Action Conference Report, Part 1:
Participant Evaluation Form
44
Forms Returned
Tabulation procedure: Many respondents made more than one point in
any one answer. These points were
listed and numbered separately. At
the same time, many respondents said very similar things in their answers.
These similar answers were combined, tallied and listed under each
Heading in order of decreasing selection. The
individual forms are on file at MnAEYC.
Dan Gartrell, 6/8/02
A. Main purpose/goal in attending conference:
1. Learn more about Minnesota early childhood issues, legislation
and political climate. (13)
2. To connect and exchange ideas/Networking. (9)
3. Gain understanding of the programs and how they work in
Minnesota . To gain information and knowledge on one day rather than piecemeal.
(9)
4. To become more involved in grassroots efforts; To work on
political/advocacy plan for 2003. (7)
5. To gain understanding of TEACH program; help TEACH be
successful. (4)
6. To gain info—Men in Child Care strand specifically, how to
recruit and retain. (2)
7. I came for a specific track
8. Learn about system approach
9. To learn more about MnAEYC as well as the focus of the upcoming
legislative year for early childhood issues.
10. To offer information from a personal viewpoint and from a
“greater Minnesota” resident/employee in early childhood perspective
11. Become involved in the early childhood profession on another
level
12. Become an advocate for the staff that I mentor and supervise in
my programs.
13. Present and learn
14. Conference reinforced idea that dedicated action steps is the
key. Encouragement is the tool.
Resistance is the answer.
15. Desperately need in these desperate times.
B. Please state a strong point and an area for improvement
in the conference:
Strong points:
1. Location, amenities ( affordable refreshments),
and facility were good. . (7)
2. The conference was well organized, prepared, and executed.
6 hour day just right. (5)
3. Professionals involved and attending were knowledgeable and
informative. (4)
4. Great concept and information--went very quickly.
(4)
5. Organized small groups--good leadership, collaboration. (3)
6. The size/# of participants made it very participant friendly.
(2)
7. Good Job; enjoyed conference.
(2)
8. It was a casual,
grassroots, open forum. Lots was
accomplished today. (2)
9. Great topics for breakout groups; good variety of sessions. (2).
10. Affordable cost a strong point. (2)
11. Getting early childhood professionals together and focusing on
important issues. (2)
12. Organization and overview of morning was good way to start off.
13. Feedback at the end of the day helped me most.
14. Men’s group great.
15. Excellent group discussion
16. Brainstorming session.
17. Dan Gartrell and Bryan Nelson.
18. Breakout groups were productive and good size.
19. Discussed strategies to be implemented rather than just
discussing comparing.
20. I felt as if I can and could make more of an impact on this
field than I thought previously.
Improvements/Follow-up:
1. The chapel was not easy for hearing speakers.
Echoes. (5)
2. Would like to see more attendees. (3)
3. More detail about location needed-area confusing with people unfamiliar
with place. (2)
4. Need to tie the topics together, such as by opening keynote. (2)
5.
Needs to be more organized; didn’t realize from registration we were spending
the entire day at one session. (2).
6.
Should be able to attend two tracks for input.
Good choices and not enough time in the day (2)
7. Day. (Friday) set for meeting.
8. Maybe say in brochure that conference will end at 3; I almost
didn’t come, afraid I would get caught in metro traffic.
9. Putting the breakout groups on the agenda at the beginning would
have helped.
10.
More information about each strand in the brochure so people could make good
choices.
11. The background information about presenters could have been printed
instead of read.
12.
Might want to combine topics in slightly larger groups instead of small groups
13. Others need to understand more on diverse family situations in
Minnesota. . (Not just racial and language differences.)
14. More time to
address topics in strand. Conference
could have been longer.
15.
Unclear who or what the event was intended to influence: MnAEYC_ legislature_
The sponsoring groups_
16.
Need to figure out how to continue the news output effectively.
17.
