Building capacity for evidence-based decision-making in educational programs and initiatives.

Areas of Focus

Economic evaluation

In addition to understanding whether educational programs and practices are effective at improving student and teacher outcomes, it is critical for education decision-makers and policymakers to understand the resources--personnel, materials, equipment, facilities, and other inputs--required to implement them with fidelity.
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Decision-making about educational programs and investing education funding

Decisions about implementing, tweaking, expanding, or eliminating educational programs and practices are influenced by many factors beyond costs and effectiveness at improving student or teacher outcomes.
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Evaluating district and school programs

Evaluating educational programs and practices that are being implemented alongside many other school activities is challenging because they may complement, supplement, or even work against each other.
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Educational technology and online learning

Twenty-five years ago, the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) stressed the need for research to identify ways in which the use of technology could strengthen education in the United States.
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Alternative credentials

The arrival of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) 10-15 years ago was accompanied by an explosion of non-degree credentials being offered by universities, companies, and even non-governmental organizations.
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Supporting education and innovation.

EdResearcher is an independent research, evaluation, and development organization that provides objective research and advice about education programs, policies, and practices; develops tools and resources to build capacity for evidence-based decision-making; and provides professional development, technical assistance, and coaching to decision-makers and to other researchers.

Vision

EdResearcher believes we must acknowledge the complexity of decision-making in education and the inevitable influence of subjective factors, as well as objective ones, in the choices educators make. We seek to inform each step in the process: understanding student and teacher needs; establishing what stakeholders care about; identifying potential programs, policies and practices to address identified needs; devising methods and tools to evaluate them; assessing them against stakeholder criteria; and providing information and frameworks to help educators select options that are likely to succeed.

Services

EdResearcher participates in grant-funded projects and provides contracted services related to research and decision-making about education programs, policies, and practices. We develop tools and resources to build capacity for evidence-based decision-making; and provide related professional development, technical assistance, and coaching to education decision-makers and to other researchers.