Hezel Associates Digest
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National University Telecommunications Network Recognizes Richard Hezel for Contributions to the Field of Education Technology
President Receives J.O. Grantham Leadership Award
The
National University Telecommunications Network (NUTN) announced the 2006
recipients of its annual awards at NUTN 2006 in Minneapolis, MN, including
Dr. Dr. Richard T. Hezel who received the J.O. Grantham Leadership Award,
named for the organization’s founder, which recognizes strong leadership
in NUTN and in the education technologies field. The J.O. Grantham
Leadership Award, goes to an individual who demonstrates strong leadership
in both NUTN and in the general field of education technology. Janis
L. Hall, chair of the NUTN Advisory Board and director of the Washington
Higher Education Telecommunications System (WHETS) at Washington State
University said Hezel is always willing to help out and he has contributed
in a variety of ways. Hezel is president of the education consulting
firm Hezel Associates and an active member of NUTN.
Storandt Named Research and Evaluation Manager
Barbara C. Storandt was recently promoted to research and evaluation manager. In her new position, Storandt will manage the evaluation process for VITAL, a set of instructional resources developed by PBS Channel Thirteen WNET. In her capacity as research and evaluation manager, Storandt coordinates all activities related to the VITAL project including data collection and analysis using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, supervising research assistants, writing reports and representing Hezel Associates as the project’s evaluator in many capacities.
Hezel Associates Study Examines Link Between Customized Learning Plans and Student Achievement in New York Schools
Hezel Associates begins its second year of external evaluation next month on instructional materials designed to help New York State teachers improve their students’ performance.
The project, Video in Teaching and Learning (VITAL), provides teachers in grades three through eight with video-based instructional resources developed by PBS Channel Thirteen/WNET New York. As the external evaluator, Hezel Associates will measure the outcomes and the impact of VITAL through a study of fourth- and fifth-grade teachers using the instructional resources. The materials will link New York State academic standards in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) with state test scores. Hezel Associates will explore teachers’ use of the materials and provide data to enhance VITAL’s role as an instructional accomplice.
The VITAL study will take place during the 2006-2007 school year. Selected
teacher focus groups will test VITAL materials embedded in The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill’s
online New York Teacher Report (Grow Reports), which provides customized
student performance results from standardized tests in Math and ELA. When
released statewide, teachers will have free access to the video-based resources
through the Grow Reports and through the New York State Education Department’s
Virtual Learning System. Thirteen/WNET New York expects VITAL to become
available to public school teachers across New York State in 2008.
For further details about Hezel Associates’ VITAL study, visit www.hezel.com/vital
In
a move sure to alter the way distance education measures quality, the National
University Telecommunications Network (NUTN), Hezel Associates and Cisco
Systems today released an innovative tool for quality assessment. The Interactive
Quality Assessment Tool (IQAT) debuted at NUTN 2006. IQAT
(pronounced I-Kat) is a web-based instrument designed by assessment and
distance education experts. IQAT will facilitate consistent benchmarking
across multiple institutions through sets of shared data groups. NUTN
and Hezel Associates developed the tool in response to findings from
a study last year on benchmarking in distance education. The study pinpointed
the need for a means of systematic program review.
“Systematic performance measurement is not a universal process,” said
Carole Hayes,
Coordinator of Student Support and Program Evaluation at Florida State
University. “IQAT is well positioned to both lead and continuously
respond to the processes necessary to describe, define, and improve online
instruction. It requires reflection on processes and outcomes and provides
a vocabulary that will continue to evolve.”
This debut bears great significance to distance learning.
To learn more about IQAT visit www.iqat.org or call Melissa Fleishman, IQAT affiliate relations manager, at 1-866-395-IQAT.
Hezel Associates is weighing in on education’s hot topics. Look for members of the Hezel team at these upcoming conferences.
- Continuing Education Association of NY (CEANY), October 26-28, Syracuse, NY
- Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) Annual Conference, October 28-31, Los Angeles, CA
- American Evaluation Association, October 30-November 4, Portland, OR
- WCET Annual Event, November 1-4, Portland, OR
- Sloan-C International Conference, November 8-10, Orlando, FL
- NorthStar Education Finance and Investment Summit, December 10-12, Washington, DC
Get the latest conference news for the education sector - check out our events page and conference listings.
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