PROMiSE Project
The Florida Partnership to Rejuvenate and Optimize Mathematics and Science Education
(Florida PROMiSE) is a statewide Title IIb Mathematics and Science Partnership project,
funded by the Florida Department of Education beginning in 2007. Its principal goal
is to increase student learning of mathematics and science by providing K-12 mathematics
and science teachers with high-quality, sustained professional development (PD) that
enhances their disciplinary content knowledge, their use of research-based pedagogical
strategies, and their understanding of the recently-implemented Next Generation
Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS). A major component of the project is a series of
content-focused Summer Institutes. The first set of these institutes was implemented
in June-August, 2009 and another set in June-August 2010. Four follow-up sessions
were conducted during each school year to address pedagogical issues not covered
in the summer institutes.
View the Vol 1 and Vol 2 of the parent newsletters from the project.
CSL provides the formative internal evaluations which assist project leaders in
recognizing where changes in activities and programs may be needed to assure that
the project remains on-track and achieves what it promised in its proposal.
Formative evaluation also informs summative evaluation of adjustments and changes,
and helps pave the way for appropriate summative measures that provide an assessment
structure that is appropriate, doable, objective, and meaningful. The PROMiSE formative
evaluation provided feedback to project leaders on the following key issues:
- Fidelity of implementation
- Program quality
- Meeting local needs
- Operation of the partnership
Formative feedback to project leaders has been and continues to be collected through
a variety of triangulated methods:
- Participant feedback forms are used to document participant perceptions of the
quality and effectiveness of project activities (workshops, mentoring, etc.). Feedback
instruments, developed by the internal evaluation team, contain both “participant
rating” items and open-ended prompts for narrative response; they are completed
by participants in each major project activity and as an end-of-year reflection.
- Observations of a sample of PD sessions and other project activities by trained
observers provide a consistent set of ratings using a validated, reliable instrument
– the “Professional Development Observation Protocol” developed by Horizon Research,
Inc.
- Focus group and individual interviews are used to gather feedback from a subset
of participants, PD providers, and PROMiSE partners regarding project activities
and impact. Probing questions help add information about individuals’ perceptions
and experiences, adding depth and detail to the data obtained through surveys.
- Project-produced materials, such as web-based support tools and course or workshop
materials, are reviewed by external experts to evaluate the design and content
of such materials, ease of access and use, and to provide feedback on accuracy, appropriateness,
and usability of the products.
CSL completed the 2009 Formative Report
and the Final Report is also available. For more information go to the PROMiSE website at http://flpromise.org
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