Evaluating your presentation can help you learn whether it has met its goals, but only if you decide up front what to evaluate and how to do so. The purpose of any evaluation is "to answer practical questions of decision-makers and program implementors who want to know whether to continue a program, extend it to other sites, modify it, or close it down."1
The best way to start evaluating is to ask audiences to fill out a brief questionnaire; this will help you improve your work. Also, ask yourself and whoever requested the presentation about its effectiveness. What was or was not effective? What should be changed or deleted? Find out whether audience members adopted your ideas or discussed them favorably after your presentation.
When evaluating your presentation, you will probably want to show that it does one or all of the following:
- Provides information about your topic in an organized manner.
- Educates the community about the issues covered in your presentation.
- Addresses special concerns that audience members may have about your suggestions.
- Allows your audience to understand an issue and decide what action, if any, to take.
In evaluating your presentation, also consider whether and how it meets the following more general crime prevention goals:
- Reduces crime or fear of crime in your community.
- Is cost effective.
- Has a lasting impact.
- Attracts support and resources.
- Makes people feel safe and more positive about being members of your school or community.
Learning to evaluate what you do is a skill you can apply to all aspects of your life. Good luck with your presentation and—You're making a difference!
- National Crime Prevention Council, What, me evaluate? Washington, DC: National Crime Prevention Council, 1986
| Youth in Action Bulletin | March 2000
Number 15 |