Date: May 18th 2022, from 12 pm to 1 pm EDT
Register here or visit the post through the Canadian Evaluation Society website.
Reflective and reflexive practice is increasingly being recognized as a core competency within the profession of evaluation (CES, 2018). Critical reflexivity is suggested as a method by which evaluators can monitor their cognitive biases, better understand their privilege, and increase their awareness of power dynamics. The intended goal of critical reflexive practice is to reduce the risk that an evaluator uncritically, and usually unwittingly, perpetuates systemic oppressions during an evaluation and causes further harm. Furthermore, if the aim of a program or service is to be equitable, integrating a disciplined practice of reflection is increasingly being recognized as a method of practicing social justice and anti-oppression when evaluating those programs and services (Archibald, Neubauer & Brookfield, 2018; Caldwell & Bledsoe, 2018; Jewiss & Clark/Keefe, 2007; Hall, 2019; van Draanen, 2016).
Nick Petten (he/they) has been practicing critical reflexivity in their evaluation and believes that it can be used by evaluators to maintain an ethical stance and be culturally responsive to groups of people that do not fully identify with the dominant ideology in Western society. This practice has emphasized the need to create safe spaces for discourse in a system that is characterized by hyper-consumerism, imperialism, colonialism, cis-hetero-patriarchy, and white supremacy. Equally important to understanding how a system can be oppressive is understanding that all humans, with all their cognitive flaws, are universally deserving of love and compassion and are always subject to change.
Webinar focus:
In this webinar, participants will have an opportunity to learn more about some techniques and practices in integrating critical reflection and reflexivity in their evaluation practice. Furthermore, participants will discuss the role and impact of critical reflection and reflexivity on an individual’s practice, within the dynamics of both a team and the professional community of evaluators.
Biography of presenter:
Nick Petten is a researcher, consultant, and evaluator with over 10 years’ experience working with culturally diverse populations. Nick has in-depth and front-line experience working with children and adolescents with multiple needs and capabilities through parent education programs, early childhood education centres, youth programs, adolescent treatment centres and many other community programs. He is also dedicated to building the capacity of the organizations he works with through several volunteer and board engagements.
Learning objectives:
In addition, this webinar aims to strengthen capacities in line with the following Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice:
Domain 1.0 Reflective Practice: Competencies focus on knowledge of evaluation theory and practice; application of evaluation standards, guidelines, and ethics; and awareness of self, including reflection on the implications of one’s practice and the need for continuous learning and professional growth.
And specifically, Competency 1.8: Uses self-awareness and reflective thinking to improve own practice and to pursue purposeful learning and development as an evaluator.
- Recognizes and manages one’s own biases and strives to reduce their impact on evaluation practice.
- Identifies one’s shortcomings as an evaluation professional and actively seeks to strengthen them.
- Learns from personal successes and failures within projects.
- Pursues relevant opportunities for professional learning and development.
CES’s updated competencies on Reflective Practice and Ethics (https://evaluationcanada.ca/sites/default/files/crwg_revisions_clean_version_april_23.18.pdf)
If you have any questions please contact Vicky at secretariat@evaluationcanada.ca.