2021 Speed Session Bundle: Evaluation and Metrics

This bundle is worth 0.1 CEU and contains the following three speed sessions from NRPA's 2021 annual conference:


NRPA Parks Build Evaluation Toolkit (Session 021)
NRPA is in the midst of a five-year evaluation of the annual Parks Build project. The 2019 Parks Build renovation in Baltimore, MD, improved playground features, fitness equipment, splash pad, basketball court, fencing, and signage. A multi-year evaluation is on-going to better understand how 'Parks Build' community through inclusion, health, economic, safety, and social impacts. In this 20 minute session, the Parks Build evaluation team presents their in-progress evaluation tools and early results. The objective of the speed session is sharing of tools and evidence they are providing. A link to the tools will be provided for feedback.  The toolkit features systematic observations of park use, park and neighborhood surveys, focus group discussions, use of municipal data on park neighborhood reported crimes, property value, and tax assessments, and emerging availability of smartphone location data. A focus will be on how specific evaluation tools can support evidence-informed decisions. 

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe current methods to build evidence around parks building health, economic, safety and social impacts. 
  2. Communicate with local institutes of higher education to collaborate on evaluation.


Visitor Counts Using Infrared Sensors: Accuracy Challenges And Corrections (Session 033)
The purpose of this session is to educate participants regarding the procedures needed for documenting visitor counts using infrared sensors and address the accuracy challenges specific to this technology. Installation, validation procedures and algorithm development will be detailed by sharing the findings from a research study that included sensor validation at four diverse parks. A four-stage process is proposed for developing a large-scale visitor information system. Session participants will gain a holistic understanding of whether infrared trail counters are an appropriate technology selection for their parks. Particular emphasis will be given to the strategic placement of sensors to avoid extraneous counts. Common accuracy problems will be detailed, with corrections utilized clearly explained. The technology and methodology utilized are applicable to a wide range of park settings, allowing park managers to reliably document visitor counts. 

Learning Objectives:

  1. At the end of this session, attendees should be able to select and strategically install infrared sensor visitor counting technology within diverse park sites. 
  2. At the end of this session, attendees will be able to validate infrared sensor visitor count data and pinpoint variables that may influence accuracy.  
  3. At the end of this session, attendees will be able to create algorithms that can be applied to infrared sensor raw data to adjust for error and will result in reliable, defensible visitor counts.


Impact of Mathematics to Preserve Nature (Session 014)
This session will highlight how mathematics connects to nature, and emphasize looking at nature from the lens of a mathematician that consists of patterns and repetition. Some key questions include: How does time play a role in this? and How has the human impact affected this connection between nature and mathematics? The presenter will provide examples of some projects and tasks that can be done in classroom, or as a family, and how park and recreation professionals can bring in learning by observation in the distance learning setup. In addition, the speaker will share some websites and resources that attendees can use to tailor learnings for their target learners. 

Learning Objectives:

  1. Use nature as a source of learning in a mathematics classroom.

J. Aaron Hipp (he/him)

Associate Professor

North Carolina State University

J. Aaron Hipp, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Community Health and Sustainability, University Faculty Fellow, and Center for Geospatial Analytics Fellow at NC State. He is currently an Interdisciplinary Research Leader with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Hipp instructs undergraduate and graduate courses in evaluation design, measurement, and data analytics. His research focuses on equitable spaces for active living and emerging technologies in measurement and data collaboration. Currently, Dr. Hipps work is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Recreation and Parks Association, US Department of Agriculture, NC Division of Public Health, NC State Center for Human Health and the Environment, and KABOOM!

William Beam

Graduate Student/Research Assistant

North Carolina State University, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management

US Army Veteran; Masters student of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University; Research focus: Urban park vegetation equity

Maggie Daniels (she/her)

Professor of Tourism and Events Management

George Mason University

Maggie Daniels is a Professor of Tourism and Events Management at George Mason University. She has conducted applied research in park and tourism settings located in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC for over 20 years. Maggie has been teaching and sharing research findings at professional conferences for close to three decades.

Sandhya Raman (she/her)

Teacher

Berryessa Union School District

Mathematics teacher, and an ardent nature fan, Sandhya Raman brings in real-world connections into her classroom. Her teaching and motherhood experiences help her offer the best exposure and experiences from a students perspective. Sandhyas passion for teaching math was instilled through decades of watching her mom teach with utmost passion. She has an engineering degree in computer science from India and a Masters in teaching. Sandhya self-identifies as a carb-ivore and strongly believes that travel is the best teacher. Her favorite pastime is sleep, though she also enjoys hand embroidery, reading, hiking and traveling.

Key:

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NRPA Parks Build Evaluation Toolkit (Session 021)
Open to view video.
Open to view video.
Knowledge Check: Session 021
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  4/5 points to pass
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  4/5 points to pass
Visitor Counts Using Infrared Sensors: Accuracy Challenges And Corrections (Session 033)
Open to view video.
Open to view video.
Knowledge Check: Session 033
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  4/5 points to pass
5 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  4/5 points to pass
Impact of Mathematics to Preserve Nature (Session 014)
Open to view video.
Open to view video.
Knowledge Check: Session 014
8 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  6/8 points to pass
8 Questions  |  Unlimited attempts  |  6/8 points to pass
NRPA Learning Experience Survey 2022
6 Questions
6 Questions We value your opinion. Please take a moment to answer our brief survey.
CEU
0.100 CEU credits  |  No certificate available
0.100 CEU credits  |  No certificate available