Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs

Rockman has responded to many clients’ needs to understand the value of instructional materials or programs, on topics ranging from math to art, to evolution, or writing. Many of the projects have used media and/or technology to disseminate materials to learners in school and out.

21st Century Biology Rockman et al evaluated four aspects of the GSLC's 21st Century Biology teacher professional development program: (a) changes in teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and inquiry practices, (b) teachers' reactions to the workshops, (c) teachers' perceived barriers and supports for implementing inquiry-based instruction, and (d) classroom implementation of strategies or lessons presented in the workshops. more» Client: University of Utah: Genetics Science Learning Center (GSLC) Funding Agency: Utah State Office of Education Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development

Advanced Digital Pathways ITEST BAVC’s Advanced Digital Pathways (ADP) program supports low-income and disadvantaged urban youth from the San Francisco Bay Area, while simultaneously addressing the need to diversify the IT workforce. REA is evaluating the impact of the ADP program on students’ technology interest, career aspirations, digital arts proficiency, and job skills. The evaluation also considers the community established to support these endeavors. more» Client: Bay Area Video Coalition Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Elementary, Secondary, & Informal Education (ESIE) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education

America's Instructional Television Online/Educators Tools Online Opening Links to Standards (AITOL/E-TOOLS) Project AITOL/E-TOOLS, funded by CPB, was a partnership between WSIU at Southern Illinois University and Kansas City Public Television (KCPT) that explored, during a pilot year, how public television stations could improve services to schools by aligning programming with standards and making it available in a digital format. more» Client: WSIU Public Broadcasting, Kansas City Public Television (KCPT) Funding Agency: Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Web Sites, Technology and Education, School Services

Animation Program The goal of the ACME Network’s ACME Animation program is to create a permanent continuum for skill development, school achievement, and career success in art and animation for diverse and economically disadvantaged youth and young adults. REA served as the evaluator this program. more» Client: The ACME Network Funding Agency: The ACME Network Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning, Web Sites, Distance Learning

Bill Nye the Science Guy Bill Nye the Science Guy is a high energy, inquiry-based educational television program presenting science content directed at fourth grade students... more» Client: KCTS, Seattle Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning, TV/Radio

BioInvestigators: Phase 1 Rockman et al evaluated the prototype of Red Hill Studios' "BioInvestigators" - an educational program designed to teach high school students about bioinformatics. more» Client: Red Hill Studios Funding Agency: National Institute of Health Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education

BioInvestigators: Phase II The goal of BioInvestigators was to develop, evaluate, and disseminate a CD-ROM/online bioinformatics primer that teaches high school biology students about the emerging field of bioinformatics through a series of real world case studies/mysteries that involve biological information. Rockman et al conducted the formative evaluation of the program. Specifically, researchers designed a usability protocol based on the think-aloud procedure, in which participants are asked to think or talk out-loud as they are working through a series of tasks. more» Client: Red Hill Studios Funding Agency: National Institute of Health Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education

Buddy2 STAR Writers and STAR Universal Writers Buddy2 STAR Writers and STAR Universal Writers is a three-year research and development initiative designed to improve writing and writing instruction in third through eighth grades… more» Client: The Corporation for Educational Technology (CET) Funding Agency: The Corporation for Educational Technology (CET) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education

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

Early Intervention Online Usability Testing Rockman et al conducted a usability test of one of the Early Intervention Online Courses called IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) in order to determine how potential students would navigate through and understand the courseware. Rockman et al conducted think-aloud sessions with five participants in the Rockman San Francisco office. more» Client: Praxis, Inc. Funding Agency: National Institutes for Health (NIH): Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs

Evaluation of the Youth Radio Science and Technology Program Youth Radio's (YR) mission is "to promote young people's intellectual, creative and professional growth through training and access to media and to produce the highest quality original media for local and national outlets." Their NSF-funded Science and Technology Program (STP) consists of developing a Digital Technology Institute and YR Science Desk as new components of the existing YR organization. Rockman is evaluating the implementation of the program and its impact on 21st Century Skills, media literacy, attitudes toward technology, and awareness of science in society. more» Client: Youth Radio Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education (ISE) Program Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning, TV/Radio, Technology and Education

Focus Group Study for Edutopia REA conducted a series of focus groups for the George Lucas Education Foundation (GLEF) to support and extend the work associated with its Mott Foundation grant that produced the New Day for Learning report. more» Client: George Lucas Education Foundation (GLEF) Funding Agency: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Web Sites, Technology and Education, Informational Media

Hands-on Craft Projects in Schools The Hobby Industry Association (HIA) contracted Rockman et al to study the impact of hands-on projects as an instructional method within the core curriculum. more» Client: Hobby Industry Association (now the Craft & Hobby Association) Funding Agency: Hobby Industry Association Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs

