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AERO
Research & Evaluation
1033 N. Franklin Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
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Evaluation answers questions about program implementation and program
impact.
Evaluation is focused on the process and performance of the whole
program.
To do this, evaluation focuses on various elements of a program, such as:
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Evaluation &
Research Contact Information: |
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Javan
Ridge, Ph.D.,
Director of Research
(719) 520-2084
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Janeen
Demi-Smith, Ph.D.,
Executive Director, AERO
(719) 520-2347 OR 520-2252
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Why Conduct
Evaluations?
Innovative programs are
continuously being implemented in education, such as adopting a new textbook series, or
devoting
uninterrupted blocks of time to literacy education, or piloting a new classroom
management system to improve discipline.
Here are just some of the
questions evaluation can help answer about such programs:
- Are the new
programs meeting their goals?
- How can these programs be
improved?
- Should these programs be
continued?
- How do these new programs compare
with existing programs?
Evaluation can also help
answer similar questions about existing programs. |
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People
frequently confuse evaluation with assessment.
Assessment is focused on
measurement of student achievement. It uses a range of methods from formal standardized
tests
(such as CSAP, MAP, SAT) to informal teacher observations, to get information about student
achievement.
Evaluation focuses on the processes,
curriculum, interventions, programs or activities that result in increases in
student achievement or effectiveness and efficiencies in operational areas.
Assessment data is one of the many kinds of
data that evaluation collects, analyzes and interprets. |
Who can
request an evaluation?
We typically
conduct evaluations on request from:
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Board of Education
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Department of
Curriculum and Instruction
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Executive
Directors of schools or programs
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District
Accountability Advisory Committees
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School Principal(s)
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What happens
after an evaluation is requested?
After an evaluation is requested, an evaluation plan is developed that
identifies:
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what is going to be evaluated
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what evaluation questions will
be answered
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when and how will the data be
collected
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when and how will the data be
analyzed
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when, how, and to whom will
the data be reported
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Data
Collection in Evaluation.
Evaluators collect data in
many ways, and always collect data in as many ways as possible and from as many sources
as possible. Examples of
some data
collection methods and purposes are:
- behavior observation checklist
to record how frequently teachers use a new teaching reinforcement technique
- interviews with students about
their reactions towards a technology-based curriculum
- journals to record student
reflections on a new classroom management strategy
- parental and staff surveys to
assess opinions about a new policy
On average, we conduct 30
survey research projects every year, involving over 30,000 respondents. Student and parent
surveys are conducted to evaluate school climate.
Surveys are a frequently used
method of data collection to help individual schools fulfill accountability requirements.
Survey design is a careful
process to ensure that survey questions are unambiguous and able to yield accurate
information. |
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Evaluation's Purpose.
The purpose of an evaluation
is to provide information to help decision-makers allocate scarce resources in a
manner that maximizes student achievement.
In conducting an
evaluation, we ensure:
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Timeliness
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Usefulness of
evaluation results
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Involvement of those who will make decisions
based on the results
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Involvement of those who will be affected by the results
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Accuracy and
completeness
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Effective use of
resources
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