quarterly report -...

QuarterlyReportJuly–September2018[Year1/Quarter2]

TheIRISCenterproducesthesequarterlyreportsasbothanarrativeofoureffortsandadetailedaccountofourworkandprogress.ThisdocumentrepresentstheverylatestactivitiesoftheIRISCenter.Readonformoreinformationabouteverythingthattookplaceoverthelastthreemonths.

PROJECTINFRASTRUCTURE:IRISisengagedinacontinuousefforttoimproveandexpandthequalityandreachofIRISresourcesthroughongoinginfrastructuredevelopmentandenhancement.

Þ Vision&MissionStatements:OurVisionandMissionstatementsareexpressionsofthecenter’sgoalsandaspirations,aswellasgeneraloverviewsofhowweplantogoaboutachievingthem.RevisedandupdatedversionsofthesestatementsarepostedtotheIRISWebsite.Theyreadasfollows:

VisionStatementTheIRISCenterisanationalleadersupportingtheincreaseduseofevidence-basedpracticesbyeducatorstoimproveoutcomesforallstudents,especiallystrugglinglearnersandthosewithdisabilities.MissionStatementTheIRISCenteroffershigh-qualityonline,openeducationalresources(OERs)thattranslateresearchtopracticeforuseinpersonnelpreparationandongoingprofessionaldevelopmentsothateducatorshavetheknowledgeandskillstheyneedtouseevidence-basedpracticestoimproveoutcomesforallstudents,especiallystrugglinglearnersandthosewithdisabilities.

Þ WebsiteVisitorNumbers:FollowinganunexpecteddropinourWebsite’smonthlyvisitordataattheendofMay,theIRISCenterhasundertakenextensiveandongoingeffortstolocatethecauseofthechangeandtoaddressitinallduehaste.OurinvestigationsuggeststhatthedecreasebeganalmostpreciselyatthemomenttheEuropeanUnion’snewdataprivacyinitiative,theGeneralDataProtectionRegulation[GDPR],tookeffect(May25),whichhadadramaticeffectonthenumberofinternationalvisits.AlthoughtheIRISteamhadpreparedinadvancefortheinitiative,includingtheadditionofkeysecurityandprivacyfeatures,subsequenteffortstobringtheIRISCenterintocompletecompliancewereswiftlyundertaken.Inthemonthssince

TheIRISCenterQuarterlyReport 2

theMayGDPRstartdate,ourWebvisitornumbershaverebounded.Aspartofourevaluationprocess,IRISwillcontinuetocloselymonitorWebsitevisitordata.Whenanomalies,suchasthisarise,IRISwilltrytoidentifyandaddresstheissuequicklyandefficiently.

Þ WebsiteProgrammingUpdates&Improvements:ManyofthemostsignificantimprovementstotheIRISWebsitehappen“behindthescenes”attheprogramminglevelandarethereforevirtuallyinvisibletoourusersandvisitors.Whetherthey’renoticeableornot,theseadjustmentsandfinetuningsareindispensabletoasmoothrunning,user-friendlyonlineexperience.Alogofourrecentactivitiesfollows.

o jQuerymigration:Initially,theIRISWebsiteusedalibraryofjavascript

routinescalled“MooTools”tobuildtabbedobjects,lightboxes,imagesliders,andinteractiveactivities,amongotherfeatures.However,followingourmigrationtotheWordPressCMS,therehasbeenaneedtomovetheunderpinningsofourMooToolssupportedIRISfeaturestoadifferentgroupofjavascriptlibrariescalled“jQuery,”whichisnativetoWordpress.Inpracticalterms,thishasentailedalong-termre-scriptingofIRISinteractiveactivities,games,andsamplesyllabi.Thisprocesswillbecompletedinthecomingquarter.

o Userfiltering:Ourinvestigationofourregistereduseraccountsforthe

professionaldevelopmentcertificatessuggeststhatthenumberismuchgreaterthanitshouldbe.Inresponse,IRIScreatedaPHPscripttodeterminethevalidityofeachuserandwhethereachwasalegitimatevisitortotheIRISWebsite.Thosenotconsideredvalidweredeleted.Maintenanceoftheregisteredvisitorlistwillbeongoing.

