Book Title: Building Sustainable Communities: Monitoring and Evaluation

Subtitle: Module 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

Authors: Ryan Plummer; Amanda Smits; Samantha Witkowski; Bridget McGlynn; Derek Armitage; Ella-Kari Muhl; and Jodi Johnston

Book Description: Monitoring and Evaluation is the fourth module in this course, Building Sustainable Communities: The Impact of Engagement, and highlights research and real-world experiences on the subject of monitoring and evaluation (also referred to as M&E), in relation to sustainable community building. In the first lesson we will provide you with an overview of M&E, including origins and definitions, as well as its importance for building sustainable communities. In the next lesson, the spectrum of approaches to accomplish M&E is examined, specifically we look at two opposing ends of the spectrum: conventional and participatory M&E. In the third lesson we will focus on the use of citizen science as a mechanism for building sustainable communities. Here we define citizen science, develop an understanding of how it can be used in conventional or participatory M&E, and discuss innovative tools to support it. The final lesson covers the common benefits and challenges experienced across all M&E approaches, and surfaces key tensions surrounding M&E as a field of practice and research. By the conclusion of this module, it is our hope that you are beginning to see how these pieces along the path to building sustainable communities connect.