An Evaluation Perspective on CAISE

The Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) is mid-way through year five of a five-year cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The NSF funded CAISE in 2007 in order to serve as a resource center to the informal science education (ISE) program, its grantees, and the larger ISE field. Inverness Research has served as the external evaluator for the past five years, documenting the development of CAISE, and the quality and value of its work to key audiences and stakeholders.

This report is a reflection on the progress of CAISE that draws upon our extensive interaction with and monitoring of CAISE as it has evolved. In this report we:
- Describe how CAISE has changed and continues to evolve
- Describe the major work strands of CAISE
- Provide our own assessment of the progress and potential of these work strands
- Provide an overview and assessment of CAISE as an organization
- Propose reflections on the ways that CAISE can continue to evolve and add value to NSF, the PIs and the broader ISE field