Evaluation Status

Recent Evaluations

CSI-ITEST: Arkansas (2006-2010) - This Arkansas State University endeavor, entitled Creating Student and Teacher Science Investigators (ASU-CSI), is a three-year project, funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) ITEST Program, that aims to provide science education professional development for middle- and secondary-school teachers of the Delta region of Arkansas. The evaluation uses a mixed-methods design that includes instruments and measure change in content knowledge, attitude, pedagogical methods, portfolio and lesson plans, and the impact of the experiences. (funded $78,003)

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Karen L. Yanowitz, Arkansas State University
• Evaluators: Dr. Conrad Katzenmeyer, Dr. Barbara Martin, Dr. Jo Ann Smith, and Carine Strebel

PROFIT: Pictures Represent Opportunities for Inspiration in Technology (2007-present) - This three-year project is funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) ITEST Program. It is a comprehensive project centered around introducing computer vision and imaging experiences into the core curriculum of mathematics and IT. This  project uses contains a novel model for training mathematics and IT teachers to use pictorial IT, for transferring exciting, appealing modules into core curricula, and  a model for mentoring students through their pre-collegiate years to attract them into IT-STEM careers. The evaluation features a mixed-methods design. (funded $1,200,000)

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Niels J. Da Vitoria Lobo, UCF College of Engineering & Computer Science
• Evaluators: Dr. Conrad Katzenmeyer and Dr. Bonnie Swan

Florida Online Reading Professional Development (FOR-PD) (2003-present) - A large-scale online reading professional development course which has served over 35,000 participants since 2003. The evaluation uses a mixed-methods design that includes instruments that measure change in teacher knowledge and practice, online surveys, enrollment data, telephone interviews, focus groups, and document review. The highly-participatory evaluation also consists of ongoing formative components. (funded $5,990,974 to date)

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Vicky Zygouris-Coe, UCF College of Education
• Evaluator: Dr. Bonnie Swan

Greater Orlando GK-12 (GO GK-12) (2005-2008) - A NSF funded project that matched graduate students in the sciences with 9th grade public school teachers. PEER designed the evaluation with a strong implementation component to assist in program development. The evaluation also utilized and outcome evaluation to ascertain the impact of the program on its participants. Assessment strategies included quantitative tests to gauge increase in science content knowledge, interviews, focus groups, surveys, classroom observations, and tracking of student enrollment data. (funded $1,510,000)

• Principal Investigator: Dr. David Hagan, UCF College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL & FPCE)
• Evaluators: Jeonghee Huh and Dr. Bonnie Swan

UCF Environmental Education Project: Energy Conservation and Sustainability (2007-2008) - This project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is intended to address a UCF community issue: to make student, faculty and staff become more aware of their responsibilities and establish good practices to our environment by focusing more on energy conservation and sustainability. (funded $12,012)

• Principal Investigator: David Norvell, P. E., C.E.M., UCF Physical Plant Manager
• Evaluator: Dr. Bonnie Swan

Examples of Other Projects (completed):

• Lockheed Martin/UCF Academy for Mathematics and Science funded by Lockheed Martin, NSF and Florida SUS.
• Career Award – Inquiry Teaching and Learning funded by NSF.
• Florida's Partnership in Character Education funded by the Florida DOE.
• SpaceTEC funded by NSF
• Region III Area Center for Educational Enhancement funded by the Florida DOE.
• Mental Health Association of Central Florida funded by the Mental Health Association of Central Florida
• Florida Literacy and Reading Excellence Center funded by the Florida DOE.
• Institute for Advanced Online Studies funded by the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) Institute.