You are ready to begin this workshop if you have
(1) received an e-mail confirming your registration (2) prepared
your computer for participation. Then, please take a moment
to read through this page. It will help you understand how this
site is organized, how much time you should expect to spend participating
in this event, and where to go for technical support. To learn
about our theoretical approach to developing these online events, click
here.
Getting Started will help you answer the
following questions:
What
Does Participation Entail?
Data Collection Methods: Getting Down
to Basics combines readings, online activities, and
discussion to explore key concepts related to program evaluation.
As a participant, you will be expected to do four things:
- Read the course presentation for each
day. Most presentations are also supplemented by anywhere
from one to six related resource papers, articles, or tools,
that you may want to print for future reference.
- Complete online activities. This
event includes five online activities—each designed to
help you apply the course content to your prevention work.
- Participate in online discussions. After
completing each activity, please share your responses with other
participants on the Message
Board. Your active participation on the Message
Board is key to the success of this event. We encourage all
participants to post at least two comments each day.
- Complete an online evaluation form that
will help us assess the effectiveness of this course and improve
future online programs.
Do
I Need to Follow a Set Schedule?
Data Collection Methods: Getting Down to Basics is
a seven-module course designed to be completed over two weeks.
This is an asynchronous event, which means you can take the
course at your own pace and log in when it is most convenient
for you. However, to benefit most from the materials and your
interactions with other participants, we strongly suggest that
you visit the site regularly and adhere as closely as possible
to the following schedule:
Week 1
Module 1: What's Data Got to Do With It? Collecting,
analyzing, and understanding data can be intimidating, especially
to those without experience or an expertise in statistics. Yet,
there are many good reasons for prevention programs to collect
and use data. This section presents an overview of how data can
strengthen your prevention efforts, describes several kinds of
data you may want to collect (e.g., demographic data, information
about risk and protective factors), and introduces four common
methods for collecting these data: mining existing data, surveying,
conducting focus groups, and conducting key informant interviews.
Module 2: Using Existing Data. More
often than not, the first step in working with data for prevention
is to examine existing data. This section presents a six-step
model for locating and using both local and national data, and
the advantages and disadvantages of using each.
Module 3: Collecting Your Own Data. This
section explores several fundamental issues common to all data
collection methods, such as the importance of defining a target
audience, asking the right questions, being culturally competent,
ensuring participants are fully informed, pilot-testing, collecting
data carefully and consistently, and maintaining confidentiality.
Week 2
Module 4: Using Surveys. Yes,
there are good surveys and bad ones. But designing a survey that
yields useful information for prevention programs is not beyond
the ability of the average practitioner—especially with
a little help from your evaluator. This module explores some
key aspects of survey design and delivery, including types of
survey methods, things to consider when choosing or developing
a questionnaire (such as question development and formatting),
pilot-testing, and implementation tips.
Module 5: Using Focus Groups. The
success of your focus group depends on the time you put in
to recruiting the right participants, asking the right questions,
and creating an environment in which participants feel comfortable
sharing information with one another. This module will explore
these issues and other key aspects of focus group design and
implementation.
Module 6: Key Informant Interviews. A
key informant interview is a loosely structured conversation
with people who have specialized knowledge about the topic you
wish to understand. This section presents reasons to use key
informant interviews and tips for conducting interviews that
are both informative and pleasant.
Module 7: Summary and Evaluation. This
is the time to complete the online evaluation form, review comments
from the week's discussion, and share lessons learned.
For a reminder of what you should “do” each
day, click on the schedule icon located on the left navigation
bar.
How Is
the Site Organized?
Each online event’s Web site contains these sections:
Course Presentation
(Weeks 1 and 2)
This is the meat of the course, where you will acquire a basic understanding
of the event topic. Materials appear in a variety of formats and can be printed
for future reference. We will also ask you to participate in online activities
designed to help you reflect on and apply the information contained in the
materials.
SAMSHA/CSAP Online
Tools
This section connects you to the following tools: Prevention Pathways, CSAP’s
new, interactive Web site; Prevention Platform, an updated online program
designed to support effective, evidence-based substance abuse prevention
programs;
Foundations
of Prevention, an online course focusing on the basics of substance abuse
prevention; SAMHSA's National Registry of Effective Programs and Practices,
and the CSAP Training Library.
Resources
The information in this section is designed to complement the event materials,
facilitate your participation in the event, and enhance your overall learning.
Resources include tip sheets, tools, audio transcripts, and related links.
Event Support
This section provides contact information for people who can answer your
technical or content-related questions.
Message
Board
After reading each day's materials and completing the activities, you will
be asked to share your experiences and lessons learned in this section of
the Web site.
Take some time to tour the site and familiarize
yourself with its layout and content. In particular, you may
want to review the following:
These tip sheets are housed under the Resources section
of this site.
How
Much Time Should I Spend on This Event?
You should log on at least once a day. Please allow enough time to read through
the day’s assignment, complete any associated activities, and visit the Message
Board. We strongly encourage you to post at least two comments per module
to the Message Board. The more you contribute, the richer the discussion. The
moderator will check in throughout the day to answer questions or facilitate
discussions.
Can
I Print These Materials?
All the materials and tools on this site can be printed for future reference.
However, we strongly suggest that you review the materials before printing
so you can see how the different sections fit together. To print a specific
page, go to the page of interest, place your cursor on File (at the top of
the page), go to Print, and then press OK. This will print everything on the
screen in front of you.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to print the entire
site with a single click of the mouse.
How
Can I Provide Feedback on the Course?
At the end of the course, you will be asked to complete an online evaluation
form. This lets us know how successfully we have communicated the event content
to
you. You can also share general questions and comments by visiting the Message
Board or by clicking on Event Support.
Will
I Receive Credit for Participating?
To receive credit for participation, you must do the following:
- Read all course presentations
- Visit the Message Board daily
- Complete course activities (i.e., post a response
to at least one discussion question per activity)
Optional, but strongly recommended:
- Respond to at least one comment posted
by a fellow participant
On fullfilling these requirements,
we will send you a certificate for 10 hours of training. Certification
will be sent, by email, within 14-days of the course end date.
The Northeast CAPT is a NAADAC approved
education provider. Our provider
number is 556.
Where
Can I Go for Help?
For technical support, contact Anina Estrada at AEstrada@edc.org.
For questions about session content, contact Dana de Bernardo at ddebernardo@ssre.org.
(You can also reach these staff members by clicking on Event
Support.) You may also find answers to your questions in Tips
for Navigating This Site, Tips
for Participating in Online Activities, and Tips
for Using the Message Board.
How
Do I Begin?
When you are ready to begin the event, simply click on the Course Presentation
button at the top of the screen.
You have completed this section.
Please proceed to Module 1: What's Data Got to Do With It?
contained in Week
1.
|
Introduce
yourself on