203: Grounded in Community: Redefining Teaching of Evaluation Through a Place-Based Learning Approach

This session explores the role of Place-Based Education (PBE) as a transformative approach to teaching and practicing evaluation. Grounded in real-world, community-centered learning, PBE empowers evaluators to engage meaningfully with local contexts and fosters shared leadership in the evaluation process. Participants will examine how PBE enhances cultural competence, ethical rigor, and utilization-focused practices by embedding evaluation training in authentic, participatory environments. Through discussion of theoretical frameworks and applied examples, this session will demonstrate how integrating PBE into evaluation education can develop more responsive, collaborative, and impactful evaluators. Attendees will leave with practical insights on leveraging PBE to build inclusive partnerships and strengthen evaluation practice in diverse community settings.