- What was proposed to be done?
- How was it planned?
- Is it being done as planned?
- Is the program successful?
- To what degree are K-12 teachers, counselors, and administrators satisfied with the content and quality of LFO seminars and the center services? (Reaction Level)
- To what degree did K-12 teachers, counselors, and administrators understand the need to incorporate LFO modules in life sciences classes and career counseling? (Learning Level)
- To what degree are K-12 teachers, counselors, and administrators incorporating LFO modules in life sciences classes and career counseling? (Behavior Level)
- How many new LFO courses, modules, lessons, and career guidance sessions have been added in K-12 schools, and how many students have attended? (Results Level)
- Does the curriculum prepare students for current and real-life occupations in lasers, optics, photonics, and fiber optics?
- Does the curriculum effectively address critical job tasks and competencies validated by the industry?
- Does the curriculum include comprehensive instructional tools?
- Does the curriculum adequately measure performance criteria for assessing learning outcomes?
The LASER-TEC management team performs internal evaluations and regularly meets with the external evaluator to discuss the goals, objectives, tasks and map them on the logic diagram. The evaluation plan includes the collection of data for a continuous formative and summative evaluation conducted at the end of each year. The external evaluator regularly provides feedback to the management team if immediate corrective actions are required.
A formal summative evaluation report is developed and submitted to the National Vising Committee (NVC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) at the end of each year. The main purpose of the summative evaluation is to help the LASER-TEC management team and the NVC assess annual results and to recommend changes or realignment of goals and objectives for the following year if required.
The external evaluator is responsible for creating the evaluation instruments, scripts for telephone interviews, and other evaluation tools. The Center’s staff disseminates the evaluation instruments and collects data. The results are sent back to the evaluator for analysis and report preparation. The evaluator reports back to the management team and suggests changes in execution, activities, or objectives based on the evaluation findings.
Currently, Dr. Fraser Dalgleish serves as LASER-TEC’s external evaluator. Before joining L3Harris Technologies as a Senior Scientist, Dr. Dalgleish was a Director of the Ocean Visibility and Optics Laboratory at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University. Fraser has been actively involved in grant-funded multi-million projects and has built extensive evaluation experience. He has developed a comprehensive evaluation plan that constitutes the identification of necessary impact indicators for a continuous improvement of the Center.
