Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development

Evaluation of Determining Instructional Purposes

To the director of Educational Research and Development at Far West Laboratory

Presented by Christina W. Jorgensen

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Introduction Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development (FWL) has requested proposals for evaluating its Determining Instructional Purposes (DIP) training program. This document is a proposal from NAME OF COMPANY of Chubbuck, Idaho submitted in response to the FWL request. Determining Instructional Purposes FWL developed DIP for the purpose of training school administrators and graduate students in educational administration in skills related to planning of effective school programs. The DIP comes in three training units: Unit 1-Setting goals, Unit 2- Analyzing Problems, Unit 3Deriving Objectives. Each unit is made up of four-to-six modules that provide training on a small number of instructional objectives. Units can be taken together, stand alone, or taken in any other combination. The program can be offered in a short-term workshop or can be offered in individual sessions over a period of several days or weeks. FWL estimates that the time required for units 1 and 3 are 10-15 hours and unit 2 is 12-18 hours. The program is self-contained and all training courses using the DIP should be overseen by a coordinator. The coordinator just needs to have previously taken the unit he or she is overseeing. No other training is required. Coordinators role involves organizing, guiding, and monitoring activities. The coordinator does not need to provide anything extra or new outside of the training unit provided by FWL. Evaluation Method We first need to talk with school districts to see if there is a need and/or want for this program. To do this we will send out letters to various school districts informing them of the program and asking for willing teachers and administrators to participate in program. With the letters we will include a survey of what is needed and what they would like to do (one, two or all three units). We will need to find teachers and administrators willing to participate in each of the units. There should be at least four test groups; one for each unit and one for all three taken together. The evaluation committee will first take all three units, as participants, and then members of the committee will be the coordinators for the various trial groups. Before a class or workshop begins the unit, we will interview participants to see what their level of understanding and ability is in regards to the unit they are participating in. This can be done by face to face interviews or through questionnaires provided. The coordinator will also observe the class as it is going to provide feedback on the reading materials, group activities, and the practice activities; making notes, live, as the class is participating in the program. After the program has been concluded, we will again interview the participants to again see their level of understanding and ability in regards to the unit they just completed. The conclusion questionnaire/interview will also ask about the materials and set up of the class or workshop 2|Page

asking for what worked and what didnt. Again this can be done through face to face interviews or through questionnaires that are provided. The coordinator will submit all questionnaires, interviews, and observations done during the class or workshop to the evaluator. The evaluator and an evaluation committee will analyze the data collected and the committee as a whole will interpret the data. The evaluator will then meet with FWL and present the data and all interpretations including how the committee feels the program did and what needs to be changed for further success. We suggest that all before and after interviews and questionnaires should continue even after the trial groups have concluded. We also suggest that every six months a committee should analyze and review all data, in that six month period, and report to FWL. This will allow FWL to make changes as needed and stay up to date with any new or changing laws and/or objectives form the state or federal level. It will also allow FWL to review need and participation to see if more or less product is needed. We also suggest that FWL keep in contact with all school districts that participate so that refresher courses can be offered when desired and if needed, for new teachers or administrators. Task Schedule The task schedule for the proposed project is found on page 4. The schedule assumes a project start date of April 2, 2012 and concludes October 5, 2012. Project Personnel Christina Jorgensen, the head evaluation specialist at NAME OF COMPANY, will direct all Far West Laboratory evaluations and be mainly responsible for the planning and implementation of the overall evaluation. Mrs. Jorgensen has several years experience evaluating many different programs. She specializes in educational evaluations and has many years experience in education, outside of evaluation. Arik Handsome will design the questionnaire and interview instruments needed for the evaluation. He will also head the evaluation committee created to collect, analyze and interpret the data. Mr. Handsome has a Ph.D. degree from Utah State University and specializes in Educational Statistics. The evaluation committee will also include additional NAME OF COMPANY evaluation specialists. Budget The proposed budget for the evaluation of Determining Instructional Purposes training program for Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development is $50,000. A breakdown of the proposed budget can be found on page 5. 3|Page

Task Schedule Evaluation of Determining Instructional Purposes

Task
1. Meet with evaluation committee and create letters and questionnaires for the school districts 2. Send letters and questionnaires out to the various school districts 3. Conduct each of the training program units for the evaluation committee with FWL providing the coordinator 4. Receive feedback back from school districts and meet with committee to review data 5. Contact school districts interested and set up dates for program 6. Collect coordinators data 7. Analyze and interpret data collected with the evaluation committee 8. Write final report and submit to FWL. 9. Meet with FWL to set up 6 month evaluations, if FWL desires.

*Deadline date
Apr. 5, 2012

Apr. 20

May 15

June 1 June 10 Aug. 10 Sept. 15 Oct. 10 Oct. 30, 2012

*This schedule assumes a project start date of April 5, 2012. Later deadlines can be set up if start date is later than April 5, 2012.

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Budget
Personnel Christina Jorgensen: 35 days at $400/day Dr. Arik Handsome: 40 days at $375/day Evaluation Committee members (five): 20 days at $150/day TOTAL PERSONNEL $14,000 $15,000 $15,000 $44,000

Travel and per Diem Four 2-day trips: Coordinators to various schools (includes per diem): $700/trip Estimated miscellaneous mileage: 800 miles at $.50 per mile Two site visits at estimated average of $200 travel and per diem/visit TOTAL TRAVEL AND PER DIEM $2,800 $400 $400 $3,600

Communications Telephone (estimated average of $100 per month for 7 months) Postage TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS $700 $250 $950

Supplies, Materials and Photocopying Supplies and Photocopying Materials (included 20 unit sets (all 3) of instructional materials at $25/set and 4 coordinator handbooks at $4.50 each) TOTAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS $450 $518 $958

TOTAL BUDGET

$49,508 5|Page