Þ DataPrivacyPolicy:Vanderbilt’sincreasedrequirementsforPersonalCreditIndustry

(PCI)compliance,requirethatWPEngine,theIRISWebsitehost,provideanAttestationofCompliance(AoC).AlthoughallsecuritystandardsaremetviatheGooglecloudonwhichthesiteishosted,WPEnginedoesnotprovideAoCs.Asaresult,IRISisconsideringouroptions.Switchingtoanewhostwouldrequirethemigrationofthousandsofpagesandmonthsofsubsequentcodingcleanup,nottomentionleavingaWebhostingcompanywithoutstandingcustomerserviceandsupport.WiththehelpoftheVUOfficeofCorporateandFoundationRelations,IRISisseekingfoundationsupportforthePDcertificates.ThiswouldallowteacherstoearnthecertificatesforfreeandallowIRIStoremovethecreditcardpaymentprogrammingfromthesite,eliminatingtheneedforPCICompliance.


PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT:IRISdevelopsonlineresourcesaboutevidence-basedinstructionalandbehavioralpracticestohelpimprovetheeducationoutcomesofallstudents,particularlystrugglinglearnersandthosewithdisabilities.Createdwiththeassistanceofmanyofthetopexpertsintheirfields,IRISresources—whethermodules,casestudies,COREcontentunits,ormanyothers—areinnovative,interactive,andpracticalforuseincollegeanduniversitycoursework,byPDproviders,andbyteachersintoday’sclassrooms.NewResources:Anewprojectcyclebringswithitnewconceptsforeffectiveresourcesaboutevidence-basedpracticesasIRISworkstomeettheevolvingneedsofeducatorsintoday’sclassrooms.

Þ FundamentalSkillSheets(comingsoon):Practicalandinformative,ourfundamentalskillsheetswilloffereducatorsquickprimers(orreminders)aboutdiscreteskillsandpracticesindispensabletotheirroleaseffectiveclassroomteachers.Fivefundamentalskillsheetsonclassroombehaviormanagementarecurrentlyindevelopment:

v BehaviorSpecificPraisev ProximityControlv Wait-Timev High-ProbabilityRequestsv ChoiceMaking

Duringthiscurrentquarter,IRISoversawthecreationofexampleandnon-exampleskillsvideosfilmedatalocalhighschoolinNashville.Earlyinthenewquarter,wewilloverseeproductionofexampleandnon-examplevideosinanelementaryschoolclassroom.Weanticipatepostingthisfirstsetoffundamentalskillsheetsduringthenextquarter.

Þ COREContentUnits(comingsoon):Createdwiththeassistanceoftopinstructionalexpertsintheirfields,theIRISCORE(Comprehensive,Organized,Reliable,Engaging)ContentUnitswillbe“deepdives”intoeffectivepracticesforstudentswithdisabilities.IRISiscurrentlyeditingseveralunitsforourupcomingCOREunitoneffectivemathematicsinstructionandwillcontinuetodosointhecomingquarterasmoreunitsaredeliveredtous.CurrentlyprovidingcontentareBarbaraDoughertyoftheUniversityofHawaii(foraunitonmeasurements),andJessicaNamkungoftheUniversityofNebraska-Lincoln(fortwounitsonfractionsandrationalnumbers).


Modules:Thesignatureresourceofourcenter,IRISModulescoverinformationaboutfundamentaltopicsandevidence-basedinstructionalandbehavioralpracticesonawidevarietyoftopicareas,includingclassroombehaviormanagement,MTSS/RTI,andculturalandlinguisticdiversity,tonamebutafew.

