PBS TeacherLine Evaluation

— About the Study

Is there a Link between Online Teacher Professional Development and Student Achievement? Your classroom may hold the answer.

The goal of the research is to determine whether and how instructional practice and student outcomes are impacted by teachers' participation in math-related online courses available through TeacherLine. Data collection methods include classroom observations, online surveys, review of teaching materials, and analysis of test scores. Teachers will earn an honorarium for their participation.

What You Need to Know About TeacherLine

Funded through the US Department of Education's Ready to Teach program, PBS TeacherLine offers standards-based online courses to teachers nationwide. TeacherLine courses are facilitated modules and self-paced learning opportunities that teachers can access anytime, anywhere.

The online courses include a one-day face-to-face meeting with facilitators and classmates, followed by six weeks of online discussions and assignments, and a final face-to-face meeting to share projects.

How the study works

Selected participants must be teachers of grades 3-5 and will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 cohorts. Teachers in Cohort 1 will participate in two math-related TeacherLine courses during the 2004-2005 school year. The courses include:

If you are assigned to Cohort 2, you will be asked to participate in the data collection; however, you will not take any TeacherLine courses.

As a participant in this study, what kind of data will you be asked to provide?

All teachers will be observed 3 times during the 2004-05 school year by a member of the research team. We will ask you to complete a survey of your instructional approach. We will also ask you to administer content knowledge tests to your students at the beginning and end of the school year.

Honorarium

All teachers will receive an honorarium for their time and insights: Teachers in Cohort 1 will receive $400 per online course completed. Members of Cohort 2 will receive $150. There is also a possiblity of graduate credit and/or CEU's for those taking the TeacherLine courses.

About the Hezel Alliance

The Hezel Alliance utilizes the combined resources of Hezel Associates, The Education Alliance and Syrtis.

Hezel Associates
Hezel Associates has worked with local, state and national clients in 30 states across the nation, providing services including education research, benchmark studies, strategic plans, evaluations and state educational technology assessments. For more information click here.

The Education Alliance
Syrtis, Syracuse University

PBS TeacherLine