Category: Consulting

Rockman staff often consult with educational organizations or agencies on issues ranging from the use of technology in schools to organizational planning and development to ways to scale up an intervention. We work with district technology directors and program managers as well as company education directors, product developers, and marketing staff.

21st Century Biology Rockman et al is evaluating the GSLC's teacher professional development program. REA will measure changes in teachers' pedagogical content knowledge, inquiry practices, and communication with other teachers. REA will also use interviews and surveys to document teachers' reactions to the workshops and the barriers and supports for implementing inquiry-based instruction. more» Client: University of Utah: Genetics Science Learning Center (GSLC) Funding Agency: Utah State Office of Education Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development

Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration: Vistas Project REA completed a two-year study of the Lake Coastal Waters Project, a partnership with schools in the Lake Coastal Waters of northern Indiana funded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Rockman also completed a study of the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)/Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Career Development Project, an initiative that engaged students in four Indianapolis Middle Schools in career inquiry and exploration. more» Client: Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Funding Agency: Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Distance Learning

CineFile The Pacific Film Archive (PFA) received an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant to create an online film resource to increase K-20 classroom access to their archives. REA is evaluating the PFA's efforts to collect data from audiences and make design choices based on these data. more» Client: Pacific Film Archive Funding Agency: Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum, Web Sites, Community Outreach, Technology and Education

Critical Choices Rockman et al worked in conjunction with an internal evaluator at Northern Illinois University to evaluate the development of an online program to teach soft skills (time management, conflict resolution, professional behavior, etc.) to unemployed and underemployed individuals... more» Client: Northern Illinois University Funding Agency: U.S. Government: Learning Anytime, Anywhere Program Topic: Informal Learning, Web Sites, Technology and Education, Distance Learning

Evaluation of QUEST Rockman et al conducted an evaluation of KQED’s QUEST initiative — an effort to tap into the Bay Area's interest in science-environment-nature — to inform project designers about the effectiveness of its internal collaborative strategies, the perceived and realized value of its partnerships with regional institutions, and the quality of the pilot materials developed for this new initiative. more» Client: KQED Public Television Funding Agency: KQED Public Television Topic: Informal Learning

Evaluation of QUEST - 2 QUEST is a science and nature show based in the northern California geographic area. In 2006, REA conducted an evaluation of a pilot of this series. In 2007, REA began a second evaluation of QUEST in order to provide ongoing and summative feedback to KQED, funders, and partners that will continue through 2009. Evaluation activities include gathering data about: 1) impact on the broadcast audience via online surveys, 2) the quality and impact of educational outreach workshops through survey data and follow-up in a sample of classrooms, and 3) the nature and quality of partnerships through in-depth interviews with project partners. more» Client: KQED Public Television Funding Agency: KQED Public Television Topic: Informal Learning

Partners in Learning Rockman et al is serving as the external evaluator of the multi-year, Microsoft Partners in Learning Mid-Tier program. The focus of the program is to explore how technology initiatives can come to scale to better understand the processes and outcomes of various types of scaling. more» Client: Microsoft Funding Agency: Microsoft Topic: Technology and Education

Research and Evaluation Services REA provides research and evaluation services to Education Station, a private educational service provider, these services include the development of research validation documents for its programs, establishing the reliability and validity of its assessment instrument, quasi-experimental research studies of its services, and customer satisfaction surveys. more» Client: Education Station Funding Agency: Education Station Topic: School Reform, Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, School Services

School Improvement Media Rockman et al worked with the George Lucas Education Foundation and Vulcan Productions to conduct an evaluation of school improvement media resources for various educational audiences. more» Client: George Lucas Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions Funding Agency: George Lucas Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions Topic: School Reform

Technology Roadmap At the request of a multi-campus independent school, REA explored how schools could best use the growing technology resources spread over the several campuses. We created a roadmap for the application of technology to support teaching, learning, and management. more» Client: Policy Analysis and System Evaluation (PASE) Funding Agency: Kamehameha Schools Topic: School Reform, Technology and Education, Public/Educational Policy

TLCF: Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Rockman et al staff developed an evaluation handbook and conducted a series of workshops for the Indiana Department of Education to help prepare TLCF grant recipients to perform effective evaluations of their programs… more» Client: Indiana Department of Education Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: TLCF Grant Program Topic: Professional Development

Virtual Congress Rockman et al is playing a supportive role in the preliminary design and development of The Virtual Congress (working title), as part of a grant to the Center on Congress at Indiana University from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and its American History and Civics Initiative. The Virtual Congress is an innovative online learning environment that aims to give students an insider's view of representative democracy and help them understand their role as citizens. more» Client: Information in Place Funding Agency: Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education