Þ IEPModuleSeries:ByspecialrequestfromOSEP,ourcenterisdevelopingatrioofmodulesabouthigh-qualityIEPs.Thefirstofthesewilloverviewthebestpracticesinthedevelopmentofhigh-qualityIEPs,explainingtheircrucialroleintheeducationofstudentswithdisabilities.Thesecondmodulewilldetailtheins-and-outsofcreatinghigh-qualityIEPs,alignwiththelatestfindingsfromEndrewF.,anddiscusshowtousetheIEPtoguideinstructionintheclassroom.Finally,thethirdmoduleisspecificallydesignedwithadministratorsandschoolleadersinmind,goingfurtherthanthelegalcontextinwhichhigh-qualityIEPsarerequiredandofferingguidanceonhowtosupportschoolpersonnelinthedevelopmentofhigh-qualityIEPs.MitchellYellagreedtowritecontentforthefirsttwomodules,withthecontentforthefirstalreadydelivered.DavidBatemanwilldevelopthecontentforthethirdmodule.Wehopetobeabletopostthefirstmoduleintheseriesduringthefourthquarterofthisyear.

Þ ModuleRevision:IRISiscurrentlyrevisinganumberofmodulesandmoduleserieswithupdatedinformationandrevisedandexpandedresources.

v Accommodations:ArevisionofourpopularAccommodations:

InstructionalandTestingSupportsforStudentswithDisabilitiesmodulewillincludemoreinformationaboutselectingandimplementingaccommodationsandevaluatingwhethertheywereeffectiveforthestudent.Thismodulewillbesentoutforexternalreviewearlyinthecomingquarter,withtherevisionreplacingtheexistingversionontheIRISWebsiteattheendoftheacademicyearoncethecurrentslateofcourseshascometoanend.

v VisionSeries:Ourthree-module“vision”seriesisundergoingsignificantrevisionandexpansion.Contentforeachofthemodules—AccommodationstothePhysicalEnvironment:SettingUpaClassroomforStudentswithVisualDisabilities,InstructionalAccommodations:MakingtheLearningEnvironmentAccessibletoStudentswithVisualDisabilities,andServingStudentswithVisualDisabilities:TheImportanceofCollaboration—iscurrentlybeingupdatedbyBrendaNaimyoftheUniversityofCalState


University-LosAngeles.Aspartofthisprocess,IRISwillalsoupdatetheoveralllookofthemodulestomatchourcurrentstandards,reformattingindividualelementsaswellasreplacingexistingillustrationswithphotographs.

v AssessmentSeries:Ourtwo-moduleseriesonclassroomassessment—ClassroomAssessment(Part1):AnIntroductionToMonitoringAcademicAchievementintheClassroomandClassroomAssessment(Part2):EvaluatingReadingProgress—arecurrentlyundergoingrevisionbyEricaLembkeoftheUniversityofMissouriandRobertAlexanderSmithoftheUniversityofSouthernMississippi.

Þ IRISModulesinSpanish:ASpanish-languageversionofourEvidence-BasedPractices(Part2):ImplementingaPracticeofProgramwithFidelityisnowavailableontheIRISWebsite.

Þ ModuleAnswerKeysinSpanish:AssessmentanswerkeysforeachofourmodulesavailableinSpanishareindevelopmentandwillbepostedontheIRISWebsiteinthenewquarter.

Þ IRIS“Quizlets”:ComingsoonfromIRIS:IRISQuizlets!UnderthedirectionofAngelicaFulchini,theIRISTechnologyInnovationPostdoctoralScholar,everyIRISModulewillsooncomewithitsownquizlet,aninteractivequizdesignedtohelpusersbetterunderstandandrememberkeyterminologyanddefinitionsfromthemainresource.

CaseStudies:Thesemulti-partresourcesaskuserstoanalyzeandrespondtoanumberofproblem-basedclassroomissuesandchallenges—forexampleclassroomnormsandexpectations,algebrainstruction,orclassroomarrangement—throughincreasinglevelsofcomplexityanddetail.

Þ RoomArrangement:Asubstantialrevisionofour“EffectiveRoomArrangement:Elementary”casestudyiscurrentlyintheworks.

Course/PDActivities:Handy,focusedresourcesforuseasindependentassignmentsortopromoteclassroomdiscussion,IRISCourse/PDActivitiescoveradiverserangeoftopics,includingbehaviormanagement,languagedisorders,disabilityrelatedlanguageinfederallaw,andmanyothers.

Þ Course/PDActivitiesUpdate:IRISiscurrentlyreviewingourcourse/PDactivitiescollection(110inall),whichwillundergorevisiontochangeorremoveoutdatedterminologyandinformation.Wehopetocompletethistaskinthecomingquarter.


