Topic: Web Sites

Rockman has conducted research and evaluation on a wide array of Web sites—from those focusing on science information and issues to those offering career and college information. We have evaluated Web sites that provide companion materials for media projects and those that carry the full content of the initiative. These evaluations often include usability studies, and many examine content learning or the marketability of the site’s resources.

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

Brokers of Expertise In partnership with WestEd and AIR, REA is contributing to a statewide assessment of the need for professional development training and resources among California educators. REA is leading the development of a statewide survey of California educators and conducting 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

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

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

Digital Photo Web Site Focus Group Research Rockman et al conducted ten focus groups on digital photography Web site content and formats in four regional locations across the U.S. to help the client understand the different reactions of novice, intermediate, and experienced photographers. more» Client: A large consumer IT company Funding Agency: Topic: Web Sites

DNA Files SoundVision Productions is developing a sequel to the award-winning DNA Files radio program. It is designed to educate the general public on topics related to genetic science. The accompanying Web site is designed to provide additional educational resources even after the program is off-air. more» Client: SoundVision Productions Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF) Topic: Informal Learning, TV/Radio, Web Sites

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

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

Exploring Time Twin Cities Public Television, in association with Red Hill Studios, produced the Exploring Time television special and associated outreach material. The goal of the materials is to increase the public's understanding of our world by revealing the unseen world of natural change — the multitude of changes that are occurring in the present but at rates too slow or too fast to be seen. Rockman will evaluate the impact of the Exploring Time television programs and the value-add of the associated Web site. more» Client: Twin Cities Public Television (TCPT) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education Program (ISE) Topic: TV/Radio, Web Sites, Informational Media

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

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

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

Seeing in the Dark Seeing in the Dark, a documentary film about stargazing directed by Timothy Ferris, is based on Ferris' book (of the same name) that was named by The New York Times as one of the 10 best non-fiction books of 2002. Rockman et al is conducting a formative and summative evaluation of the project's media components, including the appeal and educational value of the film itself, as well as its accompanying Web site. more» Client: Tim Ferris Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education (ISE) Program Topic: Informal Learning, TV/Radio, Web Sites, Informational Media

Where Fun and Learning Click! Rockman et al coordinated a comprehensive literature review related to the design of Web resources for children. Researchers then worked closely with five Web site design teams to gather user feedback... more» Client: Corporation for Public Broadcasting Funding Agency: Corporation for Public Broadcasting Topic: Informal Learning, Web Sites

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