WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOUR

EVALUATOR: PROMISING PRACTICAL PRACTICESJuly 28, 2011 Hi-TEC Conference, San Francisco

Three perspectives Experienced ATE Program manager: Lara

Smith Experienced community college

professional and researcher: Dr. Jerry Somerville

Experienced ATE evaluator and researcher: Dr. Norena Norton Badway

Who is in attendance? Community College University High School Workforce Development Advocate Trade Organization Industry Professional Technician ATE Personnel ATE Project or Center Director Program Evaluator Researcher

What is Evaluation? It is a form of research

The results are to be used

Its purpose is to educate Assist in making informed decisions

Information Needs of ATE Programs

Using a Delphi Process (an elaborate survey) we asked ATE leaders about the most important information needs.

Purpose: to identify research topics that researchers could study that would produce meaningful results for practitioners.

We hoped to overcome the issue that results from research/ evaluation are not used in practice.

The first thing we learned…

A Few of Our Findings Program directors desire meaningful and

usable results for program improvement Practitioners feel that from their experience

they know what works and what doesn't They don’t have the time or expertise to

conduct research They want someone else to collect, analyze

and synthesize the data and then disseminate the results in a meaningful form

Our Belief Practitioners are the primary users of the

information generated from evaluation/research.

If it is to be useful, practitioners need to

be actively involved in working with evaluators/researchers.

Dissemination:Suggestions by ATE Leaders Offer sessions at ATE/HI-TEC types of

conferences Make more use of Webinars Publish a periodical that digests both

promising practices and unsuccessful methods and presents them in briefs.

Create a listserv for ATE project and center directors so they can communicate with each other.

Dissemination Beyond ATE: Community College Related

Community College Journal of Research and PracticeServes researchers and practitioners in higher education and the behavioral and social sciences. Journal for Applied Research in Community Colleges Serves institutional research and planning professionals in 2-year, postsecondary educational institutionsThe Community College Review Deals with all aspects of community college administration, education, and policy.

Dissemination Beyond ATE: STEM Related Journals

Journal of STEM EducationEmphasizes real-world case studies that focus on issues that are relevant and important to STEM practitionersResearch in Science & Technology EducationPublishes original research from throughout the world dealing with science education and/or technological education

Dissemination Beyond ATE: CTE Related Journals

Journal of Career and Technical EducationServes as a forum for discussion of philosophy, theory, practice, and issues in career and technical education.

Career and Technical Education ResearchPublishes articles that examine research in vocational/career and technical education, career development, human resource development, career issues in grades K-12, postsecondary education, adult and lifelong learning, and workforce education.

WHY do Evaluation? ATE requires it Acts as a “mirror” so you can see what

you are doing Lends legitimacy/ evidence to your

claims of achievement or challenges Is a tool for professional development for

staff and stakeholders [measuring impact on student learning]

Offers collaboration for dissemination

Who Should You Select as Evaluator?

Match personally and professionally Experienced with ATE and CCs Applies evidence-based/ research theoretic

framework Moves beyond “body counts” Analyzes, rather than audits Partners, rather than judges Provides sample report(s) Evalua|t|e website

WHEN Should You Engage Evaluator?

Measuring IMPACT Impact on student learning Impact on faculty learning

Impact on faculty technical knowledge Impact on pedagogy Impact on curriculum design

Impact on organizational learning Structure of program/ schedule of courses Expanding access and success

Realities for an ATE Program Establishing the evaluator relationship Time Budget Time

Establish Scope of Work (SOW) Accompanies contract Defines activities;

deliverables Allows evaluator to invoice Allows project to pay

Cost Proposal Start with Scope of Work Decide on hourly or fixed payment Establish number of site visits and/or

other travel Establish number and type of reports

Budget ExampleEvaluation expenses$50,000 fixed fee + $9,965 expenses$59,965

Where are the negotiation points?

6.7%7

Project Budget$900,000 ÷ 3$300,000 per year

For more information Norena Norton Badway

nbadway@sfsu.edu Jerry Somerville

jasomerville@comcast.net Lara Smith

lara.smith@domail.maricopa.edu