IRISOnlineTools:FromaglossaryoftermsrelatedtodisabilitiestotheIRISBookandFilmToolstoourEvidence-BasedPracticesSummaries,IRISonlinetoolsareuser-friendly,informative,andalwaysgrowing.

Þ VideoVignettesUpdate:IRIShasaddedthehigh-leveragepracticevideoscreatedbyCEEDARandtheCouncilforExceptionalChildrentoouronlinevideovignettecollection.High-leveragepracticesare22essentialspecialeducationtechniquesthatallK-12specialeducationteachersshouldmasterforuseacrossavarietyofclassroomcircumstances.Thecurrentvideosare:

v WelcometoournewseriesonHigh-LeveragePracticesv HLPs#8and#22:ProvidePositiveandConstructiveFeedbackto

GuideStudents’LearningandBehaviorv HLP#12:SystematicallyDesignInstructionTowardsLearning

Goalsv HLP#16:UseExplicitInstructionv HLP#18:UseStrategiestoPromoteActiveStudentEngagement

Þ BookToolUpdate:CuratedinconjunctionwithMaryAnnePrater,theauthororco-

authorofsevenbooksanddozensofacademicjournalarticlesonteachingstudentswithdevelopmentaldifficultiesaswellasspecialandgeneraleducationtopics,thissearchabletoolcontainsinformationandsynopsesofchildren’sandyoungadultliteratureaboutorhavingtodowithpeoplewithdisabilities.Thisinformationincludesthenameoftheauthorandillustrator,yearofpublication,publisher,appropriategradelevel,andawardstatus.Duringthisquarter,IRISupdatedthebooktoolwithsome50newtitlesandannotations.

Þ NewIRISFormatTemplates:WiththeunveilingofthenewIRISWebsite,wehave

reformattedourwrap-aroundcontentmaps,courseworkplanningforms,samplesyllabi,PDplanningforms,andcurriculummatricestoincludethenewIRISlogo,aswellastogivethemasleeker,moremodernappearance.Ourmoduleanswerkeys,activities,andmoduleoutlinesarecurrentlyundergoingsimilartreatmentandwillberepostedduringthenewquarter.Inresponsetouserfeedback,moduleoutlineswillnowalsoincludeinteractive“windows”beloweachmajormodulecomponentthatwillallowuserstotakenotesandrecordanswerstotheAssessmentquestions.


InformationBriefs:TheseonlineresourcesdevelopedbyotherprogramsandcentersarecollectedandcuratedbyIRISassupplementalmaterials.InformationbriefscovereverythingfromaccommodationsforstudentswithdisabilitiestoUniversalDesignforLearningandpeer-assistedinterventions.

Þ CollectionUpdate:Partofanongoingprocess,IRISiscurrentlytakingalookatourcurrentcollectionof338informationbriefswithaneyetowardremovingolderoroutdatedresourcesand,ifpossible,replacingthemwithnewerversions.ThiseffortiscurrentlyunderwayandwillbecompletedinthefirstportionofYear2.

DISSEMINATION:IRISdisseminatesnewsofitsresourcesthroughawidevarietyofmeans,bothuniversal,targeted,andindividualized.TheIRISWebsite,conferencepresentationsandexhibitionappearances,andamulti-partsocialmediapresence,allarekeycomponentsinourplantoreachandcommunicatewithIRISconsumers.DisseminationInfrastructure:Keytoourcenter’songoingdisseminationeffortsisthedevelopmentandexpansionofmultipleelementsthat,together,formthebasisofourcampaigntogetthewordoutaboutIRISandourresources.Moreaboutthesecanbefoundintheitemsbelow.

Þ CommunicationsPlan:IRIShasdevelopedadetailedcommunicationplantoprovidespecificsonthevariouswaysinwhichthereleaseofinformationaboutnewlypostedresourceswilloccur,howoftenkeyconstituentswillbecontacted,andthevehiclesandmeansthroughwhichthosecommunicationsaremostlikelytotakeplace.

