• Mars Exploration Public Engagement Program
  (2006-2008)
  Client: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
  Funder: NASA

  SAMPI is conducting a comprehensive program evaluation of the Mars Public Engagement Program. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine effects of activities on participants, identify strengths and limitations of the program, and make recommendations for improvement.

• High School Math and Science Success II (HS-MASS II)
  (2006-2007)
  Client: MI Math and Science Centers Network
  Funder: State of Michigan

  Development and technical assistance in implementing teacher and student assessments related to the High School Content Expectations, Math and Science Companion Documents, vocabulary, and formative assessment in Michigan high schools.

  Student Asssessment Test Templates (Microsoft Word format):

  • Math
  • Science

• Michigan Mathematics and Science Centers Network
  (1992-2007)
  Client: MI Math and Science Centers Network
  Funder: State of Michigan

  Work with network of 33 centers includes facilitating Department of Education and Legislative requirements, sustaining data collection/information systems, and technical assistance to individual centers.

  Mathematics and Science Center Forms

  • Professional Development Participant Information Form
  • Professional Development Activity Form
  • Student Services Activity Form
  • Other Services Activity Form
  • Financial Information Table
  • Financial Information Terminology
  • Center Staff Information Form
  • Governance Form
  • Accelerated High School Program Table
  • Resource Clearinghouse Form

  Mathematics and Science Center Forms (Microsoft Word format)
  Save the document to your computer, fill in the fields, then save your work.

  • Professional Development Participant Information Form
  • Professional Development Activity Form
  • Student Services Activity Form
  • Other Services Activity Form

  M/S Center Database Instructions

  • Microsoft Access template
  • FileMaker template

  M/S Center Data Deadlines

  M/S Centers Network website: http://www.mscenters.org

• Michigan Department of Education
  Title IIA(3) Improving Teacher Quality Competitive Grants Program
  Statewide Cross-site Evaluation
  Client: Michigan Department of Education Office of Professional Services
  Funder: Michigan Department of Education
  

  Statewide cross-site evaluation of cadres of professional development projects funded through the Michigan Department of Education Title IIA(3) Improving Teacher Quality Competitive Grants Program. SAMPI gathers data across sites, provides evaluation technical assistance to projects, and compiles findings for reporting to MDE and other stakeholders.

  Project Overview
  Recommended Database Structure
  Final Report Forms

• DTE Freshwater Institutes
  (2005-2008)
  Client: Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, Traverse City, MI
  Funder: DTE Foundation
  

  Conduct external evaluation of professional development for teachers engaged in place-based water-focused environmental education projects with their students at sites across Michigan.

  Student Assessment Resources (Microsoft Word format)

  • Teacher Support Materials
  • Student Core Pre/Post Assessment
  • Core Answer Key
  • Post Test and Embedded Item Bank
  • Post Test Bank Answers

• Translating Information Technology into Classrooms
  (2004-2007)
  Client: Wayne State University, College of Education, and Monroe Public Schools
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  SAMPI is facilitating the external evaluation of this program that engages teacher-student teams in using high-end hardware and software to conduct research about the Lake Erie ecosystem. Evaluation focuses on impact of the project on teacher and student learning about technology use in the context of ecological research and changes in classroom practice among participating science teachers.

• Physics of Everyday Thinking (PET) and Physical Science of Everyday Thinking
  (2001-2007)
  Client: San Diego State University Foundation
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  San Diego State University is developing physics and physical science curriculum for use in college elementary science content and methods courses. SAMPI is facilitating data collection and analysis around field testing of materials.

• Problem-Based Learning to Support Professional Development in Science
  (2004-2009)
  Client: Michigan State University
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  External evaluation of a project to train elementary and middle school science teachers to use problem-based learning (PBL) as a tool to improve teaching and learning in their schools and classrooms. PBL uses a diagnostic approach developed by the medical community to solve specific instructional problems.

• Great Lakes Water Studies Institute
  (2004-2007)
  Client: Great Lakes WSI at Northwestern Michigan College
  Funder: Internal Funding

  Development and technical assistance in implementing an evaluation plan for educational and service programs provided by the Institute. Focus is on water and land resource stewardship and support of organization with environmental missions.

• Great Lakes Fishery Trust Place-Based Education Initiative - Planning
  Client: Great Lakes Fishery Trust
  Funder: Great Lakes Fishery Trust

  SAMPI is providing: evaluation technical assistance; gathering data to inform the planning process; advising on grant-making and other processes and procedures; support staff in planning for full implementation of the environmental education place-based program.

• American History Professional Development
  (2004-2007)
  Client: Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD
  Funder: U.S. Dept. of Education

  External evaluation of a professional development project for teachers focused on U.S. History in the context of regional history of northeast Michigan.

• Michigan Department of Education Teacher Quality Compliance Project
  (2003-2007)
  Client: Michigan Department of Education
  Funder: MDE

  SAMPI is developing and conducting observation training for a Lesson Observation-Interview Option by which Michigan teachers can become highly qualified according to the State requirements.

