Topic: Assessment

Rockman’s work on assessment has typically been embedded in other projects or studies that called for assessment development. We have developed assessments for middle-school Spanish, conducted reliability/validity studies for test developers and service providers, and consulted on the development of on-line assessments for educational Web sites.

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

Build San Francisco Rockman et al developed a system for assessing the degree to which the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco (AFSF)'s Build SF students acquire and master a range of 21st Century Learning Skills in their program mentorships. more» Client: Architectural Foundation of San Francisco (AFSF) Funding Agency: Architectural Foundation of San Francisco (AFSF) Topic: Assessment, Informal Learning

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

East Bay Academy for Young Scientists (EBAYS) East Bay Academy for Young Scientists (EBAYS) is an NSF-funded after-school and summer program serving under-represented students in grades four through eight in the cities of Emeryville and west Oakland, California. The EBAYS project engages students in inquiry-based learning activities on topics aligned with state and national earth, physical, life science, and information technology (IT) education standards. In addition, the project features a student research component that provides opportunities for youth to collect, organize, analyze and present information concerning local environmental, health, cultural, and socio-economics issues. The project also provides science teachers who work with these students with professional development in inquiry-based teaching strategies. more» Client: Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF) Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning, Professional Development, Community Outreach, Technology and Education

Environmental Science Information Technology Activities (ESITA) The Environmental Science Information Technology Activities (ESITA) project is a youth-based program that provides an opportunity for high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn about and use information technology (IT) through science exploration. more» Client: Lawrence Hall of Science Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF) Topic: Assessment, Informal Learning, Technology and Education

Exploring Evolution/Evolution All Around Us (EE/EAAU) Rockman et al conducted a thorough, multi-component evaluation of University of California Museum of Paleontology's (UCMP) Understanding Evolution Web site. more» Client: University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation and Howard Hughes Medical Foundation Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum, Web Sites, Technology and Education

Poetry Out Loud Evaluation (Year 1) The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, sponsored by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, was launched nationwide in 2006 after a pilot in Chicago and Washington, DC. The program is designed to revitalize the teaching of poetry in America's classrooms. In the program's first year, schools and teachers (recruited by State Arts Agencies in 35 states and the District of Columbia) took part in the program. more» Client: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Poetry Foundation Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs

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

Understanding Science Rockman et al is studying the impact of a three-year professional development project designed by WestEd staff developing Understanding Science Courses to improve the science achievement of middle school students, especially English learners and students with poor literacy skills, by building the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of their teachers. more» Client: WestEd Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF) Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development