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shickers

The recent article New pope revives question: What is a ‘Latino? definitely resonated with me given the subject of my current program evaluation.  It’s discussions like this that now have me particularly intrigued with the topic as I have been collecting data and conducting interviews on diversity and multiculturalism.

The article mentions “Measuring someone’s “Latino-ness” — how much they identify with Latino rather than mainstream American culture — is not unusual in the United States. It’s the rough equivalent of Americans evaluating each other’s patriotism, a way to gauge their loyalty and perspective on life.”   This narrative embodies the information I have been collecting and the discussions I have had with my client on this particular subject and program evaluation.

Based on data I have collected this seems to be a rather heated debate on what it means to be Latino and who can “claim” the term.  The author also states “Latino is commonly, but not exclusively, used to describe people of Latin American descent in the United States, Pitti said. In Latin America itself, people tend to identify themselves by their native country, such as Argentinian, Panamanian or Mexican.” This has been a significant theme in my findings which could possibly be contributing to the disconnect among minority groups on campuses.

shickers

As we are preparing our oral presentations for next Saturday I thought it might be helpful for some if you checked out the link below.  The link is titled “Secrets from a TED2013 Speaker: Preparing for the “Talk of One’s Life”.  I know it can be difficult to get the “juices” flowing and this article might help shed some light on how to get started, or perhaps enhance what you are currently planning to do.

Enjoy Secrets From a TED2013 Speaker: Preparing for the “Talk of One’s Life”

shickers

As I progress through this doctoral program I am learning the importance of collecting, analyzing and using data.  This is not a new concept for me by any mean (no pun intended) however, trying to sort through the various methods of collecting and sharing data can be overwhelming at times.  I have found this to be particularly challenging when working with the data I am currently collecting for my program evaluation.  The program I am evaluating focuses on enhancing student’s feelings and perceptions of connectedness on campus.  Qualitative data is what I am seeking in order to provide an accurate representation of the effectiveness of the program in its current state and to capture the feelings and perceptions of the students involved.  As I have been conducting the surveys and focus groups I have paid particular attention to not just what the students say, but also how they are saying it.  The non-verbal cues that the students demonstrate have revealed quite a bit of data about their particular feelings and perceptions.  Initially, I had planned to utilize a mixed method approach and analyze quantitative data coupled with the qualitative data to see if the program was meeting the expectations of the stakeholders.  However, as I quickly learned these data sets can tell completely different stories depending on whom I shared the data with.  As an evaluator my goal is to see if there is value in a particular program and to make sense of these values, or lack thereof, so I can provide informed recommendations to the stakeholders.  The challenge has been aligning values among the differing stakeholders involved with the program as well as being able to accurately demonstrate the “meaning” of the qualitative data I am collecting.  Although this has been a challenging exercise it has been an invaluable learning experience and I am looking forward to continuing with the evaluation and becoming an effective evaluator and data ninja. There are two quotes regarding data that I really appreciate, and can now relate to. I feel one speaks towards our need for qualitative data and the other perhaps leans a bit towards the importance of quantitative data collection…you can be the judge.

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted” – Albert Einstein.

“In God we trust; All others must bring data” – W. Edwards Deming

shickers

I really enjoyed our class last Saturday.  I found the discussion regarding collaborative writing to be very insightful and informative.  Specifically, learning about how a team or group of individuals can work together by utilizing their respective strengths to produce a quality cohesive document.  We are fortunate to have such a strong and diverse cohort and I’m sure everyone is looking forward to continuing on this journey together.  Each individual in our cohort brings with them substantial knowledge, thoughts and ideas which I’m certain are going to produce outstanding projects as we collectively progress through the program!

shickers

It is truly amazing that we have reached the end of our first year in the program!  Time really does fly when you are having fun.  As I have been working on my word press site (and reviewing others along the way) I can’t help but notice how much has been accomplished in this first year.  It is evident that we have all grown significantly as leaders and professionals in our industries.  I know this program has made an immediate impact on how I “see” myself and my organization as well as equipping me with more knowledge on how to improve both.   Certainly this program can seem a bit overwhelming and extremely time consuming for us all…but it never ceases to amaze me that we manage to get the job(s) done.  I wanted to commend you all for your ability to juggle careers, personal lives and this program.  We should all be proud of what we have accomplished thus far. I know the connections and friendships I have established throughout the first year are going be lasting ones.  I am very excited about our potential (both group and individual) for the years to come!