Evaluator Competencies Reflection





When I opened the self-assessment for evaluator competencies I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was sure that I was not going to know any of the competencies or even a basic understanding of what would be expected of me. Instead I found myself to be pretty midline in my understanding of the five evaluator competencies and the pieces that are required to complete them.

Reflecting on how I came by my knowledge I attribute it to the basic understanding I gained while completing my undergraduate degree. Even though I majored in Psychology, my focus was in child and adolescent development. Providing me with the first layer of foundational knowledge in evaluation as a whole. I further advance my skill set, by choosing to evaluate a childcare program for its effectiveness in a project towards the end of my degree plan. By evaluating the childcare program I slightly entered into the field of program evaluation. Providing me with a second layer to my initial foundation.

Knowing that I have minimal knowledge in the five evaluator competencies provided me with some peace of mind in my abilities. Also, supporting my belief in my ability to grow and expand my knowledge base as a new evaluator and strive to take advantage of the skills and knowledge of my co-learners. One area that I will be especially mindful of is the planning and management competencies. Domain 4 of the AEA Evaluator Competencies lists ten core areas that underlie the planning and management section (AEA {pdf}, 2018). While there are some I am familiar with such as 4.6 documents evaluation processes and products, the rest are areas that I do not have much if any experience. Making the planning and management competency one of my weakest areas.

Other domains of competency such as professional practice, methodology, and context are domains that I have some experience in. However I am far from an expert and will need to continue to take note of others' experiences, readings, and other learning moments throughout the length of the program. These three competencies will not be my weakest point, but also not my strongest.

The last domain of the AEA Evaluator Competencies is 5.0 Interpersonal (AEA {pdf}, 2018). This domain is probably the one I am most familiar with and use sections of on a daily basis. Interpersonal competency will be my strongest area in this course. I am regularly required to foster positive relationships for professional practice, listen to understand and engage in diverse perspectives and cultural understandings, and communicate in meaningful ways to enhance professionalism and the effectiveness of the task at hand. Still, I will continue to strive to gain a broader understanding of all five domains and will remain open minded to the experiences of myself and those I am working closely with to ensure a positive and respectful learning experience while we work together to complete our course assignments.

When reviewing the self-assessment on evaluator competencies, none of the core domains or the breakdown of their competencies surprised me. As stated above I do have some experience of the evaluation process. So, while some of the areas were more in-depth than I had anticipated, the majority were things I expected. When looking at the breakdown of each domain, I did find that some areas were reworded to fit the domain, but in principle were similar ideals for each. Areas such as works with others while maintaining integrity, openness to cultural diversity and perspectives, and facilitating each step of the process with clear contextual documentation were a recurring theme throughout each domain. These are also areas that are defined as integral to being a successful learning designer. Given the way that many of the values between program evaluation and learning design and technology overlap, it really relieved any major surprises when reviewing each domain and their individual core competencies in the self-assessment.

When reviewing the self-assessment from a future evaluator outlook, I find that there are many things I can do to continue to grow in this field of expertise. The primary step will be to continue to maintain each competency in the manner in which they are described. By continuing to utilize evidence-based systematic inquiry while also focusing on the unique circumstances and human diversity of background, culture, and relationships I will be able to continue to practice the distinct competencies that mark an evaluator's professionalism and continue to build interpersonal relationships with the human factors of any evaluation.

Lastly, to continue to grow as an evaluator and a professional in the field of learning design and technology, I will continue to be open to new data and developments within the field. I will also continue to be accepting of others learned experience and work to build interpersonal relationships both professionally and personally to support my overall growth and development regardless of where my future endeavors take me.

Overall, the evaluator competencies self-assessment provided me with the insight that I am further along in my understanding of what it means to be an evaluator and areas that I will need to continue to strive to build a better understanding. I am now aware that I have more to offer my team than originally anticipated and that I need to continue to be open to their thoughts, ideas, opinions, and learned experience from their own professional and personal lives. Our shared experiences in this course and others will help us all grow as we continue to work toward furthering our careers and competencies.

References:
(AEA {pdf}, 2018) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B7GZrhi67Fbt_nOW7jizJ-RnlJ8w-P3J/view)

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