[nodeval] My limited contribution

[Lewis Sykes (Cybersalon)]

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Hi

I had hoped to have more input into this... but I've got a lot on at 
the moment.  Apologies.

I've added my priorities to the WIKI.

The main (and probably only) point I'd like to make is about 
formulating questions for different groups.  In my experience this is 
crucial to effective evaluation.  How you phrase a question will have a 
big impact on how people respond to it and therefore on what 
information you collect.

I can see that there's a start at doing this on the WIKI with the  
"Questions formulated for these Internal Groups" - though there's 
currently only minor variations - and hopefully my comments below will 
help. I also think this just as important for external audiences.

It's not just about asking 'open' and 'closed' questions - sometimes 
it's necessary to do both of these - but it is about trying to see the 
issue through the eyes of the person being asked the questions.

Probably best if I give some examples - though I really need more time 
to think this through properly.

So if a key question is "To what extent did NODE.London raise the 
visibility of media arts in London?"
Then targeted questions to selected groups might be...

Individual Subscribers
- Have you seen an increase in awareness for your work?  By whom? In 
what ways?  Do you think there's a buzz about media arts in London at 
the moment? Do your friends and colleagues think so too? What work or 
projects  have you read about or seen that really stand out for you?  
Is this work new to you?

Participating Curators & Project Organisers
  - Has your involvement in NODE.London made you more aware of new media 
art work and activity? Are you surprised by the range of media art 
activity in the capital?  Have you seen work you really like but didn't 
know about?  Have you discovered projects and people that you'd like to 
work with in the future?  Have you had more feedback for your own 
work/curation since getting involved in NODE.London?

Participating Venues
  - What response have you had to your NODE.London season programming?  
Have bookings been better or worse than expected?  Have you attracted 
new audiences to these events?  Can you quantify this?  Has programming 
media arts activity had a positive effect for the venue?

On a quick read back these are all closed questions and need "Please 
describe" and "In what ways?" after them.  They're an attempt to focus 
on 'visibility' but couch the questions in relevant 'terms of 
reference'.  Anyway hope it puts over the idea and is useful.

Wish I had more time...  I'll keep reading the emails but may be 
relatively quiet.

Best

Lewis

Lewis Sykes
Cybersalon
www.cybersalon.org
07788 588808
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Hi


I had hoped to have more input into this... but I've got a lot on at
the moment.  Apologies.


I've added my priorities to the WIKI.


The main (and probably only) point I'd like to make is about
formulating questions for different groups.  In my experience this is
crucial to effective evaluation.  How you phrase a question will have
a big impact on how people respond to it and therefore on what
information you collect.


I can see that there's a start at doing this on the WIKI with the 
"Questions formulated for these Internal Groups" - though there's
currently only minor variations - and hopefully my comments below will
help. I also think this just as important for external audiences.


It's not just about asking 'open' and 'closed' questions - sometimes
it's necessary to do both of these - but it is about trying to see the
issue through the eyes of the person being asked the questions.


Probably best if I give some examples - though I really need more time
to think this through properly.


So if a key question is "<x-tad-bigger>To what extent did NODE.London
raise the visibility of media arts in London?"</x-tad-bigger>

Then targeted questions to selected groups might be...

 

Individual Subscribers

- Have you seen an increase in awareness for your work?  By whom? In
what ways?  Do you think there's a buzz about media arts in London at
the moment? Do your friends and colleagues think so too? What work or
projects  have you read about or seen that really stand out for you? 
Is this work new to you?


Participating Curators & Project Organisers

 - Has your involvement in NODE.London made you more aware of new
media art work and activity? Are you surprised by the range of media
art activity in the capital?  Have you seen work you really like but
didn't know about?  Have you discovered projects and people that you'd
like to work with in the future?  Have you had more feedback for your
own work/curation since getting involved in NODE.London?


Participating Venues

 - What response have you had to your NODE.London season programming? 
Have bookings been better or worse than expected?  Have you attracted
new audiences to these events?  Can you quantify this?  Has
programming media arts activity had a positive effect for the venue?


On a quick read back these are all closed questions and need "Please
describe" and "In what ways?" after them.  They're an attempt to focus
on 'visibility' but couch the questions in relevant 'terms of
reference'.  Anyway hope it puts over the idea and is useful.  


Wish I had more time...  I'll keep reading the emails but may be
relatively quiet.


Best


Lewis


Lewis Sykes

Cybersalon

www.cybersalon.org

07788 588808
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