Below is a brief description of several IRC projects.
Where applicable, links are provided to on-line reports maintained by clients.
Current Projects
Ohio Board of Regents’
Improving Teacher Quality State Grants (Ohio State University)
IRC is providing external evaluation services to five projects within
this initiative that are designed to strengthen science and math teachers’
skills. IRC has worked with one of the projects, Physical Science Modeling at
Ohio State University, since 2004.
Ohio IMPACT K-3
Math Project (Teaching & Learning Collaborative)
IRC has assisted the Teaching & Learning Collaborative with the
evaluation of IMPACT (Improving Mathematics Practices And Classroom Teaching)
Fellows Program since its onset in 2004.
Designed to provide early elementary teachers (grades K-3) with
strategies to improve their use of inquiry-based instructional practices as
well as improve their mathematics content knowledge, it has served more than
1,200 teachers.
Ohio Math
Science Partnership Grants (Columbus City Schools and the Teaching &
Learning Collaborative)
IRC is the local evaluator for Central Ohio’s Math Science Partnership
projects (COMET and Science Works). Partner school districts are Columbus City
Schools, South-Western, Hamilton, and Whitehall with support being provided by
Ohio State University, Capital University, and the Teaching & Learning
Collaborative. This initiative is further expanding teachers’ understanding and
use of Ohio’s math modules, Cognitive Guided Instruction, and inquiry-based
science.
NSF GK-12
Fellows Program (Ohio State University)
IRC began helping the Ohio State University’s Department of Chemistry
with various grant projects in 2003. Their GK-12 Fellows Program initially was
funded in 1999 and places science graduate students in selected Columbus City
Schools’ elementary classrooms.
NSF Project WISE
(John Carroll University)
WISE is an innovative collaborative partnership of John Carroll
University (JCU), Beaumont High School, and the International Women's Air and
Space Museum (IWASM) in Cleveland, Ohio. IRC shares responsibility for the
project’s external evaluation with Dr. James Lanese, an independent consultant
in northeast Ohio who provides on-site coverage. IRC previously assisted the
PI, Dr. Greg DiLisi, with another NSF grant in which he collaborated with a
professor at Case Western Reserve University in establishing engineering
development teams composed of high school students, undergraduates, and
graduate students.
NSF OSTEP (Ohio
State University)
IRC is the external evaluator of an Ohio State University partnership
with three community colleges (Columbus State Community College, Stark State
College of Technology, and Washington State Community College) that is designed
to increase the number of students graduating in all STEM fields in Ohio. This
5-year project will began serving students in summer 2009.
Selected COMPLETED Projects
Young Buckeye STEM
Scholars (Ohio Academy of Science)
The Young Buckeye STEM Scholars (YBSTEMS) after-school program
incorporates scientific inquiry, technological design, teamwork, communications
and leadership development through introducing students to engaging technology-based
projects and the 4-H club model. Participants are 5th-7th grade students from seven counties
in central Ohio. IRC assisted the project team with an unsuccessful NSF grant
that they reconfigured into an innovative state-funded project (January 2008 –
June 2009). The final
evaluation report is posted online.
Math Science
Leadership Specialists (Columbus City Schools)
IRC helped Columbus City Schools evaluate the effectiveness of its newly
implemented Math Science Leadership Specialists (MSLS) in which grades 4-5 and
selected grades 3 classrooms have teachers specifically assigned to teach math
and science. Since this program splits the class, the number of students is
half that of the typical classroom. The MSLS teachers are also required to
participate in additional math and science professional development. The
district is considering continuing research on this project in the 2010-2011
school year.
Schools of Promise (Ohio
Department of Education)
Conducted eight case studies on “Schools of Promise” schools in 2005.
Did random sampling of eligible schools. Developed detailed interview protocols
and surveys for principals, teachers, students, and parents. Conducted two-day
site visits at selected schools. Wrote detailed case studies on each site. See http://www.ode.state.oh.us
and search for keyword PROMISE. Reading/Language
Arts case studies written by IRC are mid-way down the page. IRC presented
together with two principals from the studied schools at the Ohio Association
of Administrators of State and Federal Education Programs (OAASFEP) in October
2006. The PowerPoint
and handout
used in the presentation are available for on-line viewing.
Ohio’s Challenge Grant
Program (Center for Learning Excellence at Ohio State University)
NSF Urban
Systemic Program (Columbus Public Schools)
IRC was the external evaluator of Columbus Public Schools’ Urban
Systemic Program (USP) from 2002-2006. Designed to improve science and
mathematics instruction, much of the program focused on teacher professional
development.
W.K. Kellogg
Foundation Community Partnerships (Duke University and North Carolina Central
University)
From 2002-2006, IRC provided evaluation services to two W.K. Kellogg
Foundation grants designed to develop after-school programs that would
strengthen the math and reading skills of disadvantaged minority youth. IRC designed
observation and survey tools, conducted interviews, and prepared formative and
annual reports. On these projects, Dr. Upton collaborated with an on-site
consultant, Mr. Dawayne Whittington, who attended project meetings and
conducted site observations. IRC continued assisting the Duke University
project through 2007. See Harvard
Family Research Project, The Evaluation Exchange article, Volume XI, Number 1,
Spring 2005 for project highlights and an endorsement of IRC’s
services from the Project Director, Dr. Barbara Jentleson).