The Importance of Evaluating Long-Term Impacts: Utah Master Naturalist Program as a Case Study

Autor/in	Larese-Casanova, Mark
Titel	The Importance of Evaluating Long-Term Impacts: Utah Master Naturalist Program as a Case Study
Quelle	In: Journal of Extension, 56 (2018) 6, (8 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1077-5315
Schlagwörter	Extension Education; Program Evaluation; State Programs; Program Effectiveness; Natural Resources; Professional Development; Utah + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Erweitertes Bildungsangebot; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Regierungsprogramm; Natural Ressource; Natürliche Ressource
Abstract	Understanding long-term impacts is essential to knowing whether an Extension program is achieving its goals. I describe a process for long-term program evaluation, using evaluation of the Utah Master Naturalist Program (UMNP) as a successful example. Surveys revealed that the UMNP had impacts on participants up to 10 years after program completion. The UMNP is achieving its goal of promoting stewardship through fostering a deeper connection to nature, encouraging lifelong learning, increasing stewardship feelings and activities, and providing effective professional development. Further long-term evaluation efforts will focus on quantifying behavior change. Overall, the UMNP evaluation process and results underscore the criticality of conducting long-term evaluation to understand lasting impacts of Extension programs. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Extension Journal, Inc. e-mail: joe-ed@joe.org; Web site: http://www.joe.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01