Insights
The Complexity of Evaluating Informal Learning
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses the complexities of evaluating informal learning programs and methods to meet those challenges.
Questions to Ask When Designing Evaluation Deliverables
Dr. Sarah Dunifon reflects on questions to ask when designing evaluation deliverables.
Where to Find Your Next Evaluator
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses the process of finding an evaluator and highlights useful search tools.
Evaluating School Partnership Programs
Dr. Sarah Dunifon reviews strategies for evaluating school partnership informal education programs.
Evaluating Mixed-Age Programs
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses the challenge of evaluating mixed-age informal learning programs and provides three possible assessment strategies.
How I Got Here: My Path into Informal STEM Education Evaluation
Dr. Sarah Dunifon reflects on her journey into the field of informal STEM learning evaluation.
Three Ways to Evaluate STEM Learning Ecosystems
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses three approaches to evaluating STEM learning ecosystems.
STEM Learning Pathways, Pipelines, and Ecosystems
Dr. Sarah Dunifon reviews the similarities and differences between STEM learning pipelines, pathways, and ecosystems.
Breaking Into the Field of Informal STEM Learning Program Evaluation
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses entry points into the field of ISE evaluation.
A Month in the Life of an Informal STEM Learning Program Evaluator
Dr. Sarah Dunifon reviews her varied activities over the last month related to ISE program evaluation.
Emphasizing Evaluative Criteria for More Focused, Inclusive Evaluations
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses evaluative criteria and how to use them.
Evaluating Fab Labs and Makerspaces
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses evaluation of makerspaces and fab labs.
A Gardener’s Lesson on Evaluation Planning
Emily Neill reflects on evaluation planning from her perspective as a gardener.
Cheers to Informal STEM Education: Highlights from 2024 and Anticipations for 2025
The Improved Insights team recaps highlights of 2024, looks ahead to 2025, and provides some STEM activity recommendations for the holiday season.
Evaluation Policy Frameworks
Dr. Sarah Dunifon discusses who is currently guiding evaluation policy frameworks in the United States.
Resources for Evaluation Project Management
Emily Neill, Evaluation Assistant at Improved Insights, shares resources for evaluation project management.
Sweating the Small Stuff: Evaluation Project Planning
Emily Neill, Evaluation Assistant at Improved Insights, shares the value of a detail-oriented mindset in evaluation practices.
Introduction to “An Examination of Evaluation Policies and Funding Priorities in Informal STEM Education”
Improved Insights introduces Dr. Sarah Dunifon’s dissertation, An Examination of Evaluation Policies and Funding Priorities in Informal STEM Education
Helpful Tools: AEA365
Welcome back to our Insights! In 2024, we will be sharing a series of helpful tools, resources, and deep dives that focus on informal STEM education (ISE). These will include websites, podcasts, research briefs, news on emerging technologies in the ISE space, and other items that we think you’ll find valuable.