The LEAD Center
February 1998
Vol. 7 No. 2
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Arrow IMAGE The Learning Through Evaluation, Adaptation and Dissemination Center

Mission

The LEAD Center provides evaluation research support for educational reform efforts at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Center helps to enact the Chancellor's UW-Madison Vision for the Future by creating horizontal links across departments, programs and institutions involved in educational reform projects, thus fostering a learning community among participants.

The LEAD Center is the first of its kind in the nation, and is faculty-driven and student focused in its assessment approach.

The LEAD Center:

L assists faculty and staff who seek information about how to foster effective student learning environments by
E documenting what works by conducting evaluation and assessment research on student learning processes and outcomes,
A helping faculty and staff understand the organizational/cultural issues involved in scaling up and adapting successful education reform approaches, and
D disseminating evaluation and adaptation research findings for use locally and nationally.

Funding

All LEAD Center work is funded by grants secured through client/LEAD Center partnerships or otherwise provided by clients. Typically, prospective clients work with LEAD Project Area directors to (I ) develop evaluation designs that meet client needs and (2) apply for funding for LEAD to implement an evaluation design. In some cases, LEAD evaluation teams include department/college staff seeking on-the-job training in evaluation research methods.

Evaluation Services

  • Designing -- LEAD staff assist in designing the evaluation portion of project proposals.
  • Conducting Evaluation -- LEAD evaluations generally are designed to:
    • provide clients with feedback while a program/activity is being implemented to inform faculty decisions about mid-course improvements, and
    • provide summative findings, both for final reporting purposes and to support further improvements.
  • Consulting -- LEAD staff consult on adaptation processes important for institutionalizing proven new methods.
  • Reporting -- Evaluation results are presented in a report format that is tailored to client needs.
  • Training- On-the-job training may be provided in LEAD evaluation and analysis techniques.

Methods

LEAD Center work is notable for its combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and analysis. Where possible, we collect multiple sources of information and use multiple researchers to enhance triangulation during the analysis process. Our information-gathering methods include: surveys; open-ended structured interviews; observations and video recordings of classrooms and labs; creation of longitudinal student databases; and faculty and student documents. Our analysis processes articulate patterns that emerge inductively from our various data sources to provide insight into the effectiveness of various educational reforms.

Center Leadership

The LEAD Center is directed by an anthropologist with more than ten years of experience in higher education and evaluation research, and staffed by full-time professionals.

The Center is advised by the LEAD Deans' Advisory Board, including the following UW-Madison Deans:

John Bollinger, chair Engineering
Phillip Certain Letters & Science
Joseph Corry Chancellor's Office
Virginia Hinshaw Graduate School
Vivian Littlefield Nursing
Andrew Policano Business
Charles Read Education
Neal Jorgensen Agricultural & Life Sciences

and the LEAD Faculty Advisory Board, including the following UW-Madison faculty:

James Taylor, chair Chemistry
Alan Attie Biochemistry
Ann Burgess Director, Biocore
Anne Condon Computer Science
Arthur Ellis Chemistry
Patrick Farrell Mechanical Engineering
Alan Knox Continuing & Vocational Ed./ Chair, Teaching Academy
Cora Marett Sociology / Wisconsin Ctr. for Educational Research
Millard Susman Genetics/Director of the Center for Biology Education
John Wright Chemistry

For a list of LEAD Center publications and current project descriptions, contact:

Valerie Loubet, Administrator
Telephone: (608) 265-5920
Fax: (608) 265-5923
E-Mail: LEAD@engr.wisc.edu

For LEAD project information and proposals, contact:

Susan Millar, Director
Telephone: (608) 265-5943 Fax: (608) 265-5923 E-Mail: smillar@engr.wisc.edu

For LEAD information on the web, see: http://www.engr.wisc.edu/~lead


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