Getting the message out to all who are involved with children to support early
childhood.
C. The strand listed in the program that I attended (interestingly)
was:
1. Systems Approach to
Financing the Profession. (10)
2. TEACH. (10)
3. MnAEYC Initiatives. (10)
4. Political
Connections/Child Care Works. (10)
5. Men in Child Care. (4)
D. Please state a strong point and an area for improvement in the
strand session:
Strong points:
1. Lots of experience at the table and opportunity for everyone to
be heard. (3)
2. the moderator in our group made sure we were addressing topics
and sticking with coming up with strategies.
3. Strong representation, good presentation
4. Variety of people were really in dialog.
5. Good internal discussion and generation of ideas.
Improvements/Follow-up:
6. Bring all programs focused around early ed on the same page.
Develop coverage that encompasses all--and campaign together.
7. More time for strategies.
8. Probably didn’t need a reprint from Young Children
9. Not enough representation. (or none) from groups we need to
collaborate with: Headstart and ECFE conspicuously absent--as usual.
TEACH
Strong points:
1. All of our questions were answered and our input was well
received. (3)
2. Great facilitators—prepared and provided handouts and visuals.
(2)
3. You held it, and I did appreciate the discussion. (2)
4. Overview of current program in MN was very helpful, as well as
the video
5. Small groups.
6. Increased and updated information
7. Great organization and participation by attendees
8. Kudos for brining it to Minnesota. Need to be comfortable in statement that higher education is
connected to quality child care.
Improvements/Follow-up:
9. Chapel acoustics weren’t so great
10. Facility. Focus of
the group.
11. A bit more about Mn’s steps with TEACH to date.
12. Better agenda
13. There should have been an AM and PM choice for strands.
14. Please put information about the advisory group for TEACH in
the TEACH report.
MnAEYC
Initiatives
Strong points:
1. Kate did great job of asking good questions of everyone in group
to encourage a very full discussion with personal stories.
(6)
2. Good involvement opportunities for all who attended.
(4)
3. Big focus on action.
4. Many groups that work with early childhood came together and
discussed how we can make a difference and get more people involved on early
childhood issues.
Improvements/Follow-up:
5. Room seating not very conducive to a discussion—lecture hall.
(3)
6. Difficult to sit all day--perhaps moving around more.
(2)
7. Lay out general agenda with objectives so we know where we are
going.
8. Maybe summarize initiatives in print--some people are visual
learners.
9. Keeping it going. Where
do we go from here_
Political
Connections/Child Care Works
Strong points:
1. Well organized and led by Ann Kaner-Roth. (3)
2. Excellent facilitation, good collection of people--lots of
discussion. We enjoyed going
outside. (2)
3. Leader was knowledgeable and kept a good pace--progressive but
not pushy.
4. It was a casual,
open forum. Lots was accomplished
today. (Requested repeat of this
comment)
5. Great collaboration of ideas; good discussion
Improvements/Follow-up:
6. No areas for improvement except we had no note-taker.
7. Saw crossover with systems group in particular--perhaps we could
have merged.
8. I suppose I would
have liked to hear about ECFE legislative items, but that wasn’t the purpose.
9. Would have liked to discuss more ways of delivering the key
messages to legislators
10. Linking specific action steps to preparing for the next
legislative session
Men
in Child Care
Strong points:
1. Strong point--very thorough, fascinating content, great
participation
2. Variety of ways of providing info included video tapes research
papers, conference.
3. Action oriented. Great
background and discussion. We’ll
make change happen
4. Materials. .and there was time for discussion
Improvements/Follow-up:
5. Could have given materials in advance or had a chance to see
reading list wo we could access materials before hand.
6. Need more participants
E. How well did the conference help you attain the purpose/goal for
attending_
1. Very well/Well. (14)
2. Excellent content and motivational. Perfect fit (5)
3. Great idea--awesome networking; avenue for working together in
the future for policy change. (3)
4.