Þ IRISStories:IRISresourcesareusedthroughouttheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.Now,forthefirsttime,we’resharingthestoriesandexperiencesofourusersintheirownwords.Whethertoldbycollegeanduniversityfaculty,stateordistrictpersonnel,schoolprincipals,orclassroomteachers,everyIRISstoryteachesussomethingnew.NewIRISstoriesastoldbyMaryLittle,ProfessorofEducationattheUniversityofCentralFlorida,aswellasaselectgroupofherstudentsarecurrentlyintheworksandshouldbepostedtoourWebsiteatsomepointinthenewquarter.

Þ TheIRISNewsletter:Anewelementofourdisseminationefforts,a

periodicIRISnewsletterwillbemadeavailabletomembersofouremaillistserv,some10,000IRISusers.ThenewsletterwillcontainupdatesonIRISandourresources,featuresaboutthecenteritself,informationaboutconferencepresentationsandappearances,andrelevantinformationabouttheworkofourpartners.ThefirstnewsletterwillbepublishedinJanuaryofthenewyear.


Þ IRISSummary:TheIRISDataSummaryisanannualpublicationdesignedtohighlightinformationaboutthecenter,itsusers,andourmostpopularresources.AnewsummaryhasbeencreatedandsubmittedtoOSEPforcommentandapproval.WehopetopostittotheIRISWebsiteinthecomingquarter.

Þ UpdatedBrochures:IRIShasrevisedoursixIRISbrochureswithupdated

informationaboutthenewIRISCenterandtheIRISresources.Thebrochurescover:

v TheIRISCenter(ageneraloverview)v Mathematicsv Behaviorv ReadingInstructionv MTSS/RTIv EarlyChildhood

Þ Supplies:Keysuppliesusedfordisseminationandtrainingpurposes(e.g.,notepads,

pens)havebeenreorderedandfeaturethenewIRISlogo.Presentation&OutreachEfforts:Throughouttheyear,IRISattendslocal,regional,andnationalconferencestopresentonourtrainingandinstructionalresourcesandtokeepaudiencesup-to-dateoneverythingthatisnewwithIRIS.Informationaboutourrecentpresentationsisbelow.

Þ Ambassador’sToolKit:IRIShasdevelopedatoolkitforourIRISAmbassadors,whichcurrentlyincludesfivehandoutsandageneraloverviewPowerPointpresentation.Morehandoutswillbecompletedinthecomingquarter—includingrevisedversionsofourtoptipsforprofessionaldevelopmentprovidersandtoptipsforfaculty—aswecontinuetocreateresourcesforthetoolkit.

Þ OSEPProjectDirectors’Meeting:InJuly,IRIStookpartintheannualOSEPProjectDirectors’MeetinginWashington,DC,wherewepresentedonourlatestresources,updatedWebsite,andprofessionaldevelopmentoptions.Inaddition,IRIShostedapostersessiontohighlightnewresources.

Þ WestTNSpecialEducationConference:OnSeptember20-21,IRIStookpartinthe2018WestTennesseeSpecialEducationConferenceinMemphis.There,wepresentedonourclassroombehaviormanagementresourcesandrepresentedIRISandourresourcesintheconference’sexhibitionhall.


Þ ChristtheKingSchool:InearlyOctober,theIRISCenterwillpresenton

ourresourcesrelatedtoUniversalDesignforLearning(UDL)atChristtheKingSchool,aprivateK-8CatholicschoolinNashville,Tennessee.Althoughthecenterdoesnotnormallyprovidein-servicetraining,thispresentation,toaschoolafewblocksfromouroffices,ispartofourinitiativetoexpandIRISresourcesintotheCatholicschoolsystem.BecauseoftheincreasedinclusionofstudentswithdisabilitiesintheCatholicschools,andalackoffundingforprofessionaldevelopmentforschoolstaff,administratorsarelookingforfreeresourcestohelpimprovetheirteachers’knowledgeandskills.AsthewordaboutIRISresourcescontinuestospread,thisgroupofeducatorshasbecomeasourceofnewusers.

Þ TennesseeCECConference:InOctober,IRISwillhostapairof

presentationsatthe2018TennesseeCouncilforExceptionalChildrenConferenceinFranklin,Tennessee.There,wewillhighlightourresourcesoneffectivemathematicsinstructions,aswellasageneraloverviewoftheIRISCenter,ourresources,andourupdatedandexpandedWebsite.

