Internet Community of Design Engineers (iCODE) Final Evaluation Report

Internet Community of Design Engineers (iCODE) program, which took an innovative approach to structuring self-directed learning –– using a collaborative on-line environment to facilitate hands-on activities, was a three year program led by the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Machine Science Inc., Cambridge. The overall objective of this program, which involved after-school and summer sessions and was funded by NSF’’s Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Program, was to increase the likelihood that participating middle school and high school students will pursue Information Technology (IT) and Science-Technology-Engineering-Math (STEM) careers, by engaging them in intensive, hands-on IT learning experiences.

Goodman Research Group, Inc. (GRG), a research firm in Cambridge, MA that specializes in the evaluation of educational programs and materials, conducted the external process and summative evaluation of the iCODE project. GRG’’s evaluation involved collecting data over the three years of the program. During each year of the program, GRG collected data from various sources to examine iCODE implementation and to relate program processes to outcomes. These data collection procedures included pre and post surveys, focus groups, and content quizzes for students, interviews and surveys of educators, and site observations conducted by GRG researchers.