The Education Connection Project
Project Administation & Partnership
Evaluation
Approach: Evaluation, on a small scale, is a relatively expensive activity. But once the project is built on a larger scale and the initial project evaluation design is complete, the evaluation costs should become more affordable. Curently, the approach is to focus on the content componet of the project. The content evaluation is focused primarily on how the middle school students are doing on customized pre and post assessment tests given to participants and a control group.
Partners: WHYY, Public Allies
Evaluation: The evaluation of the Delaware site will continue to examine both the process of implementing the project and the outcomes during the 1999-2000 school year. For implementation, the evaluation will monitor the distribution of computers, software, and on-line accounts to the participating families, the maintenance of technical support, provision of ongoing education in technology use, development of quality mathematics and science curricular materials, and integration of technology at home and in school in mathematics and science lessons.
For outcomes, the evaluation is looking for:
- changes in participating students' knowledge and performance in mathematics and science, using the current local assessment systems of the participating schools. Student use of computers in class and work products such as Web pages will be electronically monitored.
- changes in knowledge and skill of participating teachers using technology to enhance mathematics and science instruction and their own professional development. Observations will be made of a sample of mathematics and/or science lessons using the computer. Teachers will be interviewed at the end of each school year.
- changes in knowledge and skills of students using computers at home to enhance math and science learning. Evaluation will monitor the frequency and depth of computer use, interview students, and look at student work products. Pre and post-surveys on technology skill and use will be administered.
- changes in the involvement of parents in their students' education. Changes in attitude and skill of family members in computer literacy. Pre and post-surveys on technology skill and use will be administered to parents. Follow-up phone interviews will be conducted with a sample of participating families.
In addition to the local evaluation, all Education Connection Projects partake in a national evaluation. Instruments were designed to collect data for the national evaluation. The collection of student achievement data is part of the national evaluation.
The primary task of evaluation during the second year of implementation will be to monitor the timely completion of project tasks and to collect impact data at the close of the school year.
Education Connection Project Process and Outcomes and Impacts
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Evaluation Framework
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Project Inputs |
Interim Outcomes |
Project Impacts |
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Technology infrastructure
Computers in home and in the school |
Utilization of technology |
Demonstrated student achievement/performance in math and science through surveys and sample work |
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Technical Support
Technical training |
Improved technical skills of students, teachers, possibly parents, and other family members |
Demonstrated student achievement/ performance in math and science through surveys and sample work |
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Curriculum Development |
Implementation of modules in classroom |
Demonstrated student achievement/ performance in math and science through surveys and sample work |
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Professional Development for teachers and possibly parents-teacher interaction. |
Improved relationships/ communication between home and school. Improved teaching and learning in the classroom. |
Demonstrated student achievement/ performance in math and science through surveys and sample work |
The Delaware Project Director has assembled a team that includes technical support, educational support, community outreach support, and evaluation. Because evaluation is considered part of the team, the evaluator is in the unique position to provide immediate feedback that the team will be able to use.
The report will be completed by October 1st, 2000.
Timeline Project Administration - Evaluation |
Before June |
Select Evaluator |
July/August |
Finalize evaluation design |
August |
Go over with teachers final evaluation design |
September |
Pre-Test of students and control group |
Feb/Mar |
Mid-year post test of students and control group |
June |
Final post-test of students and control group along with student, parent and teacher interviews. |
Page last updated on 08/13/00
Send comments to the Education Connection Project Director, Jay Cohen
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Table of Contents
Title Page
About the project
Low-Cost Home Technology
Workforce Dev. Technology Support
Standards-Based Content
Administration & Partnership
Coordination & Dissemination
Evaluation
Project Links
Calendar (in development)
Tech-Support (in development)
National Project
Project Materials (in development)
Student Pages (in development)
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