We've designed and delivered workshops like the ones below to a range of AmeriCorps programs, state commissions for volunteerism, and nonprofits across the country. We’ll work with you to customize or create new workshops too. You can download descriptions of over 15 workshops we offer here.
TELLING YOUR STORY WITH DATA
Nonprofits' stories have never been more important to share. Sometimes it can feel intimidating to think about how and where different kinds of data might fit into our stories. “No numbers without stories, no stories without numbers” can be a powerful mantra, but without tangible examples, it can be hard to put into action. This session will offer ways to incorporate data to tell the story of your program and impact. We will review effective story structures and examples of data woven into stories. Participants apply and practice strategies together in small and large group work.
Cooking with Logic models
Logic models are a foundational tool for planning and communicating program design and evaluation. As programs adapt to new challenges, revisiting logic models can be a powerful action--identifying or reaffirming the activities, outputs, and outcomes that are core to their mission. In this interactive session, we view logic models as recipes (and theories of change as menu descriptions). We’ll review some key concepts and common challenges. Participants will do some logic model recipe-writing together, using a list of programmatic ingredients we provide (Iron Chef-style), and we’ll reflect and answer questions.
“I have been journey mapping all morning through our recruitment processes—incredible tool and way to look at our work. ”
“Gretchen is a master at not only the ins and outs of evaluation work in general, but also presenting and teaching it in a way that is easy to understand, relatable and engaging. She uses metaphors to teach complex concepts, breaks things down into manageable chunks and integrates fun interactive techniques to help participants grasp what is being taught whether it be logic models, theory of change or data collection methods. The true indicator of her success as a trainer has been how much our network has been able to actually implement after her sessions with us. ”
The Life and Times of a Data Point: Design Thinking to Improve Data Quality
Collecting valid, accurate, and consistent data is critical for all AmeriCorps programs. There are multiple places on even a single data point’s journey--before, during, or after data collection-- where things can go awry. Design thinking offers some helpful tools and approaches, such as journey mapping, to improve processes and engagement. Journey mapping is a way to visually represent a process from the perspective of multiple roles (e.g., AmeriCorps members, staff, and service partners) and gain new insights that can lead to innovation. In this interactive session, we'll learn and practice concrete ways to improve data quality through journey mapping.
Add color to your data collection toolkit
Qualitative data is powerful in its ability to illustrate the “why” behind programs’ work; collecting it can help us listen and uncover insights from diverse voices. It’s easy, however, to get stuck in a rut of relying on traditional surveys, interviews, or focus groups. In this session, we’ll explore and share approaches that may be new to you, or that maybe you haven’t thought about in a while, including arts-based methods (e.g., photo-elicitation, collage, poetry), gathering artifacts, and other participatory techniques. We’ll try out some of these methods together during the session and refresh our evaluation palette.
“Gretchen conducted a great training that helped our AmeriCorps programs engage in real conversation about data collection challenges. The information was humanistic, relatable, and motivating. Gretchen was easy to work with and truly understands what it’s like to collect data in challenging AmeriCorps settings!””
“Professor Biesecker is a joyful teacher. Her concern for the students’ understanding is warm and greater than any other professor I have ever had…She truly made me want to come to class and listen to her every day.”