Topic: Professional Development

REA researchers have evaluated a variety of short- and long-term professional development initiatives, both conventional and Web-based. These have included in-depth examinations of programs for teachers of English language learners, studies funded under Federal technology initiatives, and projects seeking to reach professionals in science reporting, school leaders, and those working with autistic children.

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

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

Behavioral Interventions in Autism (BIA) The University of Massachusetts (UMass) developed a series of four Web-based courses (BIA: Behavioral Intervention in Autism) to train people to work with children with autism. more» Client: University of Massachusetts (UMass) Medical School Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Topic: Professional Development, Distance Learning

Boston-Harvard Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) The Boston-Harvard Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) was a five year program designed to build the leadership capacity of educators in the Boston Public Schools in order to enhance overall academic achievement for students. Rockman et al, an independent research firm conducted an evaluation of Years 3, 4, and 5 of the LDI program. more» Client: Harvard Graduate School of Education Funding Agency: FleetBoston Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

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

Community Skills Mentor (CSM) Project Rockman et al served as the external evaluator for the University of Massachusetts' (UMass) Community Skills Mentor Project, an online course for supervisors of direct service providers who work with people with disabilities. more» Client: University of Massachusetts (UMass) Medical School Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Topic: Professional Development, Distance Learning

Connected University Rockman et al served as the external evaluator for Connected University, Classroom Connect's online professional development initiative. more» Client: Classroom Connect Funding Agency: Classroom Connect Topic: Professional Development, Distance Learning

CONTACT: Connecting Teachers and Creative Technologies Rockman et al worked with Cable in the Classroom to develop an evaluation for the pilot implementation of their CONTACT professional development program for teachers in the metropolitan DC area… more» Client: Cable in the Classroom Funding Agency: Cable in the Classroom Topic: Professional Development

Early Intervention (EI) Online The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate Internet-Based Early Intervention (EI) Training as a five-course continuing education and development distance-learning program for EI providers who serve children with developmental disabilities, special health care needs, and their families. more» Client: University of Massachusetts (UMass) Medical School Funding Agency: Topic: Professional Development, Distance Learning

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

IndianaNEXT IndianaNEXT provided leadership and customized technology training for some 1200 public and private school administrators, to help them integrate technology into school improvement, base decisions driven by accountability on reliable data, and enhance teaching and learning. more» Client: Indiana Department of Education Funding Agency: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

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 Cooperative The Learning Cooperative Technology Innovation Challenge Grant sought to facilitate collaboration among teachers in three Midwestern School districts using video teleconferencing equipment and Internet technology... more» Client: Indianapolis Public Schools Funding Agency: U.S. Government: Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program Topic: Professional Development

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

NIH Genome Science for Health Rockman et al will evaluate the Genetic Science Learing Center's (GSLC) Master Teacher Program, which is developing Web-accessible curriculum materials in cell biology, developmental biology, molecular genetics, and clinical trials. more» Client: University of Utah's Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC) Funding Agency: National Institutes for Health (NIH): Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) Topic: Professional Development

Quality Teaching for English Language Learners (QTEL) Teaching English Language Learners is a challenge for which many teachers feel they are not prepared. Rockman et al evaluated a professional development program developed by WestEd: Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL). more» Client: WestEd Funding Agency: New York Department of Education (NYCDOE) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

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 Literacy Project Workshops SoundVision Productions is offering three intensive, five-day science literacy training workshops for mid-career public radio reporters who are involved in reporting the sciences. more» Client: SoundVision Productions Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Energy Topic: TV/Radio, Professional Development, Informational Media

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 1: Developing an Effective School Plan (DESP) Rockman et al collaborated with WestEd to conduct a feasibility study of professional development around a comprehensive set of tools and activities for data-driven decision making. Specifically, the study examined the optimum level of professional development needed for effective use of the Developing an Effective School Plan (DESP): An Activity-based Guide materials. 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

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

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

Staff Development Study In 1999, APEX was considering entering the arena of online educational professional development, credentialing, and certification in collaboration with several institutional partners. APEX needed to define its market, identify the features and attributes of its offerings, position its courses and services against a growing set of competitors, and explore the pricing, marketing, and distribution of the products to teachers and school administrators. more» Client: Apex Learning Funding Agency: Apex Learning Topic: Professional Development, Distance Learning, Informational Media

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

Study of the Availability and Effectiveness of Cultural Competency Training for California Teachers Rockman et al and WestEd were contracted by the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing to conduct a study of cultural competency training provided to teachers and administrators in ten culturally diverse California school districts. more» Client: California Commission of Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Funding Agency: California Commission of Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development, Public/Educational Policy

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

TLCF: Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Rockman et al staff developed an evaluation handbook and conducted a series of workshops for the Indiana Department of Education to help prepare TLCF grant recipients to perform effective evaluations of their programs… more» Client: Indiana Department of Education Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: TLCF Grant Program Topic: Professional Development

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

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

Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) Evaluation The New Visions for Public Schools-Hunter College Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) project is a 5-year project designed to increase the number of well-prepared teachers entering the city’s classrooms, provide ongoing support during the critical early years of teaching, and ultimately raise teacher retention rates and student achievement. more» Client: New Visions for Public Schools and Hunter College Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development, Public/Educational Policy

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