Data Visualization and Reporting
Shannon Lasserre-Cortez, PhD
Senior Research Associate
RMC Research Corp
Gonzales, Louisiana, United States
Shannon Lasserre-Cortez, PhD
Senior Research Associate
RMC Research Corp
Gonzales, Louisiana, United States
Kimilee Norman-Goins (she/her/hers)
Publishing and Communications Director
RMC Research Corporation, United States
Kimilee Norman-Goins (she/her/hers)
Publishing and Communications Director
RMC Research Corporation, United States
Melinda Mollette, PhD
Senior Research Associate
RMC Research Corp, United States
Location: Grand Ballroom 2
Abstract Information: Impact stories serve several purposes. They can capture progress over time, help educate the broader community about a project or intervention, demonstrate responsible use of resources and the value of a project, disseminate “best practices,” attract new collaborators, and serve as a foundation for blog posts, website highlights, or other forms of media. In this skill-building workshop, evaluators from the Region 7 Comprehensive Center will share lessons learned and guidance on creating impact stories for program evaluation. Using hands-on activities and real-world examples, participants will learn how to write powerful impact stories that summarize program effects for a variety of audiences. This session will lead participants through pinpointing guiding questions, identifying impact story components, and mapping out a step-by-step process for collecting data and presenting results in a visually engaging and data-rich two- to three-page report. From identifying potential audiences to creating compelling documents that mix text, images, and data, participants in this session will gain a thorough understanding of how to create impact stories that capture deeper insight into the project journey, sustainability of the work, and the meaningful relationships developed with clients along the way that lead to successful project results.
Relevance Statement: The Comprehensive Centers (CCs) program supports the establishment of no less than 20 CCs across the United States to provide capacity-building services to state, regional, and local education agencies that improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, and improve instruction quality. The current cohort of CCs, which received initial awards in 2019, includes 19 Regional Centers and 1 National Center. The Region 7 Comprehensive Center (R7CC) provides intensive technical assistance to state education agencies in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. It is one of 19 Regional Centers under the National Comprehensive Center Network. All R7CC projects are aligned with and supportive of select key initiatives of each state and focus on building state capacity to support local education agencies and schools to improve student outcomes. For the fourth year of the current CC cycle, the US Department of Education (USED) required centers to submit impact stories on two center projects as part of the annual evaluation. While USED offered initial guidance for the development of the impact stories, centers were largely encouraged to think creatively about the final composition of the stories and how they might be disseminated to a variety of audiences. In research and program evaluation, the word “impact” can be defined as having an effect, benefit, or influence on the lives of citizens and society beyond contribution to academic research. For this session, the word impact is not intended to suggest that programs have scientifically or empirically resulted in “impact” or the desired long-term project outcomes but should suggest that there is a logical connection between the services provided and the outcomes achieved (e.g., as laid out in a project logic model). When presented effectively, “impact stories” can be a useful tool for educating stakeholders about the short- and mid-term outcomes of your work, as well as results that suggest progress toward longer-term outcomes and, ultimately, improved educational outcomes for students. Participants will consider the project milestones that they have achieved, their significance in progressing toward longer-term goals, and the outputs and outcomes that have occurred along the way that demonstrate increased capacity to achieve the desired results with respect to a high-leverage problem.