Participatory Methods
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Participatory EvaluationParticipatory MonitoringParticipatory Planning

Evaluation wheel

Evaluation wheel
Duration
10 minutes weekly.
Participants
From 3 to 20 people, to ensure an active and manageable discussion.
Areas of application
Educación y formaciónDesarrollo comunitarioGestión organizacional y empresarialPlanificación urbana y ruralSalud y bienestar socialSostenibilidad y medio ambientePolíticas públicas y gobernanzaInnovación y diseñoInvestigación y evaluaciónResolución de conflictosTecnología y entornos digitalesParticipación ciudadana y social
Participation level
ColaboraciónDecisión conjuntaGeneración de conocimiento
Target audience
EducadoresLíderes comunitariosONGs y colectivos socialesEquipos empresarialesFuncionarios públicos
The Evaluation wheel is a participatory and visual tool that allows participants to assess different aspects of a project, activity, or initiative. Using a wheel divided into key categories, participants rate the performance of each aspect, creating a chart that highlights strengths, areas for improvement, and priorities. This approach fosters collective reflection and strategic planning.

Preparation

  1. Define the objective: Determine which aspects will be evaluated (e.g., impact, effectiveness, resources, participation).
  2. Design the wheel:
    • Draw a large circle divided into segments (like pie slices).
    • Each segment represents a category to evaluate.
    • Draw lines from the center to the edge of the wheel to create rating scales (e.g., from 1 to 5).
  3. Gather materials:
    • Large paper, markers, and sticky notes for the physical version.
    • Digital tools for the online version.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduce the purpose
    • Explain the purpose of the activity and how the wheel will help evaluate the project or activity.
    • Describe the segments of the wheel and the meaning of the scales (e.g., 1 means low performance, and 5 means excellent performance).
  2. Brainstorming criteria (optional)
    • If criteria are not predefined, invite participants to suggest key categories for evaluation.
    • Example criteria: efficiency, impact, participation, resources, sustainability, communication.
  3. Individual or group rating
    • Ask participants to rate each category by assigning a score from 1 to 5 (or according to the chosen scale).
    • Mark each score on the wheel, starting from the center and moving outward in the corresponding segment.
  4. Connecting points and visual analysis
    • Connect the points marked in each segment to form a chart (similar to a radar chart).
    • Facilitate a group discussion to analyze the chart:
      • Which categories show strengths?
      • Which areas need more attention or improvement?
      • How can the results be balanced?
  5. Reflection and prioritization
    • Discuss the actions needed to improve areas with low scores.
    • Prioritize key categories requiring immediate intervention.
  6. Closing and follow-up
    • Summarize the main conclusions and document the resulting chart.
    • Establish an action plan based on the identified priorities.

Purpose

The purpose of the Evaluation wheel is to provide a visual and structured representation of performance across key areas, promoting collective reflection and facilitating strategic planning to improve the evaluated project or activity.

Required materials

  • Large paper or whiteboard to draw the wheel.
  • Markers and sticky notes to record ratings.

Platforms

Practical recommendations

  • Clear definition of categories: Ensure participants understand what each segment of the wheel evaluates.
  • Active facilitation: Guide the rating process to clarify doubts and promote consensus.
  • Documentation: Save a copy of the final chart and reflections for future reference.
  • Adaptability: Adjust the number of categories and the scale based on the group’s needs.