Þ LEAD:InOctober,IRISwillbepresentattheTennesseeDepartmentof

Education’sannualLEADConferenceinNashville,wherewewillhostaboothtohighlighttheIRISWebsite,resources,andprofessionaldevelopmentoptions.

Þ OSEPIEPSYMPOSIUM:OnOctober15,2018,IRISwillpresentatthe

third,andfinal,virtualeventintheseries:EffectiveStrategiestoEnhanceHigh-QualityImplementationofIndividualizedEducationPrograms(IEPs).NaomiTylerwillhighlightthetypesofresourcesandprofessionaldevelopmentoptionsthatcanincreasethecapacityofschoolleadersandteacherstoutilizeevidence-basedandhigh-leveragepracticesandimprovetheimplementationofhigh-qualityIEPsintheirschools.

Þ CaliforniaCECConference:InOctober,IRISAmbassadorsCammyPurper

andVictoriaGrafwillpresentontheIRISresourcesattheannualmeetingoftheCaliforniaCouncilforExceptionalChildreninBurlingame,California.

Þ FloridaCECConference:InOctober,IRISAmbassadorMaryLittlewill

presentontheIRISresourcesatthe2018conferenceoftheFloridaCouncilforExceptionalChildreninPonteVedra,Florida.


Þ TeacherEducationDivisionConference:InNovember,IRISwillmakeapairofpresentationsattheannualmeetingoftheTeacherEducationDivision(TED)inLasVegas,Nevada.OurIRIS101presentationwillcoverthebasicsofourcenterandourresourcesforthosewhoarecurrentlyunfamiliarwithboth,whereasIRISAdvancedwillofferamorein-depthlookateverythingwehavetoofferforlong-timeusers.

Þ ASCD:InNovember,IRISwillhostanexhibitboothattheannualASCD

meetinginNashville,Tennessee,wherewewillbeonhandwithinformationonourcenter,resources,andprofessionaldevelopmentoptions.

Þ CouncilforExceptionalChildren(CEC):AtrioofpresentationsaboutIRISresourceshasbeenacceptedforinclusionsintheCEC2019ConventionandExpo,tobeheldJanuary29-February2inIndianapolis,Indiana.WewillpresentonournewMTSS/RTI:Mathematicsmodule,newresources,andprofessionaldevelopmentoptions.Afourthpresentationiscurrentlywaitlisted.IRISwillalsohostaboothintheexhibitionhall.

TECHNICALASSISTANCE:IRISworkstoincreasethecapacityofteacherpreparationprogramstoexpandtherangeofresourcesaboutevidence-basedpractices(EBPs)intheircoursesandprogramcurricula,stateandlocaleducationagenciesaswellasPDproviderstodelivereffectiveprofessionaldevelopment,andindependentlearnerstoenhancetheirknowledgeandskillsregardingEBPs.

Þ Micro-Credentials:IncollaborationwithDigitalPromise,IRISoffersa“stack”ofmicro-credentials(MCs)onaccommodationsforstudentswithdisabilities.ThesefocusedPDunitsalloweducatorstolearnandgainmasteryofdiscreteinstructionalpractices.Wearecurrentlydevelopingcomprehensivegradingguidelinesforeachofthefourmicro-credentialsinourstack.

v IRIS&DigitalPromise:DigitalPromisehaslaunchedanewmicro-credentialsplatform.Wehavefinalizedthemajorrevisionstothecontentofourmicro-credentialsaccordingly.Thenewmicro-credentialswerepostedinSeptember.

v IRIS&Bloomboard:WiththeseparationoftheDigitalPromiseandBloomboardplatforms,BloomboardismovinginadifferentdirectionandrevisingtheformatoftheirMCs.WeareawaitingVUapprovaloftheproposedcontractwithBloomboardinordertoworkwithinthenewtemplatesothatdifferentversionsofthe


IRISMCstacks—eachwithitsownfocusandaudience—canbeofferedonbothplatforms.

