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Session Eight Outline: The way forward and evaluation

Aims

• to reflect on the programmes of action produced by all study circles in the project.
• to develop a strategy for positive change.
• to evaluate the course.

Summaries of session 8

• GBR1 (Les Ford)
• SWE1 (Ola Niclason)

Activities

Preparing a programme of action
Read the latest input from other study circles in the project on their programmes of action in response to TNCs. Discuss both the common views and the differences. The facilitator records the discussion.
Planning the way forward
Members are asked to bring together all the issues in the course and consider a strategy for positive change. You should: list the issues identified in the course determine what measures or activities you can undertake to affect positive change in

• (i) the short-term
• (ii) the long-term
•  
• determine what resources you will need and where they will come from
• determine the support which you will need from other groups and organisations
• decide what skills and methods you will use which have been developed in the international study circles project.

Evaluation of the course

The evaluation will focus on the course as a whole. Study circle members must fill in the form provided. After completing the form, study circle members should discuss their overall impressions of the international study circle. The facilitator records the discussion.

Session 8: Notes for the facilitator

You will need:

• Course evaluation form (one per member)
• Flipchart paper and pens

Points to bear in mind:
Planning the way forward is an important opportunity for study circle members to discuss the activities which could emerge from the study circles at both a local and international level. We hope that study circle members will continue to organise themselves around the issue of TNCs after the completion of the course. It is not necessary to have this discussion in detail but rather to establish a process whereby study circle members are able to take forward the issues addressed in the course independently.

The evaluation of the course must be allocated the necessary time. Since this is a pilot programme, the evaluation is crucial to the future running of the project. We should therefore get detailed responses from study circle members. It would be useful to combine the filling in of the forms with a more general discussion in the group on impressions of the course as a whole.

Activities before January 1998 international evaluation meeting:

compile a detailed national report using the guidelines provided, including a synthesis of the study circle member's evaluation points.
Put on the Internet your national report.

FOR STUDY CIRCLE MEMBERS COURSE EVALUATION FORM FOR STUDY CIRCLE MEMBERS

Name:_______________________________ Country:_____________________________

This form is aimed at helping you evaluate the course as a whole. It is a very important evaluation as it will help shape how we run future international study circles. Please do not answer questions by only saying yes or no.
With all questions, give reasons for your answer and suggestions for improvement.

Preparation for the study circle:

1. How were you informed about the purpose of the international study circle, and was this satisfactory?
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2. How was the recruitment process carried out, and can it be improved?
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Structure of the course:

3. What are your views on the structure of the course?

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4. How were you able to make links and connections between the different sessions?
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5. Are there any sessions which should be expanded?

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6. Are there any sessions which should be shortened?
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Content of the course:

7. How did the course meet your expectations?
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8. What did you like and not like about the course?
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9. How did the course help you understand TNCs in your country and beyond?
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10. What were the gaps in the course content?
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11. How did you gain an understanding of global issues, rather than simply local and national perspectives?
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12. What problems did you experience in the course?
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Education materials and resources:

13. What did you like about the education materials, and what were the problems?
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14. Where did you get the resources which you needed?
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15. How can the resources provided by the course be improved?
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Learning methods:

16. What did you like and not like about the way in which the course was run?
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17. What was the benefit of having activities between sessions?
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The group:

18. How would you describe the relationship between the members of your study circle?
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19. What were the problems in your group?
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The facilitator:

20. What did you like about the role of the facilitator?
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21. What did you not like about the role of the facilitator?
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Using the Internet:

22. What did you learn from the exchange between the different study circles?
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23. What were the gaps/problems in the exchange between the different study circles?
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24. How useful is the Internet as a tool of communication for study circle education?
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25. How can it be improved to make it more useful?
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The outcomes:

26. In what other ways did you benefit from the course?
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27. What new skills did you acquire from the course?
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28. How can the study circle result in concrete action and solidarity either at a local, national or international level?
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29. How can local and international solidarity be strengthened?
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30. What suggestions do you have for the continuation of the project?
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General:

31. Any other comments?
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FOR FACILITATORS ONLY

COURSE EVALUATION GUIDELINES FOR STUDY CIRCLE FACILITATORS

These questions should be used as guidelines to draw up a detailed national report of the first international study circle pilot programme in your country. Your report should synthesise the evaluation comments of the study circle members, and include your observations as the study circle facilitator.

Preparation for the study circle:

• Were you satisfied with the recruitment process, and how can it be improved?
• What problems did you experience in reaching the target audience?

Structure of the course:

• How effective was the structure of the course?
• Should the structure of the course change? If so, how?
• How did the course facilitate effective learning?
• Are there any sessions which should be expanded?
• Are there any sessions which should be reduced?

Content of the course:

• Was the content of the course sufficiently focused and relevant to the concerns of study circle members?
• What were the gaps in the course content?
• What problems did you experience in addressing local/national issues and introducing an international perspective?
• What problems did you experience in ensuring that there was a good balance between an analytical and action-orientated focus?
• Are there any themes or issues which should be expanded?
• Are there any themes or issues which should be reduced?

Education materials:

• What did you like and not like about the education materials?
• Was the level and amount of work in the course manageable for the target audience?
• What was the value of the additional materials?
• What was the value of the activities between sessions?
• Did the education materials provide sufficient guidelines for facilitators?

Methods:

• Was the range of education methods appropriate? Evaluate: group discussions, group reading, games, creative writing, and questionnaires.
• ow did you adapt the learning methods to the specific context in which you were working?
• What problems did you experience in stimulating participation from study circle members?
• What were the strengths and weaknesses in the study circle as a method for facilitating collective learning?

The group:

• How would you describe the relationship between the members of the study circle?
• What problems did you experiences in building cohesion within the group?
• How did you experience your role as facilitator?

International communication:

• How well did the study circle gain an understanding of the opinions and perspectives of other study circles in the project?
• What were the possibilities and difficulties in arriving at a common understanding of the issues?
• What was the main educational value of the exchange between the different study circles?
• What were the gaps in the exchange between the different study circles?
• How useful was the Internet as a tool of communication?
• What problems did you experience in using the project web-site?
• How can the project web-site be improved?
• How did the use of English as the language for international communication impact on the process?

The outcomes and future:

• How did study circle members benefit from the course?
• What were the main areas of understanding which were developed?
• What new skills did study circle members acquire?
• What concrete plans for future action do study circle members have?
• How can local and international solidarity be strengthened?
• What are the key areas which the project should address so that future study circles are more effective?

General:

• What problems did you experience with the role of the international study circle project co-ordinator during the preparation and implementation phase of the pilot programme?
• What problems did you experience in linking with the facilitators of the study circles in each country?
• What problems did you experience in linking with the web-site technician?
• Did you have sufficient funds for the implementation of the project?

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