Topic: Technology and Education

Much of Rockman’s research and evaluation on technology has focused on teaching, learning, and the use of technology in educational settings. We have evaluated numerous projects funded under the U.S. Department of Education's Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) programs and others that explored technology-mediated resources for use in schools and in science centers. For many of these, learning about and using technology have been critical features.

A Computer for Every Teacher A Computer for Every Teacher was a project of the Indiana Department of Education to provide each teacher and administrator in four schools with a computer and printer for their personal, professional use. more» Client: Indiana Department of Education Funding Agency: Topic: School Reform, Tech Reform, Professional Development, Technology and Education

A New Day for Learning: Phase II REA conducted a series of focus groups and usability testing sessions for the George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF) in San Francisco, CA and Sacramento, CA to explore reactions to the content, organization and navigation of A New Day for Learning, an Edutopia "micro-site." more» Client: George Lucas Education Foundation Funding Agency: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Topic: Web Sites, Technology and Education

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

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

Brokers of Expertise In partnership with WestEd and AIR, REA contributed to a statewide assessment of the need for professional development training and resources among California educators. REA led the development of a statewide survey of California educators and conducted focus groups with educators across the state in order to get a broad, as well as in-depth, picture of the needs of California educators. more» Client: WestEd Funding Agency: Cal State Sacramento Topic: School Reform, Web Sites, 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

California Academy of Sciences: Institute on Science and Sustainability Rockman et al will be creating an evaluation plan as part of a planning grant for the California Academy of Sciences' Institute on Science and Sustainability. The Institute on Science and Sustainability 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

California Academy of Sciences: 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

CalStateTEACH Technology Enhancement Project (CSTEP) PT3 (Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers for Technology) The goal of the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers for Technology (PT3) grant is to enhance the technological resources and overall effectiveness of the CalStateTEACH (CST) teacher credentialing program. The CST Technology Enhancement Project (CSTEP) supports the continued development of curricula that infuses technology throughout the teacher education program. more» Client: CalStateTEACH, California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: 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

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

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

e-Learning Network: Learning Anytime, Anywhere! The e-Learning Network Project developed a basic networking curriculum (Information Technology Fundamentals) and revised and disseminated a training program in CCNA and CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Associate and Professional). more» Client: Arizona State University Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: FIPSE LAAP Grant Topic: Technology and Education, Distance Learning

Educational Development for Planning and Conducting Evaluations (ED PACE) The Educational Development for Planning and Conducting Evaluations (ED PACE) was a three-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Education to develop, implement, and refine a set of research tools and methods that would enable project personnel at the state and local level to compare student outcomes and achievement data using a quasi-experimental design. more» Client: West Virginia Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Topic: Technology and Education, Distance Learning

Environmental Science Information Technology Activities (ESITA) The Environmental Science Information Technology Activities (ESITA) project was a youth-based program that provided 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

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

Gates LEAD (Learning Educational Administration from a Distance) The Gates LEAD Project, a joint effort of the EdVenture Group and the West Virginia Department of Education, funded in part by the Gates Foundation, was designed to give school administrators the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about technology. more» Client: West Virginia Department of Education and EdVenture Funding Agency: West Virginia Department of Education, EdVenture, Gates Foundation Topic: Tech Reform, Professional Development, Technology and Education, Learning with Laptops

High Touch Mentoring for High Tech Integration PT3 (Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology) This project involves pairing technology using K-12 teachers with Graduate School of Education (GSE) faculty in one-to-one mentoring/partnership relationships. more» Client: George Mason University's Graduate School of Education Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: Technology and Education

Indiana New Tech Highs In collaboration with the Center in Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) and Center for Urban and Multicultural Education (CUME), REA explored changes in three Indiana New Tech High Schools during their first year's implementation, looking at stakeholder perceptions and students' technology use and academic performance. more» Client: TechPOINT Funding Agency: TechPOINT Topic: School Reform, Assessment, Technology and Education