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

Learning Without Borders Artists delivered two 10-week performing arts units each year to all fourth graders in three West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) elementary schools. Teachers and artists attended workshops during the school year. more» Client: East Bay Center for Performing Arts (EBCPA) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: School Reform, Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning

Learning Without Borders: Professional Development for Arts Educators The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (EBCPA) provides professional development to teachers and classroom visits by artists to schools in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD). Teachers learn how to engage students in multicultural music and dance, theater, and media arts activities that link to California academic standards and the District’s Open Court language arts curriculum. REA provided a comprehensive evaluation for the three-year grant project on the impact of the program on teachers and their students. more» Client: East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (EBCPA) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development

MY HERO Project The MY HERO Global Exchange program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, facilitated digital arts storytelling and video production workshops in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Jordan, and Senegal, in conjunction with screenings from the U.S. Express anthology of art videos. The project built on the very successful Web-based MY HERO project, which encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to share their hero stories. In addition to the international media arts workshops and video screenings, MY HERO also hosted an annual film festival in Los Angeles to celebrate and recognize the achievements of filmmakers throughout the world. more» Client: MY HERO Funding Agency: U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Web Sites, Community Outreach, Informational Media

Pacific Film Archive: 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

Parkinson's Disease/Wii - Games to Improve Gait and Balance REA conducted a usability study of a Wii-based video game designed to improve gait and balance in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Red Hill Studios, developers of the game's hardware and software elements, in collaboration with researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) received funding from the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program to conduct a Phase 1 feasibility study. more» Client: Red Hill Studios Funding Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education

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

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

Poetry Out Loud Evaluation (Year 2) The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, created in 2005 by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, is an effort to revitalize the teaching of poetry in American classrooms by engaging students in reciting and performing poetry. For a second year, REA conducted the external evaluation of the project. In contrast to the first year's study, which focused on models of implementation undertaken by State Arts Agencies who partnered with the Poetry Foundation and the NEA, the Year 2 study focused on Poetry Out Loud in the classroom. more» Client: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Poetry Foundation Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs

Preschool Media Pilot (Ready to Learn) KQED, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) media organization serving northern California, was one of five national entities piloting “Raising Readers,” an online course on language and literacy for pre-school educators and caregivers. KQED was particularly interested in the usability and appeal of Raising Readers for participants from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Working with KQED, REA developed a series of research questions that addressed these concerns. more» Client: KQED Funding Agency: Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, TV/Radio, Web Sites

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

Science of Drugs Rockman et al evaluated Red Hill Studios' "Mystery Messengers" CD-ROM/Online hybrid program designed to teach students about the brain and the effects of drugs on the brain. more» Client: Red Hill Studios Funding Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 1: Feasibility of Genetics Interactive Curriuclum Modules for High School Students The overall aim for this Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) project is to develop and evaluate a 3D interactive project called the “Virtual Exploration of the Science of Genetics”. REA is conducting a small, randomized control trial of high school biology students to study whether the computer-based genetics module promotes more positive science attitudes and greater science learning than typical textbook instruction. more» Client: ArchieMD Funding Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education

Star Schools This was a three-year study of the impact of the online, supplementary education services (SES) provided by Educate Online, Inc. (EO). The study was conducted by Rockman et al (REA) and funded by the Star Schools Program of the U.S. Department of Education. Catapult Learning’s online service, Catapult Online, is specifically designed to address the needs of underserved rural students in middle and high schools via real time one-on-one tutoring. more» Client: Catapult/Educate, Inc. Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Technology and Education, Distance Learning

Students as Agents of Change Rockman et al served as external evaluator for the Students as Agents of Change Challenge Grant program implemented in Gary, Indiana. Graduating fifth-grade students attended summer technology camps with teachers from local middle schools... more» Client: School Corporation, City of Gary, IN Funding Agency: U.S. Government: Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program Topic: School Reform, Tech Reform, Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development

Teacher Arts Institute In 2005, the National Endowment of the Arts awarded a dual contract to the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Western States Arts Federation to fund 12 week-long Arts Institutes for Teachers held in June - August 2005 in New England and western states. The study awarded to Rockman et al focused on an evaluation of the Institutes and the implementation of curriculum units developed as part of the Institutes. more» Client: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Funding Agency: NEA Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development

Turnkey Solution/Phase 9 Rockman et al conducted a series of summative evaluation activities on the West Virginia Turnkey Solution/Phase 9 project which provided technology training to K-12 teachers and supported the development of interdisciplinary, standards- and Web-based lessons. more» Client: West Virginia Department of Education Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Topic: Tech Reform, Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development

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

University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP): 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

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

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