Section 2 Davis Group Interactions:

Wildwood Evaluation Project

Submitted by Dave Stone, Davis Group

Davis Group interactions took place asynchronously for a period of approximately one week prior to a culminating synchronous, hour-long WebBoard chat session. Our conversations, and resulting group decisions, centered around three main areas of consideration: 1) evaluation approach, 2) initial direction of evaluation focus and 3) the second round of contact with Wildwood and the Wynne County School District.

At this point, there is general agreement that our charge as a committee is that of an ad hoc review panel (pp. 126-127, Worthen, et al.), combining our collective expertise to judge a program and its constituent activities. The general consensus is that our primary approach will be expertise-oriented, with the following components of the various approaches potentially being pulled into our final evaluation:

• measurement of program development and outcomes, as well as analysis of how technology-based activities coincide with state benchmarks, guidelines and curriculum as discussed in the objective-oriented approach,
• a focus on actual outcomes instead of intended project outcomes characteristic of goal-free evaluation (pp. 94 and 95, Worthen, et al.),
• descriptive accounts/portrayals of various entities (classrooms, activities, the school and the district) within the broader context of their function as discussed in the participant-oriented evaluation approach and
• legal, administrative, architectural and financial context areas presented in the second paragraph of "Illuminative Evaluation" (page 158, Worthen, et al.).

Additionally, elements of our charge (what we are asked to do and by whom we are asked to do them) coincide with those of a management-oriented evaluation, which is intended to serve decision makers (Worthen, et al. 97), in this case the NEF. The CIPP evaluation model discussed in Worthen, et al seems relevant, in that it seeks to address context (needs to be addressed?), input (structuring decisions, alternate strategies), process (implementing decisions, barriers to doing so), and product (what were the results of decisions? how well were needs addressed? what should be done with the program?).

Based on information available from the NEF Request for Proposals, the Wynne County Funding Proposal, the Wildwood JHS site and our responses received thus far, we have decided to focus our efforts in the areas of technology planning, training and expenditures.

Technology Planning

Does a technology plan exist? If so, a number of answers to our questions may be easily accessible, allowing us to proceed more rapidly, thoroughly and efficiently in our evaluation. We are still somewhat unclear as to the existence of a grant committee who may have had input into the writing of the proposal. If such a grant writing committee exists, it would certainly be valuable to "chat" with them.

Training

Again, a technology plan would be useful in initially addressing this subject. We remain unclear regarding what actually comprises the "student training" component of the funding request and how the allotted funds for student training are being used. Principal Daniels' statement regarding the current success of student training does not address either of the above-stated concerns.

Inventory and Expenditures

Information regarding inventory and expenditures would be very useful in letting us see how, and where, the school is allocating its technology funding. Does a technology inventory exist, or better yet, several years of technology inventories? We will approach the technology coordinator regarding this question. If a technology inventory doesn't exist, purchase orders for hardware, software (including site licenses), peripherals and networking expenditures would be useful.

Three additional people have become electronically accessible since submission of our initial set of questions. We plan to forward questions to the Vice-Principal , Superintendent, Technology Coordinator and Evaluation Specialist. Those questions will be formulated based on additional information provided at the Wildwood JHS site and information we continue to receive from Wildwood staff contacted thus far.