High Quality Performance Measures Skill Building Activity #2 Alignment of Outputs and Outcomes

High Quality Performance Measures Alignment of Outputs and Outcomes

Answer Key and Points to Consider
1. Intervention: National Service participants repair trails and picnic area facilities and renovate public bathrooms in county parks. Output: Park trails and picnic areas are repaired and reopened for public use. Outcome: Parks are cleaner and better maintained. Aligned Not aligned Not sure; not enough information

If you checked not aligned or not sure, explain: It is not clear how the outcome would align with and logically flow from the output and the intervention; repairing trail/picnic areas and renovating bathrooms does not connect to park cleanliness. In addition, if reopened trails lead to increased public use, this could actually mean less clean parks and the need for more maintenance. FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION: Aligning the outcome with the output. Brainstorm with the group and try to come up with outcomes that are aligned with the intervention and the output. Examples: Park trails and picnic areas meet safety standards Increased public use of county parks

2. Intervention: National Service participants teach and coach youth in a 6-week after-school sports program which includes understanding the fundamentals of and participating in softball, basketball and volleyball through skill drills and team play. Output: Youth participate in sports program activities. Outcome: Youth increase aerobic fitness. Aligned Not aligned Not sure; not enough information

Copyright 2012 by JBS International, Inc. Developed by JBS International for the Corporation for National & Community Service

High Quality Performance Measures Skill Building Activity #2 Alignment of Outputs and Outcomes

If you checked not aligned or not sure, explain: It is possibly aligned but you would need more information. The output is connected to the intervention but it is not clear if participation in the sports program activities is aligned with the outcome, increased aerobic fitness . FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION. What do you need to know to be able to align the output and outcome ? Generate questions that would help you determine if the aerobic fitness outcome would be appropriate. Is the sports program specifically focusing on building aerobic fitness? When youth participate in sport program, do they consistently get their heart rates up (e.g. vigorous exercise for 15 minutes or more)? Or, do skill development lecture and practice dominate and the youth are sitting or standing around, waiting for their turn (e.g. to practice shooting baskets)? Is the program measuring pre-post aerobic fitness of the youth?

Alternative outcome. If youth do not increase aerobic fitness in this program, what might be an outcome aligned with the intervention? (Possible responses: youth improve sports skills, youth improve team work)

3. Intervention: Seniors participate in an emergency readiness orientation and receive emergency preparedness kits. Output: Seniors receive disaster preparedness kits and contact sheets. Outcome: Seniors are safer in the event of an emergency. Aligned Not aligned Not sure; not enough information

If you checked not aligned or not sure, explain: As written, it is not clear how the outcome would logically flow from the output. Seniors will not automatically be safer in an emergency just because a disaster preparedness kit is in their homes. FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION. Outcomes aligned with output. What are some outcomes that are aligned with the output? Examples: Seniors feel better prepared to handle an emergency situation

Copyright 2012 by JBS International, Inc. Developed by JBS International for the Corporation for National & Community Service

High Quality Performance Measures Skill Building Activity #2 Alignment of Outputs and Outcomes

Seniors demonstrate how to use all emergency kit items

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Copyright 2012 by JBS International, Inc. Developed by JBS International for the Corporation for National & Community Service