Classroom Observations
FTL Surveys
Matched-Control Schools
Classroom Observations, Surveys, Interviews, and possibly a Student Problem-Solving Task, Technology Task and Writing Assessment. Because exact activities vary depending on school you will be given explicit instructions from the Center for Research in Educational Policy regarding the evaluation timeline.
These activities will take place in the fall 2005 – spring 2006.
Lead Teachers will be responsible for data gathering and facilitating online surveys. Duties also include dissemination of codes and keeping logs of confirmation numbers.
The Freedom to Learn Program retains the right to revoke any stipend allocated for proper completion of Lead Teacher responsibilities.
Observations will be conducted to determine the types of teaching strategies employed as well as the types and quality of technology use. This will be done through whole grade observations and targeted classroom observations. It is important to note that individual teachers are not being evaluated.
Whole Grade Observation -A three-hour observation in which the Lead Teacher or an External Researcher conducts unannounced observations in randomly selected classrooms for 15 minutes each.
Targeted Observation - A prescheduled observation 1-hour (approx.) of one classroom for which the teacher will be asked to implement a technology integration lesson
Teachers will be requested to prepare a class in which technology is integrated into a student-centered lesson.
No. CREP does not approve distribution of evaluation instruments to teachers because it does not "prepare" them
for the observation and may negatively impact the observation data by not reflecting actual classroom practices.
FTL classroom teachers, Lead Teachers, students, and parents will take FTL surveys (specific instructions will be published and disseminated to schools in early spring 2006).
The Lead Teachers will primarily be responsible for administering surveys with assistance from other FTL teachers with student and parent surveys.
Lead Teachers, FTL Teachers, and Students surveys will be administered online. Parent surveys will be mailed.
CREP will send the Lead Teachers an email notification with User ID/Password for teachers, and students. They will then log onto the CREP website at http://crep.memphis.edu/survey and enter User ID/Password. Once they have successfully logged on, they will be directed to the Welcome Screen where they will select the “Take Online Survey” option.
Contact Demetra Pollard (Project Manager) at (901) 678-5794, Toll Free 866-670-6147 or email dpollard@memphis.edu
Contact Demetra Pollard (Project Manager) at (901) 678-5794, Toll Free 866-670-6147 or email dpollard@memphis.edu.
Contact Demetra Pollard (Project Manager) at (901) 678-5794, Toll Free 866-670-6147 or email dpollard@memphis.edu.
Research
schools are pairs of alike schools participating in a quasi-experimental
research design. Each pair consists of a FTL (treatment)
school and a non-FTL
school. Because the pairs have been matched on the basis of demographics
(location, student population etc.) they can be compared.