Þ NavigationVideos:AnupdatedandrevisedWebsiterequiresupdated

navigationvideos.ThesebriefvideotutorialshelpourvisitorstonavigateourWebsite,usetheIRISResourceLocator,navigateourmodules,andexploreourvariousprofessionaldevelopmentoptions.AnewWebsitenavigationvideohasbeencompletedandisnowavailable.Otherrevisedvideoswillbeaddedinthecomingquarter.

Þ TheIRISStrategicPlan:IRISiscurrentlyworkingwithaconsultantto

developastrategicplantoincreasetheuseofourSchool&DistrictPlatformandPDcertificatesforteachers.Thecenterisalsoworkingwithaconsultantwithextensiveeducationalleadershipexperiencetoincreaseuseoftheseplatforms,andisseekingtohireapermanentstaffmembertohelpmanagetheseduties.Updateswillfollowinsubsequentquarterlyreports.

EVALUATION:TheIRISevaluationplanisdesignedtoyieldinformationtoguideprojectactivitiesandtoassesswhetherourgoals,objectives,andoutcomeshavebeenachieved.Formativeandsummativedataareusedtomonitorprojectimplementationprocedures.

Þ LogicModel:IRIScollaboratedwiththeCentertoImproveProgramandProjectPerformance(CIP3)onthedevelopmentofanIRISlogicmodel.ThisrevisedmodelisnowpostedontheIRISWebsite.

Þ EvaluationPlan:TheIRISevaluationplanhasbeenapprovedandwearebeginningtoimplementit.ApresentationfeedbacksurveyhasbeendevelopedanddatarelatedtotheevaluationquestionswillbegintobecollectedduringIRISpresentations.IRISwillcontinuetocollaboratewithCIP3onworkrelatedtotheevaluation,suchasthedevelopmentofnewsurveysandassessments.

Þ EstablishingBaselines:Oneofthetasksoutlinedintheevaluationplanis

theestablishingofbaselinelevelsofawarenessoftheIRISresources.Thatworkwasbegunduringthisquarter.

Þ TheIRISMasterList:IRIShasdevelopedalistofstate-approvedteacherpreparationprogramsthroughouttheUnitedStates.ThislistwillbeusedtocollectdataaboutthenumberandpercentageofprogramsinwhichIRISresourcesareused.DebSmith,formerlyofIRIS@CGU,iscoordinatingthiseffort.WehavegatheredinformationaboutwhichprogramshavevisitedtheIRISWebsiteduringtheperiodfromJanuary1,


2018throughAugust31,2018.Wewillconductthelastphaseofdatacollectionfor2018inJanuary2019.

Þ ImplementationProjects:IncollaborationwithourpartnersatCIP3and

withtheguidanceofourprojectofficer,SarahAllen,IRIShasdecidedtouseanewmodeltocollectprojectevaluationdata.Insteadofpostingarequestforapplicationsandprovidingsupportforsixtoeightsmallevaluationprojects(i.e.,implementationprojects),IRIShaschosentoutilizeoneconcertedevaluationeffortthatinvolvesasystematicsequenceofthreeprojects:

v ImpactSurvey:ThissurveywillevaluatetheimpactofIRISOpen

EducationalResources(OERs)onthedeliveryoftrainingandprofessionaldevelopmentofteachers.

v KnowledgeandDecision-MakingAssessments:ThisprojectwillevaluatetheimpactofengagementwithspecificIRISOERsonpreserviceteachers’levelofknowledgeandabilitytomakeinstructionaldecisionsattwouniversitysites(initialandreplication).

v FidelityofImplementation:Thisprojectwillevaluatetheimpactofengagement

withspecificIRISOERsonpreserviceandpracticingteachers’fidelityofimplementationofspecificevidence-basedpractices.TheprojectwillbeginwithoneuniversitysiteandthencontinuetoatleasttwouniversityandoneLEAreplicationsites.

KristinSayeski,attheUniversityofGeorgia,willoverseetheIRISevaluationprojectsinclosecollaborationwithDebSmith.Dr.Sayeskiiscurrentlyworkingonthedevelopmentofthefirstevaluationproject,adatacollectionsurveythatisscheduledtobepilotedthisfall.


