Steps toward a Formative Evaluation of NSDL. Technical Report

Autor/inn/en	Bikson, Tora K.; Kalra, Nidhi; Galway, Lionel A.; Agnew, Grace
Institution	RAND Corporation
Titel	Steps toward a Formative Evaluation of NSDL. Technical Report
Quelle	(2011), (260 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Quantitative Daten; Electronic Libraries; STEM Education; Program Evaluation; Formative Evaluation; Data Collection; Models; Program Effectiveness; Library Materials; Metadata; Usability; Case Studies; Pilot Projects; Earth Science; Science Instruction; Secondary School Science; Colorado + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Digitale Bibliothek; Elektronische Bibliothek; STEM; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Data capture; Datensammlung; Analogiemodell; Metadaten; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Pilot project; Modellversuch; Pilotprojekt; Earth sciences; Geowissenschaften; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht
Abstract	The National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Science Digital Library/Distributed Learning (NSDL) program turned 10 years old in 2010. This report presents results of a preliminary program evaluation carried out by RAND and is organized around three principal goals: (1) Provide an initial evaluation of NSDL based on existing information resources, including results of a prior phase of evaluation; (2) Conduct limited primary data collection studies to pilot test instruments and approaches and complement findings from extant information; and(3) Design a robust formative evaluation for a final phase of effort, refining research questions and methods. An interdisciplinary team directed project research efforts to: examine the state of health of the digital resource collections; assess the evidence that currently used web metrics provide about activities users undertake to find and access those resources; and identify early indicators of positive effects from the use of NSDL resources among science teachers or learners in NSDL-supported research projects. Initial answers to these questions are supplemented by primary data collection aimed at exploring the appropriateness of metadata intended to assist users in finding, identifying, selecting and obtaining sought digital contents and at investigating the usability of available resources for accomplishing selected routine tasks in science teaching. A minicase study explored one full instantiation of the NSDL program model--a demonstration of curriculum customization to meet the needs of earth science teachers using resources from the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE). The report synthesizes the findings from these exercises to yield results and recommendations, both for what NSF and NSDL should do now as well as for the design of a full formative evaluation in the future. Appended are: (1) Funded Collections Summary of Assessment Data; (2) Pathways Summary of Assessment Data; (3) Web Metrics; (4) NSDL Teaching and Learning Project Synopsis; (5) NSDL Teaching and Learning Study Synopsis; (6) Usability Studies; and (7) Sample Find, Identify, Select, and Obtain Instrument. (Contains 36 figures, 19 tables and 31 footnotes.) [The research in this report was conducted under the auspices of the Transportation, Space, and Technology (TST) program within RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment.] (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	RAND Corporation. P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138. Tel: 877-584-8642; Tel: 310-451-7002; Fax: 412-802-4981; e-mail: order@rand.org; Web site: http://www.rand.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10