Dissemination: Handmaiden to evaluation use

Use of evaluation findings is a valued outcome for most evaluators. However, to optimize use, the findings need to be disseminated to potential users in formats that facilitate use of the information. This reflective case narrative uses a national evaluation of a multisite National Science Foundation (NSF) program as the setting for describing the evolution of, and strategic planning for, effectively disseminating evaluation findings and recommendations. The program being evaluated is NSF's Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program. The dissemination to more than 200 active ATE projects and other audiences forced the evaluation project to be creative in its approaches. The dissemination strategies are related to two very common types of evaluation information: surveys and site visits. Approaches used include Web postings of various reports, brochures, interactive data displays, guidebooks, and videoconferencing. Advantages and disadvantages in terms of use of the techniques by various audiences are discussed.