Menu Close

Intermediate Data Analytics with AI: Digging Deeper with LLMs

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton and Linda Raftree. 

Who is this course for?

This course is for professionals in social impact, international development, and humanitarian work who want to use AI to strengthen their data analytics and evaluation practice. It’s ideal for those looking to:

  • Use GPTs to develop constructs, measures, and analysis plans
  • Learn prompting strategies to support analysis and reporting tasks
  • Build AI-assisted workflows for analysis and reporting
  • Apply ethical frameworks when using AI with data

Whether you’re an evaluator, researcher, or data lead, this course will help you use AI more confidently, responsibly, and effectively in your analytical work.

We recommend an intermediate degree of familiarity with conversational AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot) to be able to make the most out of this offering.

Participants will…

  • Learn to use AI to develop and refine evaluative constructs and measures.
  • Be able to make more informed ethical decisions when using AI for data analytics.
  • Apply chain of thought prompt methods for more advanced GPT queries.
  • Leverage AI to develop and refine an analysis plan.
  • Generate computer language code for evaluation analysis tasks.
  • Utilize an LLM to create and customize reports for a variety of audiences.

Format & requirements

  • 8-hour course delivered across 2 virtual sessions on consecutive days.
  • Sessions held via Zoom, with breaks, discussion time, and guided hands-on practice.
  • Attendance at Session 1 is required to join Session 2.
  • Participants will need: a stable internet connection, a laptop with Zoom access and camera-on capability, and an account with their LLM of choice (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude).
  • You will have the opportunity to flag any accessibility requirements on the application form.
  • There are no pre-reading or assignments; just show up, engage, and learn.

Dates & fees

Session 1: September 10, 1-5pm ET
Session 2: September 17, 1-5pm ET

Course fees: 

  • $325 USD: discounted price for the first 10 American Evaluation Association members to register.
  • $350 USD: general participants.

Meet the trainers:

Liz DiLuzio (she/her) is a dynamic entrepreneur, educator, and evaluator dedicated to transforming how professionals approach data analytics. As co-founder of the EdTech startup Data Jam, she has created a vibrant learning community designed to help evaluators and researchers build their expertise in leveraging data to make better decisions and tell better stories. With her unique ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice that stems from her work as a scholar and practitioner, Liz has positioned Data Jam as a trusted resource for those looking to sharpen their skills and advance their careers. In addition to her work with Data Jam, Liz teaches about topics related to program evaluation and quantitative methods at New York University, Simmons University, the University of New Hampshire, and St. Francis College. She is a seasoned evaluator with over ten years’ experience working with organizations such as Meetup, the City of New York, and Stanford University. In her spare time, Liz can be found on a plane, train, bicycle, or car exploring some new corner of the world with her husband and son.

Zach Tilton (he/him) is an evaluation consultant with experience in peacebuilding evaluation, youth-focused evaluation, participatory and collaborative evaluation, meta-evaluation, evaluation synthesis, technology- enabled evaluation, AI-enabled evaluation, and evaluation capacity development. He is active with the EvalYouth Global Network and various evaluation associations.  Zach’s field experience spans North and West Africa, South East Asia, and the Pacific with over two years of development experience in rural communities. He is currently finishing a PhD in evaluation and has been using NLP as a core tool in his work. Zach supports MTI on training and AI in Evaluation work and co-leads the Sandbox Working Group.

Linda Raftree (she/her) has worked at the intersection of community development, gender, youth participatory media, rights-based approaches and digital development since 1994. She’s been exploring the responsible use of digital approaches and digital data for the past 15 years. Linda is a well-known expert on responsible data policy and procedures, digital safeguarding, inclusive digital approaches, safe tech-enabled programming, digital SBCC and MERL Tech. She leads sector-wide convenings on these topics through The MERL Tech Initiative, which she founded in 2014, and the New York City Technology Salon which she started in 2011. Linda is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP & CIPM). She leads and manages MTI overall, joins MTI teams for specific projects, and also takes on independent projects in her areas of expertise.

Register now!

Clicking on the ‘Register Now’ button above will take you to the Evaluation+Learning Consulting site, where you can purchase the course and join the Data Jam community platform where the course will take place. Once there, click on the green button which will take you to the payment form.

Please be sure to read our cancellation and refund policy here.

Interested in other training opportunities at the intersection of AI, development & humanitarian work, and MERL? Check out MTI’s offering here.