David M. Fetterman - Böcker

Empowerment evaluation - a method for using evaluation concepts, techniques and findings to foster improvement and self-determination - is the focus of this book. After an examination of the method as it has been adopted in academic and foundation settings, the book looks at the various contexts in which empowerment evaluation is conducted, ranging from resistant environments to responsive environments. Critical concerns in empowerment evaluation, such as the role of empowerment theory and multiple levels of empowerment from individual to societal, are then discussed. The book also provides tools and technical assistance needed to conduct empowerment evaluation. The concluding section of the book serves to strengthen the links between empowerment evaluation and community-capacity building.

Fetterman focuses on what actually works in gifted and talented education programs. Complementing the psychological perspective on gifted and talented education, he adopts an anthropological point of view, using methods such as lengthy interviews with students, teachers, parents, administrators, and others involved in the school programs; daily observation; and group discussions to elicit the insider's perspective.A ground-breaking work, Fetterman's timely study provides a comparative picture of over 433 gifted and talented programs in the United States, as well as programs in other countries. The author's cross-cultural perspective points up the need for U.S. educators to shake themselves out of a national complacency about the gifted and talented and stresses the importance of comparing our own efforts with those of other nations. In the process, Fetterman proposes a model for educational excellence in terms of the mainstream U.S. educational system. The book will provide new insights for educators and policymakers working in our educational system as they strive to meet the needs of gifted and talented students.

From pioneering leaders in the field, this is the first book to provide a solid foundation for three major stakeholder involvement approaches: collaborative, participatory, and empowerment evaluation. Highlighting differences among the approaches, the authors focus on the role of the evaluator, who may be in charge of the evaluation, share control, or serve as a "critical friend," leaving stakeholders in control. Practitioners are guided to select and implement the most appropriate framework for the purpose and scope of a given evaluation and the needs of community members and funders. For each approach, a chapter on essential features is followed by two chapters presenting actual sample evaluations--for example, early childhood and community health initiatives, an aquarium, a project with Google, and more. The concluding chapter discusses similarities and circumstances in which the approaches can be combined.

From pioneering leaders in the field, this is the first book to provide a solid foundation for three major stakeholder involvement approaches: collaborative, participatory, and empowerment evaluation. Highlighting differences among the approaches, the authors focus on the role of the evaluator, who may be in charge of the evaluation, share control, or serve as a "critical friend," leaving stakeholders in control. Practitioners are guided to select and implement the most appropriate framework for the purpose and scope of a given evaluation and the needs of community members and funders. For each approach, a chapter on essential features is followed by two chapters presenting actual sample evaluations--for example, early childhood and community health initiatives, an aquarium, a project with Google, and more. The concluding chapter discusses similarities and circumstances in which the approaches can be combined.

From the founder of empowerment evaluation (EE), a framework uniquely suited to advancing social justice causes, this book explains the theories, principles, and steps of conducting EE from scratch or within a preexisting evaluation or work plan. David M. Fetterman describes how EE enables program planners and participants to define their mission or purpose, take stock of how well they are doing, and plan for the future to achieve self-determined goals. EEs of two large programs (Feeding America and USAID/REACH) are discussed in depth; other EE case examples address such topics as raising test scores in impoverished and rural schools and bridging the digital divide in communities of color. User-friendly features include chapters on conducting EE remotely and frequently asked questions, as well as illuminating sidebars and glossaries of acronyms and concepts/terms.

What principles should guide an empowerment evaluation? And how can these principles actually be put into practice? One of the primary tasks in an empowerment evaluation (EE) is to increase the capacity of program stakeholders to plan, implement, and evaluate their own programs. This book presents the most current formulation of the 10 principles of EE and provides professionals and students with the tools to put these principles into practice. Through case studies of diverse evaluation projects--including community health foundation initiatives, school district programs, and a $15 million corporate program aimed at bridging the digital divide--the founder and leading proponents of EE clarify key concepts and discuss important lessons learned. Coverage includes how to balance program improvement efforts with accountability requirements; how EE can be used to guide standards-based work; how to use EE in a learning organization; the differences among empowerment, collaborative, and participatory evaluation; and much more.