GLOBE Mission Earth Evaluation: Design, Practice and Future Directions

GLOBE Mission EARTH (GME) is a collaboration among GLOBE (Global Observation to Benefit the Environment) Partners across the United States. GME focuses on engaging K-16 teachers and students, especially those underrepresented in STEM careers, in authentic science experiences. The program brings together scientists, science educators, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to engage K-16 educators with GLOBE and NASA-infused learning materials and experiences. Its team consists of 5 geographically distributed universities and research institutions that have have conducted professional development and supported teachers throughout each year to facilitate the embedding of GLOBE and NASA resources into teachers' curricula. The evaluation of the first five-year phase of the program has been a continuous process to examine implementation results and identify opportunities for improvement moving forward. A broad set of data collection tools include a diagnostic component (needs assessment for teachers, capacity assessment for the schools) and an assessment of implementation component (for example, surveys for teachers, pre-and post-tests for students, classroom observations, teacher interviews, student projects). Many of the measurement instruments that have been used are validated ones, and the GME Evaluation Working Group has developed some to serve the program needs. A mixed-methods approach and data triangulation, with the collection of data from multiple sources, have been applied to provide evidence-based information that can be incorporated on time in the decision-making processes. Reflecting the evaluation findings, lessons learned from the GME collective and individual partner efforts, a set of additions and adjustments that build upon the ones of the year 1-5 phase of the program have been identified. GME evaluation findings and future directions for GME 2.0 (years 6-10) are presented here.