Enhancing Environmental Educators' Evaluation Competencies: Insights from an Examination of the Effectiveness of the "My Environmental Education Evaluation Resource Assistant" (MEERA) Website

Autor/inn/en	Zint, Michaela T.; Dowd, Patrick F.; Covitt, Beth A.
Titel	Enhancing Environmental Educators' Evaluation Competencies: Insights from an Examination of the Effectiveness of the "My Environmental Education Evaluation Resource Assistant" (MEERA) Website
Quelle	In: Environmental Education Research, 17 (2011) 4, S.471-497 (27 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1350-4622
Schlagwörter	Evidence; Environmental Education; Evaluation Methods; Educational Resources; Government Employees; Federal Programs; Professional Development; Graduate Students; Undergraduate Students; Training Methods; Educational Technology; Web Sites; Web Based Instruction; Competence; Case Studies; Questionnaires; Evaluation Needs; Evaluation Problems; Program Evaluation; Program Effectiveness; Focus Groups; Pretests Posttests; Use Studies; Independent Study + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Evidenz; Umweltbildung; Umwelterziehung; Umweltpädagogik; Bildungsmittel; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Didaktik; Trainingsmaßnahme; Unterrichtsmedien; Web-Design; Web Based Training; Kompetenz; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Fragebogen; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Benutzerschulung; Selbststudium
Abstract	To conduct evaluations that can benefit individual programs as well as the field as a whole, environmental educators must have the necessary evaluation competencies. This exploratory study was conducted to determine to what extent a self-directed learning resource entitled "My Environmental Education Evaluation Resource Assistant" (MEERA) can enhance environmental educators' evaluation competencies. The multiple case studies relied on data from eight environmental educators with limited evaluation experience who used MEERA to evaluate one of their programs. Results suggest that MEERA can (1) increase environmental educators' perceived evaluation competencies, (2) help environmental educators produce quality evaluation outputs, and (3) foster their use of evaluation results. Perceived benefits of using MEERA included obtaining evidence of program success, insights into how to improve programs, and alternative ways of thinking about programs. Perceived challenges included varying difficulties with evaluation tasks such as prioritizing evaluation questions and designing data collection instruments and, in line with this, desiring personal expert assistance for context-specific advice and reassurance. This research contributes to expanding understanding of how to enhance environmental educators' evaluation competencies and practices. (Contains 8 notes, 5 tables, and 1 figure.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10