LIFE SKILLS, JUNIOR - STEP FIVE: USING THE FORM
Life Skills, Jr.* consists of a pretest and a posttest. Therefore the evaluation needs to
be administered twice - once at the beginning of the program and once at the end.*
PRETEST
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Timing: When will you administer the evaluation?
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Schedule the pretest evaluation at the beginning or in the early stage of the
program, perhaps during registration or else at the first general gathering
of the group.
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Schedule 10-15 minutes for the pretest.
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Setting: Where will you administer the evaluation?
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Choose a setting that is comfortable and quiet.
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Make sure everyone has a place to sit and a writing surface.
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Supplies: do you have the needed supplies?
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Before the program, print out one copy of the pretest evaluation on white paper.
Make copies of it on COLORED paper (Green is suggested). You will need enough
colored copies of the evaluation for all participants who might attend when the
evaluation is distributed.
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From the registration forms, enter names into a database and assign
each a number. Keep a hard copy master list in a confidential file.
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If you are using nametags, place the number from that master list on each youth's
individual nametag.
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Provide pencils.
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Introduce the Evaluation Form: What do I say?
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Before you start the program, give youth numbered nametags and
the
pre-test
evaluations to fill out.
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Each child writes the same number on her/his evaluation as the number
on her/his nametag.
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Read out loud or paraphrase the permission statement on the top of the
evaluation form. Answer any questions.
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Youth fill out their evaluations. Some of the younger youth may need
assistance reading and understanding the evaluation.
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Collect the evaluations, having staff check that the number on the evaluation form
matches the number on each youth's nametag (and the master list).
* Parents need to be informed before the evaluation is conducted. See
Notice page.
POSTTEST
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Timing: When will you administer the evaluation?
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Schedule 10-15 minutes for the posttest evaluation.
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Pick a time when participants can reflect on the activites they have
participated in and think about what they have learned.
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Suggested times are before the last activity of the program,
at the final meal or snack, or as part of a final celebration.
Often the very end of a program is not the best time because
participants are tired or need to leave and cannot concentrate
on the evaluation.
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Setting: Where will you administer the evaluation?
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Choose a setting that is comfortable and quiet.
-
Make sure everyone has a place to sit and a writing surface.
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Supplies: do you have the needed supplies?
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Before the posttest, print out one copy of the posttest evaluation on white
paper. Make copies on COLORED paper (Pink is suggested). You will need enough
colored copies of the evaluation for all participants who might attend when the
evaluation is distributed.
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Provide pencils.
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Again, each youth writes the same number appearing on her/his
nametag on the evaluation form.
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Snacks or refreshments served during the scheduled evaluation can
sometimes have a calming effect. Know your audience.
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Offering an incentive (i.e. certificate or treat) for completion of
the evaluation can be used as a motivator.
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Introduce the Evaluation Form: What do I say?
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Instruct the participants to think about the statements in relation
to the program they have just completed. You might say:
"Think back on what you have learned in this (name of program)
on (topic of the program). Respond to the statements based on
this program."
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Younger children may need assistance with understanding statements on
the evaluation form.
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Finishing up: What more do I need to do?
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Collect the evaluation forms, checking that the number on each evaluation form
matches the youth's nametag. (The master list can be used as a backup in case
nametags are not available or legible by the end of the program.)
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You may want to have a container or
large envelope for the evaluations. This assures the participants
that you cannot identify individual evaluations. (Note: Participants
must have participated in six or more hours of the program for their
evaluation to be valid. Evaluations from participants with less than
six hours attendance are invalid. Identify any invalid evaluations
and exclude those evaluations from the final data entry.)
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NOTE: Evaluations must be kept in a confidential file for three years.
After that, they may be discarded.
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Proceed to the next step: Enter Data.
