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Evaluation of theDetermining Instructional Purposes (DIP)

Training Program

A Proposal Submitted to Far West Laboratory

for Educational Research and Developmentby

GTS Educational Services

Introduction

Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development (FWL) recently

released a request for proposals (RFP) to evaluate itsDetermining Instructional Purposes (DIP)

training program. This proposal response is respectfully submitted by Globe Trotting Scientists

(GTS).

FWL developed the DIP program to provide training in educational administration skills

to school administrators and graduate students and is focused on the planning and development

efforts of new school programs and initiatives. An evaluation to assess the value of the training

package to FWL customers will be conducted. Information gleaned from the evaluation will

facilitate both FWLs internal future planning and decision-making and that of their prospective

customers.

Determining Instructional Purposes training program

Determining Instructional Purposes is a modular based training program that is categorized

into units based on instructional objectives as follows:

Unit 1 - Setting Goals

Unit 2 -Analyzing Problems

Unit 3 -Deriving Objectives

The training units are flexible enough to be used independently and can be conducted as

1-2 day workshops or longer individual sessions. Each unit contains 4-6 print-based instruction

modules featuring both required reading materials that discuss the new skills being introduced,

and independent and group-based activities that are designed to put the skills into practice. Anaccompanying coordinators handbook is available and a training coordinator is recommended

to administer the sessions. Team activities feature hypothetical planning teams that exercise their

new skills as they work to solve problems and develop new programs in their simulated school

system. The complete training time for all three units is estimated at 32-48 hours.

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Evaluation Method

Developing recommendations for the most effective dissemination of the training

materials and an associated strategy to engage primary users (school administrators and graduate

students) on its benefits will require direct engagement with the various stakeholders. Several

procedures utilizing associated data sources that will comprise this evaluation of the DIP training

program are reviewed below:

- Purchasing History Review and Analysis

Sales data on past customers of the DIP program will be provided by FWL.

Purchasing trends and demographics will be measured from the three most

recent years of available data. Purchase details, including specific training

units purchased, usage patterns for instructional materials, training group

characteristics, and presence or absence of a coordinator, will be measured with a

survey tool and phone interviews by GTS staff.

- Recent Customer Inquiry Data

FWL will provide customer product information requests from non-purchasing

school districts in the past year. These potential customers will be surveyed to

identify the key factors in their decision making process. Data will be collected

through telephone interviews conducted by GTS staff.

- Opinion survey of training participants

A training participant (administrators, graduate students, coordinators) opinion

survey will be administered to a minimum of forty customers (obtained fromhistorical sales data) by GTS. Feedback on instructional modules and associated

activities will be sought. Participants will also be asked about the current format

(print) of the training materials and other delivery format options.

- Follow up opinion interviews with survey participants

Interviews with at least fifteen selected survey respondents (participants or school

district stakeholders) will be conducted. These interviews, either via telephone or web-

conferencing technology, will seek to measure the value and importance placed in the

training content. The interviews will also query for detailed information on what delivery

format they view as most desirable for their situation.

- School district stakeholders opinion survey

To better understand the perceived value and effectiveness of the instructional

materials, a survey of at least twenty school district stakeholders (administrators

and program coordinators) will be conducted. Survey participants will be

identified from historical sales data.

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-Expert Review

GTS will employ a subject matter expert to review all DIP training materials. This

review will help identify areas where the instruction may benefit from updates, especially

in the flexibility of delivery methods. FLW will provide a full set of training materials to

GTS for this review process.

Task Schedule

Evaluation activities and milestones are detailed on the task schedule on page 4. Dates

shown are approximate. The final completion date will be negotiated between Far West

Laboratory for Educational Research and Development, and GTS.

Project Personnel

Dr. Benton C. Quest- A senior evaluation specialist and owner of Globe

Trotting Scientists Educational Services, Dr. Quest will oversee all aspects of the

DIP evaluation, including the planning, implementation, and reporting. Dr. Quest

has extensive education, including a PHD in Assessment of Research and Applied

Archeology from the University of Arizona. He worked as a research scientist for

the US Government for ten years, before the launch of GTS.

Dr. Hadji Singh- A native of Calcutta, Dr. Singh studied psychology and

mathematics at the University of Florida. After serving out his term with the U.S.

Marines, Dr. Singh came to work as a measurement analyst at GTS. He will be

developing the surveys, checklists and phone interview protocol. Data collection

and data analysis will also be supervised by Dr. Singh.

Additional evaluation specialists include Race Bannon from Intelligence One,

who will oversee the expert review of instructional materials among other duties.

GTS clerical staff will also provide support for the DIP evaluation.

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TASK SCHEDULE

Evaluation of the Determining Instructional Purposes (DIP) Training Program

Task Respon-

sible

Party

Completion

Date*

1) Evaluation contract awarded to GTS. FWL August 1,

2011

2) Meet with FWL to review GTS evaluation proposal, receive

requested changes, and finalize.

GTS August 15,

2011

3) Provide data collection plan for target groups. Provide draft

surveys to FWL for input. Provide interview questions/format to

FWL for input.

GTS September 1,

2011

4) Receive comments and requested changes to data collection

plan, survey instruments, and interview questions/format.

FWL September 15,

2011

5) Final revisions to collection plans, survey instruments, and

interview protocol to FWL.

GTS October 1,

2011

6) Provide GTS with historical sales data for past 3 years,

including customer information. Provide GTS with contact

information for potential customers from product information

requests. Provide GTS with complete set of all program materials.

FWL October 15,

2011

6) Survey data collection and interview sessions from participants,

potential customers, and stakeholders completed. Attend DIP

training session, if available. Complete expert review of all DIP

training materials.

GTS December 15,

2011

7) Compile, summarize and analyze survey and interview data.

Present initial findings to FWL

GTS January 15,

2012

8) Receive feedback, comments, from FWL on data results and

analysis.

GTS January 31,

2012

9) Final evaluation report submission to FWL GTS March 1, 2012

* Completion dates are approximate. Actual dates to be determined upon award of evaluation.

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Budget and Payment Schedule

We are proposing a budget of $43,000 for the Determining Instructional Purposes

training program evaluation services. Budget details are outlined below:

Expense Description Cost

Personnel Payment for evaluation director,

measurement analyst, evaluation

specialists, and secretarial staff

$40,000

Operations includes all supplies, mail, phone and

network charges, office supplies,

and required travel fees.

$3,000

Total $43,000

Requested Payment Schedule

Payment Due Amount

Payment 1: Upon completion of evaluation task #4 $14,000

Payment 2: Upon completion of evaluation task #6 $14,000

Final payment: Upon completion of evaluation task #9 (project completion) $15,000

Total $43,000