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Think Tank

Use and Influence of Evaluation

Amplifying and Empowering Member Voices in Evaluation: Progress through unconferencing

Stream: Evaluation Foundations and Methodology

Saturday, October 26, 2024
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM PST
Location: Portland Ballroom 256
Abstract Information: GOAL/

Objective: The overarching goal of this panel is to prioritize conversation over presentation. With an internal focus on enhancing AEA cross-TIG functioning, we would like to propose an interactive session which uses “unconference" strategies [1] to explore ways to disrupt polarization within AEA and [2] co-construct collaborative strategies across TIGs while also honoring the uniqueness and diversity of each TIG. The intended outcomes are two-fold—policy considerations for the AEA board and implementation suggestions for AEA staff as well as TIG leadership.

Method: We posit a little more organization is needed to arrange a “curated unconference” event in collaboration with AEA’s TIG management where topics and structures are collected by potential participants prior to and after the conference. Specifically, we propose the following: • First, maximizing the potential of face-to-face meetings and interaction during the conference requires building engagement prior to the conference to support participants’ needs and enhance their experiences. Specifically, we propose a pre-conference webinar [which can be built into the existing TIG quarterly meeting structure] and the use of web-based collaborative real-time editors like Google Docs and more privacy-aware, free open-sources like Etherpad (http://etherpad.org/) to help conceptualize thoughts, identify challenges, and to track discussions. Multiple people can edit and contribute to these documents in parallel and both participants and AEA and TIG leadership can use them afterwards as an equivalent to meeting proceedings. • A group of organizers, in a transparent and open procedure, will then sort through these ideas to build a structure for the face-to-face conference meeting with the essential “unconference” features for both large- and small-group discussion. • A follow-up webinar will enable TIG capacity building, identification of unifying missions, and networking. Further, this allows for collaboration between and transition of expertise between experienced members and young and emerging evaluators. Additionally, this will serve as a welcome and initiation to new TIG members while addressing the two intended outcomes—a) policy considerations for the AEA board and b) implementation suggestions for AEA staff as well as TIG leadership. • Session attendees will participate in discussions of potential collaborations across various TIGs and AEA as a whole. ADVANTAGES: This proposal will support a focus on topics that are relevant to TIGs organizationally as well as encourage individual leadership development, time for authentic conversations and actionable teamwork, flexibility of schedule, and an emphasis on contributions from every participant. The relationships built during an unconference often continue well past the event. The interactions can lead to productive cross-TIG collaborations, using creative conflict to deconstruct polarities across TIGs, creating professional development opportunities, and networking needed resources. Finally, the format will allow the inclusion of previously unheard voices who have lacked representation—giving voice in the ongoing co-construction of AEA and the co-exploration of evaluation topics.