Topic: Community Outreach

Work in the public sector is frequently part of the Rockman portfolio. We have helped clients evaluate and improve Web sites or other programs designed to provide information or services to the community and to enhance learning for members of various communities.

Buddy System Project The Buddy System Project was an effort to use technology to enhance learning in the schools and extend learning beyond the school day and into the home. It was an early ubiquitous computing project. more» Client: Corporation for Educational Technology Funding Agency: Corporation for Educational Technology Topic: Tech Reform, Community Outreach

Career Coach Rockman et al served as the external evaluator of One Economy's online job site, the "Career Coach," located on their Beehive Web site. more» Client: One Economy Corporation Funding Agency: The Rockefeller Foundation Topic: Web Sites, Community Outreach

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

Chicago Public Schools/University of Chicago Internet Project (CUIP) Chicago Public Schools/University of Chicago Internet Project (CUIP) was a partnership between the Chicago Public Schools and the University of Chicago that brought Internet connectivity to public schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods around the university and provided technology support for teachers... more» Client: University of Chicago Funding Agency: Joyce Foundation Topic: School Reform, Community Outreach, Technology and Education

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

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

Evaluation of the Student Friendly Services Web Site The Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC) contracted with Rockman et al to perform an in-depth assessment of the Student Friendly Services Web site. The goals of the study were to give the ICC insights about users’ thoughts and opinions on the site’s navigation, appeal, content, and application in order to inform decisions on improving the site, attracting new users, and meeting the needs of current users. more» Client: Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC) Funding Agency: Topic: Web Sites, Community Outreach

Havenscourt Salad Bar Evaluation REA conducted an evaluation of the impact of a salad bar implementation at the Havenscourt Middle School complex in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). Project evaluation included pre-implementation student surveys and interviews, lunchroom observations, and post-implementation interviews with key project stakeholders (students, teachers, and administrators). more» Client: Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Funding Agency: Bechtel Jr. Foundation Topic: Informal Learning, Community Outreach, School Services

Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Adventures REA served as the evaluator of educational outreach activities for a new six-part KQED series called Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventure. more» Client: KQED Public Television Funding Agency: The Dow Chemical Company. Additional Major Support from: the William K. Bowes Jr. Foundation, Ann Bowers and The Robert Noyce Trust, the William and Gretchen Kimball Fund, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning, TV/Radio, Professional Development, Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Informational Media

Library's Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Grant Evaluation The University Library at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP) was awarded a five-year Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The goals of the evaluation are twofold: 1) to ensure that the development of the grant components (i.e., collection, research centers, literacy tutorials and endowment) reflects the needs, interests, and capabilities of the target audiences, and 2) to understand program implementation and effectiveness for program improvement. more» Client: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Informational Media

Master Teacher Program Rockman et al will be creating an evaluation plan as part of a planning grant for the California Academy of Sciences' Master Teacher in Science and Sustainability Program. The Master Teacher Program will build upon the Academy's strengths to create a network of master science teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area to raise the level of science education. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Bechtel Jr. Foundation Topic: Museum, Professional Development, Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Informational Media

myJobPath The Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) developed myJobPath, an online tool designed to assist low-income job seekers with their job search. more» Client: Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) Funding Agency: The Department of Commerce: Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) Topic: Web Sites, Community Outreach

Pathways to Technology The Pathways to Technology project is a multimedia outreach effort created to raise awareness of the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technology Education (ATE) programs, currently operating at community colleges around the country. Rockman et al maintained contact with 15 model community colleges with ATE programs and collected data to examine the use, utility, and adaptability of project resources. more» Client: WGBH Educational Foundation Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education (ISE) Program Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, TV/Radio, Community Outreach, Informational Media

Science and Math in Spanish-language Media The Science and Math in Spanish-language Media Project designed by Lawrence Hall of Science will bring standards-based science and math activities into the homes of Latino communities traditionally underserved by science centers. REA is the project's external evaluator. more» Client: Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education Program (ISE) Topic: Informal Learning, Community Outreach, Informational Media

Science in Action Rockman et al will be evaluating various design, technical, developmental, and educational elements of the California Academy of Science's Science in Action exhibit. Science in Action will be launched in conjunction with the opening of the Academy's new state-of-the art facility in September 2008. Science in Action will include a museum exhibit component, multimedia dissemination of content, and people-facilitated interactive experiences, and will include mission-related exhibit and programmatic changes to reflect new scientific discoveries by Academy and other scientists in the Bay Area and beyond. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Moore Foundation Topic: Museum, Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Informational Media

Solar Schools Evaluation Rockman et al is conducting an evaluation of Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E’s) Solar Schools program. Solar Schools was developed to educate students, teachers, and communities about: the importance of electricity as an energy form, the value of renewable solar energy in meeting current and future energy needs, and solar energy technologies. more» Client: Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Funding Agency: Bechtel Jr. Foundation Topic: Informal Learning, Professional Development, Community Outreach

YouthLink YouthLink is a program that employs young people to use digital media arts to realize their creative voices, explore career options, and contribute to their communities. more» Client: Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Web Sites, Community Outreach, Technology and Education