Learned a lot about the overall early ed field and MnAEYC--and from personal
stories and perspectives. (3)
5. My goal was to better understand the components of TEACH and
this was accomplished. (with the understanding that there is more to learn). (3)
6. Increased professional development. (3)
7.
It exceeded my purpose in attending. I
was able to hear the views of diverse people representing a variety of early
childhood organizations. (2)
8 . I look forward to the follow-up reports which I will use on my
local level—rural Minnesota.
9. Wow, I’ve just scratched the surface to the complexity of
legislation.
10.
Good update information on each category.
11. Wonderful resources and coverage.
12. Met needs and opened a few more questions
13.
The group had strong views and opinions yet we listened and appreciated
everyone’s input and were able to make strong recommendations and valuable
actions steps that can produce results.
14.
Got together to talk about systems stuff.
15.
Price and location excellent.
16.
I met some new people and deepened a discussion I had previously started with
another professional.
17. We have good action steps and beginning of direction for 2003
session.
18. There is so much more work to do as a small group.
19.
I felt more empowered to make a difference myself instead of relying on others.
20.
I came away with not only what is on the legislative agenda for this year, but
also a variety of ways to bring the issues to the people involved with making
the decisions.
F. Give one or two suggestions if the conference were to be held
again.
1. More outreach/more P.R. and promotion to get more attendees.
Make phone calls asking for a firm commitment.
2. Better auditorium. Acoustics
difficult. (6)
3. This is a good time of year. (post-session) to have the
conference. (3)
4. I think we need more early childhood people involved, maybe by
getting the word out sooner. (3)
5. How do we get all early childhood groups at the table
We’re told we need to include ECFE, and school readiness but they
certainly don’t seem interested in being included--and Head Start.
(3)
6. Clearer goal for expected outcomes, ie were we to make
recommendations for the legislature or ourselves, who is to implement action
strategies. (3)
7. It’s a great idea. Very
effective approach. Start earlier
in the year. Have it put on the
calendar now. Make it a Minnesota
tradition. (2)
8. Better air conditioning (2)
9. Not Friday, perhaps hold it on a weekend so more EC people can
attend. (2)
10. Keynoter at the beginning to create a conceptual
framework: set the stage. (2)
11. Concordia U. is great to host it. Perhaps you could put in the brochure where we should park,
give us parking permits if necessary, etc.
(2)
12. Do much of it the same--format and setting were especially
good. (2)
13. When sending out info before the conference, give a brief
description of the tracks.(2)
14. I really liked
hearing about the leaders’ backgrounds. Having
their names on the agenda would have been helpful
15. Needed map to building on campus
16. Lunch was great.
17. I was only interested in one strand and would not have
otherwise attended.
18. If you want
professional educators to come, it would be good to know ahead of time if our
time would count toward license renewal.
19. Allow people to go to 2 sessions rather than just one so they
are able to explore several areas rather than needing to just focus on one area.
20. Perhaps focus on a couple of key themes or leave time to react
to the report-back so that there are some more concrete outcomes reflecting the
large groups’ views.
21. Keep recorders--was reassuring to have the discussions recorded
as they happened.
22. Report the same way you organized it today.
23. I think the group summaries will be helpful for all in working
together
24. Continue similar venues, even on a small scale--at Breezy
Point, MnAEYC conference.
25. Maybe follow-up with a pre conference day at MnAEYC
26. Accomplishing goals will attract more voices--plan, do achieve.
(2)
27. Someday we should try for a discussion on how all the many
sectors can work together better. Perhaps
start in small groups to large group or just this topic with different htmlects
assigned to each group.
28. Make a list serve of this group. Have each person make a goal that they would do.
Could report success on the list serve.
29. I felt the conference was good. I enjoyed the breakout sessions.
But where do we go from here_
30. I hope we will have more attendance at future conferences as I
see the huge tasks addressed at the conference.
31. Well done!! How
soon til the next one_