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

OpenWorld Learning: Program Impact Study Rockman conducted an outcomes evaluation of OpenWorld Learning, a Denver-area after-school program that seeks to increase students' love of learning and leadership using innovative technology and peer-teaching. more» Client: OpenWorld Learning Funding Agency: OpenWorld Learning Topic: Informal Learning, Technology and Education

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

Project CIRCUIT PT3 (Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers for Technology) Project CIRCUIT: Collaboration, Inquiry, RefleCtion, United with Instructional Technology will expand and unify three powerful teacher preparation reform movements: inquiry-based learning, collaborative reflection in lesson preparation, and technology-enhanced instruction. more» Client: Clemson University Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: Technology and Education

Scholar's Box The goal of the Scholars' Box project is to develop a national model to enable university scholars and departments to create reusable digital collections to positively impact campus academic work and K-12 education. Rockman conducted an evaluation of Scholars' Box and publicized findings in Educational Technology Magazine. more» Client: University of California, Berkeley - Interactive University Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Topic: Professional Development, Technology and Education

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

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 1: Roadmap/Dashboard Rockman et al worked with The EdVenture Group on a contract from the U.S. Department of Education’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to conduct a feasibility study of a set of consulting services designed to help schools monitor and implement their school improvement plans more effectively and efficiently. more» Client: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development, Technology and Education

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 2: Evaluation of School Forward Tracker For this phase 2 SBIR study, Rockman et al collaborated with WestEd, a nonprofit research, development, and service agency, to refine and research use of an online tool designed to support the monitoring and implementation of school-wide improvement plans. The tool was developed for use in conjunction with on-site technical assistance for schools in the process of developing and monitoring well-substantiated and coherent school improvement plans. more» Client: U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Topic: School Reform, Technology and Education

South Carolina (SC) Virtual Schools In May 2006, the South Carolina State Department of Education (SDE) launched the South Carolina Virtual School Pilot to explore the feasibility of virtual schooling for the state. The pilot was designed to give the SDE the opportunity to test its online learning course management system (Blackboard), its registration system, and its quality assurance measures. The pilot also gave the SDE an opportunity to gauge the need for and response to the program around the state. Ten school districts took part in the pilot. more» Client: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Funding Agency: South Carolina Department of Edcuation Topic: 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

Supporting Technology and Assessment in Teacher Education PT3 (Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology) The Supporting Technology and Assessment in Teacher Education (STATE) project extends the efforts of International Society for Technology in Education's (ISTE) NCPT3 (National Center for Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology) and ISTE NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) for Teachers. more» Client: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: Technology and Education

TechKnowBuild The TechKnowBuild project is the U.S. Department of Education’s last Technology Innovation Challenge Grant, a partnership between the Crawfordsville Community Schools and Indianapolis Public Schools… more» Client: Crawfordsville Community Schools Funding Agency: U.S. Department Of Education: Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Topic: School Reform, Tech Reform, Technology and Education, Learning with Laptops

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

TimeWeb TimeWeb was a Web-based tool designed to help university students understand complex archaeological data by visualizing the data in historical and geographical contexts. more» Client: Indiana University Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Topic: Technology and Education

Transforming Teaching and Learning Through Technology (T4) Transforming Teaching And Learning Through Technology (T4) is a five-year Technology Innovation Grant awarded to 83 public schools in Chicago's Region 3 by the U.S. Department of Education. more» Client: Chicago Public Schools Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: Professional Development, Technology and Education

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

Web Institute for Teachers (WIT) The Web Institute for Teachers (WIT) grew out of the Chicago Public Schools/University of Chicago Internet Project (CUIP). From 1997 to 2003, the month-long summer institute trained some 700 Chicago-area teachers, helping them design Web-based lessons and incorporate the Web into instruction. more» Client: University of Chicago Funding Agency: University of Chicago, Joyce Foundation Topic: Professional Development, 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