In 2006, 4-H National Headquarters and National 4-H Council introduced an initiative aimed at increasing the number and quality of science, engineering, and technology programs that 4-H offers around the country, and increasing the number of youth involved in these programs. By engaging youth in informal science educational opportunities through…

In 2006 4-H National Headquarters at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National 4-H Council introduced a new initiative aimed at increasing the number and quality of science, engineering, and technology programs that 4-H offers around the country, and increasing the number of youth involved in these programs. By engaging youth in informal…

This report was requested by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA), Office of Education in July 2009 to evaluate the Informal Education Program. The goals of the evaluation were twofold: (1) to gain insight into its investment in informal education; and (2) to clarify existing distinctions between its informal education…

This qualitative study examined the perspectives of African American parents as it pertained to informal science education. The following questions guided this study: (1) What are the desires of African American parents/guardians with respect to informal science programs and experiences for their children?; (2) What happens in Jordan Academy, an…

Evaluation reports increasingly document the degree of program implementation, particularly the extent to which programs adhere to prescribed steps and procedures. Many reports are cursory, however, and few, if any, fully portray the long and winding path taken when developing evaluation instruments, particularly observation instruments. In this…

Reviews the effects of the first stage of the Better Elementary Science Teaching Project to overcome teacher isolation and help staff development. Describes the participants and features of the project. Reports the results of using telecommunication and academic achievements. Discusses implications for the project. (YP)

Described is a project initiated to evaluate and disseminate the Electrical Power Engineering Technology Curriculum developed at Oklahoma State University. The objective of the evaluation phase, to have the original model curriculum evaluated by both present and potential employers, was accomplished in a two-day workshop with participation of…

The document contains the evaluation report on the Gifted Science Project in Montgomery County, Maryland, a program to identify resources for students in grades 3-8 who are motivated in science. The Project's primary product is a Project Resource File (PRF) listing people, places, and published materials that can be used by individual students. An…

This paper presents results evaluating the National Science Foundation's Comprehensive Assistance to Undergraduate Science Education (CAUSE) program focusing on: (1) institutional needs; (2) project implementation; (3) quality of instructional improvement; (4) evaluation; (5) project costs; and (6) recommendations. Evaluation methods included…

National Science Foundation reports provided criteria for identifying 54 exemplary science programs in the United States. Questionnaires and school visits showed programs characterized by locally developed curricula, less emphasis on textbooks, and outstanding teachers (average age: 51 years; degree: M.A. 30). (PB)

Reviews three pioneer programs that attempt to integrate genetic science and ethics in the classroom. Concludes by suggesting that the basic goal of integrating science and ethics is undermined in each program by a lack of correspondence between the articulated pedagogical goals and the unarticulated theoretical framework. (LZ)

Evaluation as a particular kind of investigated discipline is distinguished from, for example, traditional empirical research in the social sciences or from literary criticism, criminalistics, or investigative reporting, partly by its extraordinary multidisciplinarity (Scrivens, 1991, p. 141). It is this unique multidisciplinary feature of…

This program brings selected minority high school students to engineering schools all over the United States during the summer between their junior and senior year in high school. The students experience activities which familiarize them with engineering and with college. The evaluation of the program was based on pre- and post-data obtained from…

This report is based on the analysis of initial interviews with the staff of the Freshmen Learning Community Program (FLCP). FLCP is a pilot program in engineering education that focuses on diversity and cultural change. The primary purpose of this evaluative study is to provide feedback while the learning community program is being implemented.…

Investigates some of the evaluation methodologies presently being advocated in assessing the merits of education programs for training science teachers. Questionnaire data from ex-students were used to elicit raw data and an understanding of these data by a newer methodology involving ordering theory. (CS)