I just ordered my new set of business cards, which look quite different from the ones I have had in the past. I have always ordered them on my own, so I have not had to conform to institutional guidelines, but I have always opted for the typical white background with black text and navy accents. This time, I decided to be a bit more liberal in my business card design. I was hesitant, fearing judgment for a black background, two fonts, and maroon accents, but I decided to go for it. After all, maroon is now one of my school colors!
This week, I went to two evaluation capacity-building workshops with my advisor. Yesterday's workshop was filled with interactive activities, including demo evaluation data collection techniques. Although I had heard of it before, I had never quite experienced the Listening Post technique, in which participants could anonymously leave process feedback. At the end of the training, a "reporter" shared the feedback with the larger group. I was struck by the power of this technique, as it allowed for "on-the-spot" open, candid feedback. This is a data collection tool I look forward to using in the future.
There seems to be quite a few recurring themes coming up in my classes this semester:
- "Empowerment" - What constitutes "empowerment"? - Power and privilege - How can we address and shift these? - Knowledge - Who decides, owns, and creates it? Who are the "brokers"? - Research - How do our epistemological and ontological philosophies influence our work? |
AuthorI am an Assistant Professor of Public Health who engages in research, evaluation, and community work that effects positive change in individuals, families, and communities. Archives
June 2020
Categories |