Alumni Evaluation: Assessing Your Program's Long-Term Impact

Set up an evaluation project that examines what, if any, long-term impact your program has had on your alumni participants.
 

Before you Evaluate! A To-Do-List

Program evaluation can help foster accountability, determine whether programs make a difference, and provide staff with the information they need to improve service delivery.
 
 

Building Program Culture Resource Packet

This resource explores the elements of group development; focusing specifically on building and strengthening program and group culture and cohesion through strategies and activities.
 

CCSS Shifts in Instruction for English Language Arts (ELA)

Understanding how classroom teachers are shifting instruction - and using a common language based on these instructional shifts to reinforce learning – is critical knowledge for non-academic programs. Participants learn more deeply and authentically if skills, expectations and language are consistant inside and outside the classroom. Use the CCSS Shifts in Instruction to reflect on program direction, tasks and assessment and to design and implement programs that align with CCSS.
 

Depth of Knowledge Chart

When designing any aspect of program, use Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) to create learning objectives (goals) for participants. Program participants understand information at various and progressing levels. Webb’s DOK is a useful tool for determining - and most importantly – for transparently sharing with participants the learning objectives of programs. Whether for practicing reading, basketball, cooking, service learning or applying new skills in an internship, use DOK critical thinking ACTION WORDS (skills) to intentionally design and make clear what participants will be able to do or to demonstrate to achieve a particular learning objective and CCCS
 

Developmental Assets Resource Packet

This resource provides an overview of the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets – the key developmental factors essential for all young people to feel connected and to thrive. This packet includes some core content on the research behind the Assets, skill building activities, and resources programs to incorporate asset building in their programs
 
 
 
 
 

Features of Positive Developmental Settings for Young People

This document describes youth development principles which can be applied to help structure and/or assess program and work settings in mentoring as well as in other programs.
 

Growth Mindset: Article by Adriel Hilton

Prominent Scholar Calls Growth Mindset A "Cancerous" Idea, in Isolation.

 

Growth Mindset: Article by Carol Dweck

Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset'

 

Growth Mindset: Article by Peter DeWitt

Why a 'Growth Mindset' Won't Work

 

Growth Mindset: Article by Susana Claro and Susanna Loeb

New evidence that students' beliefs about their brains drive learning.

 
 
 

Icebreakers and Energizers

A resource packet of Icebreakers and Energizers compiled by CIN Members for use with interns.
 
 

Internship Self Assessments

Assessments for program start up and exisitng programming. Includes an assessment of authentic work.
 

Member's Best Practices

A resource guide containing CIN members' best practices.

 
 

Mentor Intake Form

Good mentors are a key component to a successful internship program. A good mentor has the potential to impact a student’s future, and thus you want to make sure to get a strong sense of prospective mentors to see if you want to entrust your youth with them. You can use the following questions as part of a mentor application, mentor interview, or mentor pre-program training workshop.
 

Mentor Training Resources and Handbook

This document addresses the process of preparing mentors to work with interns.

 
 
 
 

Research about Career Development Internships

A brief overview of the research in the field about essential criteria for quality internship programs.
 
 

Retention Strategies

This file provides information on how youth development principles can be infused throughout an internship program to help increase retention.
 

Social and Emotional Issues for Teens Resource Packet

This resource includes tips for improving your practice in supporting teens around the social and emotional issues they face, role play activities to use with staff and resources for linking young people to support.
 

Student Self Assessment Rubric

A self-assessment rubric for interns and program staff to mointor progress on skills.
 

Supporting Interns' Aspirations: The School-to-College/Career Journey

Useful and relevant information packet that can be used directly with interns to help them with the transition from high school to college.
 
 

Tools and Methods for Evaluation

This document desribes the benefits and drawbacks of tools and methods to be used in the evaluation process.
 
 
 
 

What Do We Mean by Career Internships?

An in-depth look of the characteristics necessary for a quality internship program. There is also brief information about what the research reveals on mentoring relationships.
 

What is a Quality Mentor?

A working definition of a what it meants to be a Mentor.
 
 

Work Based Learning Research

A summary of existing on work-based learning experences intended to support staff and organizations to identify promising practices in career internship programs and design programs that lead to successful outcomes for young people.