ModuleFeedback:TheIRISModuleFeedbackForm,anonlinesurvey,asksrespondentstorateourmodules’quality,relevance,andusefulnessonascaleof1to5(5beingthehighestrating).Thisquartertherewere1251respondentstothissurvey.Table1(below)summarizesdescriptiveinformationabouttherespondents.Table2presentstherespondents’overallmeanratingsoftheIRISModulesforquality,relevance,andusefulness.Table3summarizestherespondents’areaofworkorstudy.Table1 Table2

Table3

Respondents NumberCollegeStudent 455GraduateStudent 415ExperiencedTeacher 174NewTeacher 127Other(e.g.,parent) 36SchoolLeader 21Datamissing 10CollegeFaculty 8PDProvider 5Total 1251

MeanRatingsQuality 4.5

Relevance 4.6

Usefulness 4.6

Response NumberGeneraleducation 392Specialeducation 392Earlychildhoodeducation 190Other 170Earlychildhoodspecialeducation 79Datamissing 18Earlyinterventionservices 10Total 1251


WebsiteUserData:Therewere510,751visitstotheWebsitethisquarter,anincreaseof2.8%comparedtothesamequarterlastyear.However,asillustratedinthegraphbelow,thenumberofvisitstotheWebsitedidnotmaintainitsincreasingtrendduringthemonthsofJuneandJuly2018.TherewerefewervisitstotheWebsiteinthosemonthsthantherewereinthesameperiodin2017.ThissametrendoccurredformuchofAugustaswell,whichaccountsforthesmallincreaseinvisitsoverthesameperiodlastyear.IRISstaffhasexaminedthesedatatotrytodeterminewhatfactorsmighthaveledtotheselowernumbers.OurbesttheoryisthattheimplementationoftheGeneralDataProtectionRegulation(GDPR)intheEUledtofewervisitsfromusersinforeigncountries.

COLLABORATION&WORKGROUPACTIVITIES:IRISworksincollaborationwithothernationalcenters,nationallyrecognizededucationexperts,andourownIRISAmbassadorsandWorkgroupstoimproveourabilitytodevelopresources,disseminateinformationaboutallthingsIRIS,andoffertechnicalassistanceandtraining.

Þ HLPVideos:IRIScontinuestocollaboratewithCEEDAR,CEC,theCenteronGreatTeachersandLeaders,CCSSO,andOSEPastheydevelopaseriesofvideosonhigh-leveragepractices(HLPs),providingguidanceandfeedbackontheproductionsideoftheprocess.FivevideoswerelaunchedattheendofJulyandsubsequentlypostedtotheIRISWebsiteaspartofourvideovignettecollection.

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Num

ber o

f Visi

ts

Visits to IRIS Website by Month(Google Analytics Data Only)

2015 2016 2017 2018


Þ NationalCenterforLeadershipinIntensiveIntervention(NCLII):IRIS

continuestocollaboratewiththeNationalCenterforLeadershipinIntensiveIntervention(NCLII).Throughthisproposedpartnership,NCLIIdoctoralstudentswilldevelopandpilotcoursesaboutintensiveinterventions.Inturn,IRISwillpostthesyllabifromthosecoursesonourWebsiteaspartofourSampleSyllabicollection.Theseeffortswillcontinueintothecomingquarterandbeyond.

Þ NationalCenteronIntensiveIntervention(NCII):DuringtheProject

Directors’meetinginWashington,DC,IRISconsultedwiththeNationalCenteronIntensiveIntervention(NCII)todiscussapotentialcollaborationrelatedtoamoduleonintensiveintervention,atopicidentifiedthroughourneedsassessmentprocess.

PERSONNEL:SeethisspacefornotesandinformationonneworoutgoingIRISpersonnel.TechnologyInnovationPostdoctoralScholar:TheIRISCenterissharingapost-doctoralpositionwithLisaDieker—theIRISTechnologyandInnovationWorkgroupLead—attheUniversityofCentralFlorida.AngelaFulchiniassumedthispositioninAugust.StudentWorker:IRISispleasedtowelcomeNaomiForbestothecenterasourcurrentundergraduatestudentworker.

quarterly report -...

Documents