program quality data, PYD thriving indicators and outcome data and learning outcome data to make data driven decisions and to tell their impact stories.

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Virtual Learning Content Open November 29 (4 hours, self-paced)

Live Webinar Sessions: Tuesday December 5 OR Thursday December 7 (2 hours, select one)

12:00pm to 2 pm ET (11am- 1pm Central; 10am – Noon Mountain; 9am to 11am Pacific)

Passcode: 115908

Passcode: 154387

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Phase Two: Application Learning Circles

Learning the theory and practice of PYD program planning and evaluation is only the beginning! For if what is learned is not applied, then the outcomes we know are possible for youth won’t happen. The application learning circles of the Program Planning and Evaluation for PYD Academy will provide support and guidance as participants take what they have learned and put it to work in their programs.

Application learning circles consist of small groups of approximately eight academy participants that meet for five monthly sessions (December to April) with a learning circle facilitator. Guided by the interests of participants, the learning circles will encourage the application of learning to specific aspects of 4-H program planning and evaluation. Participants will learn from and support each other as each works toward a specific application goal or project over the five month period.

The schedule for the 90 minute learning circles is listed below. There are three group times available each month. Because the learning circle is a small community that works together across sessions, participants must stay with the same learning circle group month to month. You will be offered the opportunity to select your preferred group time, but those cannot be guaranteed.

All learning circles take place from 12:00pm to 1:30 pm ET on the dates below:

(11am- 12:30pm; Central; 10am – 11:30am Mountain; 9am to 10:30 am Pacific)