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C O N N E C T E D N O R T H : A J O U R N E Y O F T R A N S F O R M AT I O N & W E L L- B E I N G 28 8. Learning: Evaluation Connected North has been evaluated in its early stage to generate lessons and data. As the program develops and expands, additional approaches will be needed to support learning and provide the level of evidence. An initial set of evaluation activities have been undertaken to explore the perceptions and experiences of teachers involved with the program. This evaluation has allowed TIG to understand how teachers perceive their impact on the students and the role they are playing in supporting the Well-Being of their students. The evolving nature of the program and the growing demand for the services that it provides suggests that Connected North will need to consider how it evolves and can maintain a consistent level of quality and support while remaining intimately engaged with communities and responsive to their needs. The innovative nature of the program also requires an approach to strategic learning that considers the role of experimentation and development through implementation. Creating a learning system that allows TIG and its partners to learn strategically and in a transparent, engaging manner is important for generating useful data. It's also critical that the program remain grounded in a set of values to help guide them through this evolution and development. While it is likely that the resourcing, demands, and social context of the program will change, Connected North requires an approach to learning that will enable stakeholders to make beneficial decisions amid the complexity. Principles can provide that 'touchstone' that is stable, yet also flexible to support adaptive learning. To support this evolution and to encourage strategic learning, two approaches to evaluation are recommended for Connected North: Developmental Evaluation and Principle-Focused Evaluation. These approaches allow for a multitude of methods and tools to be used while guiding strategic learning and decision-making within a complex set of conditions. They also can help facilitate a high level of participation among stakeholders and participants, which is a valuable and respectful approach for working within First Nations communities (National Collaborating Centre on Aboriginal Health, 2013).