  MDE HQT webpage: http://www.wmich.edu/sampi/mdehqt.html

• Technology to Improve Social Studies: U.S. History
  (2003-2007)
  Client: Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District
  Funder: U.S. Department of Education

  A cadre of teachers will receive extensive professional development to improve the teaching and learning of American history and civics. There is an emphasis on use of technology, especially to access original documents and to develop and present student work. The evaluation is designed to determine the impact of the project on teachers and students.

• CAUSEway Professional Development Project
  (2005-2009)
  Client: Ohio State University Research Foundation
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  CAUSEway is a professional development/dissemination component of the Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education (CAUSE). The evaluation is designed to determine the impact of courses, workshops, and other professional development programming on participants. A review and evaluation of the materials developed for the programs is also included.

• Evaluation of Michigan Middle School Environmental Education Curriculum Support Project
  (2003-2007)
  Client: Central Michigan University
  Funder: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

  Through the Clean Michigan Fund, five environmental curriculum units are being developed by teams at three Michigan Universities. Professional development will then be provided to teachers across the state on the use of the materials. The evaluation includes assisting with field testing, assessing impact on teacher professional development, and conducting an impact study of the materials on a sample of students.

• Western Michigan University Student STEP Program
  (2004-2009)
  Client: WMU Colleges of Engineering and Arts and Sciences
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  Purpose of the program is to improve retention and subsequent graduate rates of WMU students enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines. The evaluation will focus on the effectiveness of various interventions designed to improve retention and graduation.

• Design Center for Science Learning
  (2003-2007)
  Client: WMU College of Engineering
  Funder: National Science Foundation and Learn and Serve America

  Purpose of the evaluation is to determine impact of Design Center activities on participants, including college students, K-12 teachers and students, and interns. Activities will be documented and developed materials will be reviewed and assessed.

• Michigan Middle School Rural Initiative
  (2005-2007)
  Client: WMU Mathematics Department
  Funder: Dow Foundation

  Technical assistance and evaluation services for a professional development project for teachers of mathematics in selected schools in northern lower Michigan. Focus is on development of mathematics content knowledge and inquiry-focused instructional strategies.

• Muskegon Math/Science Partnership
  (2004-2008)
  Client: WMU Mathematics Department
  Funder: Michigan Department of Education

  External evaluation and research associated with a middle grades (5th-8th) mathematics professional development project in three Muskegon, MI area school districts. Purpose of the program is to improve teacher mathematics content knowledge and instructional skills through school-year workshops, learning communities, and summer institutes.

• Northern Michigan Math/Science Partnership
  (2005-2007)
  Client: WMU Mathematics Department
  Funder: Michigan Department of Education

  External evaluation and research on impact of a middle and high school grades (6th - 12th) mathematics professional development project in eighteen school districts in northeastern lower Michigan. The purpose of the program is to improve teacher mathematics content knowledge and instructional skills through school-year workshops, learning communities, and summer institutes.

• Upper Peninsula Math/Science Partnership
  (2005-2007)
  Client: Dickinson-Iron ISD
  Funder: Michigan Department of Education

  External evaluation and associated comparison group study of middle and high school mathematics improvement project in districts across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A variety of needs-based professional development opportunities are being provided to teachers through five mathematics and science centers and three collaborating universities.

• Study of Inquiry-Based Science
  (2004-2009)
  Client: Mallinson Institute for Science Education
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  SAMPI is facilitating development of pre/post student tests related to inquiry-focused curriculum units and conducting observations of lessons in classrooms implementing the units. This is one component of a larger study of the effectiveness of inquiry-based science programming being conducted by Western Michigan University science education researchers.

• Fifth Grade Inquiry-Based Science Project
  (2005-2009)
  Client: Mallinson Institute for Science Education
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  This project includes the development of an assessment tool for testing undergraduate pre-service elementary teachers' pedagogical knowledge of inquiry science teaching.

• Jackson County ISD Science Project
  (2005-2007)
  Client: Spring Arbor University
  Funder: Michigan Department of Education

  Evaluation of the impact of professional development and other interventions on a cadre of science teachers from several schools in Jackson County, MI. The purpose of the program is to increase teacher science content knowledge and pedagogical skills to more effectively address the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations.

• Jackson County ISD Enhancing Student Writing through Technology
  (2006-2007)
  Client: Jackson County ISD
  Funder: Michigan Department of Education

  Provide evaluation technical assistance to determine the impact of the program on schools, teachers, and students.

• Michigan Lewis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM Disciplines
  (2005-2010)
  Client: WMU College of Engineering
  Funder: National Science Foundation

  External evaluation of a statewide effort to attract and retain underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A consortium of four major state universities are implementing a variety of strategies to encourage and support minority participation in undergraduate and graduate programming.

• Observing Science and Mathematics Lessons in K-12 Classrooms
  (1997--)
  Client: As requested
  Funder: SAMPI

  Started as a grant-funded project, refinements and additions continue.

• Mentoring Version: Observing Science and Mathematics Lessons in K-12 Classrooms
  (1997--)
  Client: As requested
  Funder: SAMPI

  Continuing development of observation instrument as a mentoring tool.

SAMPI
Western Michigan University
Mail Stop 5442
1903 West Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Telephone: (269) 387-3791
Fax: (269) 387-3770
E-mail: SAMPI@wmich.edu