Center for Research, Evaluation,
Assessment and Measurement
CREAM
The Center for Research, Evaluation, Assessment and Measurement
(CREAM) is a Type III center located within the Department
of Educational Measurement and Research. The primary mission
of CREAM is to:
promote excellence in research and practice
through supportive collaboration and partnerships across the University
and in the community.
CREAM is a non-profit agency that achieves its mission through
collaborative work with schools, colleges and community partners
on a variety of research and evaluation projects. Some of the benefits
of CREAM are the following:
-
Interdisciplinary Collaboration.
The faculty, staff, and graduate students from the Department
of Educational Measurement and Research form the core of the
Center. For many projects they expand the Center’s talent
and experience by inviting faculty and graduate students to
join them from other departments within the College and from
Colleges across the University. Currently they are collaborating
with faculty and students from the Departments of Educational
Technology, Special Education, Adult Education, and Reading.
They have also teamed with faculty from the Colleges of Arts
and Sciences (Information Science, Music, and the School of
Library and Information Science), Engineering, Medicine, and
Public Health.
-
Seeking Solutions to Practical
Educational Problems through Evaluation and Research.
The Center focuses on educational projects such as evaluating
various curricular programs in P-12 schools, evaluating classroom
practices in schools and in higher education, evaluating the
training and preparation of teachers and faculty, evaluating
various technology initiatives, conducting research on “best
practices” in classical pedagogies and innovative technologies
in instruction, and conducting research on measurement instruments
and procedures and on evaluation models appropriate for the
variety of studies undertaken. The projects underway represent
a wide variety of concerns and interests, and the following
are just a sample.
-
Innovations in Technology and Teaching.
Evaluating the implementation of a congressional award for
planning and developing innovative, campus-wide teaching technologies.
This evaluation and research project spans seven semesters
and three different colleges, and includes, among other projects,
the development of totally distant graduate degree programs.
-
Research Experiences for Teachers.
Evaluating a National Science Foundation grant awarded to
the College of Engineering for secondary school teachers over
the next three summers. The CREAM team is working with program
managers on appropriate criteria and procedures for selecting
candidates, evaluating program effectiveness for both participating
teachers and their students, and identifying strengths and
areas of concern within the program.
-
PreKindergarten Program Impact Study.
Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the CREAM Team
gathered program effectiveness data from parents, faculty
and community members for a suburban/rural school district’s
early childhood program. The objective of the study is to
inform program managers about the program’s short and
long term impact on the participants and their families.
-
Evaluation of Science Curriculum.
Evaluating the effectiveness of two alternative science curricula
in two school districts at the elementary and secondary levels.
Both projects will span three years and include instrument
development and psychometric analysis, assessment of curriculum
effectiveness on both student and teacher perceptions of science,
and the impact of the curriculum on student achievement.
-
Needs Assessment for the University Quality Enhancement
Plan. Reviewing current University policies
and practices to identify appropriate direction(s) for ensuring
students are receiving the education and achieving the skills
needed to enter the workforce upon graduation. CREAM Team
members are investigating current undergraduate programs,
the extent to which coursework is preparing students, and
how well courses are meeting University standards.
These projects are samples of the types of projects undertaken
by CREAM. We typically have a dozen active projects with another
dozen in the proposal and acquisition stages. The wide variety of
projects provide graduate students with opportunities to practice
the skills and techniques they are acquiring in coursework, to share
their skills and learn from a variety of students and faculty, and
to obtain first hand experiences with the different types of work
they can expect to undertake when they finish their degree programs.
Furthermore, the work done by the Center supports the University’s
mission as well as meeting the needs of educators and students.
For futher information, please contact:
Melinda R. Hess, Ph.D., Director
Center for Research, Evaluation, Assessment and Measurement
4202 E. Fowler Ave, EDU 162
Tampa, FL 33620-7750
(813) 974-7668
mhess@tempest.coedu.usf.edu
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