Does your project make a difference?
A guide to evaluating environmental education projects and programs
Knowing that your program makes a difference is crucial for everyone who is conducting education to promote more sustainable living.
This booklet provides guidance to help those who are planning and delivering sustainability programs, to understand, and to get started on evaluation. It helps you to build evaluation into your program - rather than evaluate it at the end, or not to evaluate it at all.
The booklet bridges the gap between specialist program evaluation and the relatively simple evaluation processes that form part of good program design and implementation. It is applicable regardless of the size of the project or the evaluation budget and is useful for those managing a broad range of sustainability programs, including education.
Does your Project Make a Difference? (projecteval04110.pdf, 283KB) shows you how to build an evaluation framework based on the logic of your project and an outcome hierarchy model. Regardless of your project's focus, or where you are in its life cycle, an outcomes hierarchy helps you to think through, and to question, your assumptions about how your program is working. When implemented appropriately, it provides evidence of impact at a range of levels. Evaluating within the hierarchy gives you confidence to make practical decisions about adjustments to the project/program, to substantiate your reports and to assist in future funding bids. Most importantly, appropriate and timely evaluation contributes to continuous improvement in program/project management and environmental, social and educational outcomes.
Page last updated: 02 August 2011
