Eduventures Schools of Education Learning Collaborative

The Schools of Education Learning Collaborative (SOE-LC) is designed to help leaders at schools of education address ongoing challenges for reform regarding standards, curriculum, funding, and other areas. Eduventures understands the importance of assisting schools of education leaders in establishing benchmarks, creating transparency, and demonstrating the impact of their programs. Eduventures provides insight and direction to identify best management practices, to benchmark performance, and to improve core processes through research, analysis, and networking opportunities.

The Collaborative provides Learning Collaborative Research, Custom Analysis, Annual Meetings, and other opportunities for interactions with our analysts as well as decision-makers at peer institutions. Research is organized into four tracks: recruiting and serving students, managing faculty, demonstrating accountability, and managing operations.

Each year, the Schools of Education Learning Collaborative undertakes two major Learning Collaborative Research investigations to examine issues of importance to the entire membership. These member-driven investigations are developed and executed by the membership; SOE-LC members may also assist in these projects by providing survey lists, benchmark data, and best practices examples.

Upcoming SOE-LC research studies for 2007-2008 include:

Common Indicators for Schools of Education
This study reviews state and federal policies that impact schools of education, schools of education characteristics, and outcomes measures in use or being developed – all with the purpose of understanding the impact that the regulatory environment and institutional characteristics have on student outcomes. The findings of this study will help SOE-LC members understand how their state policy environment differs from other states; how their program offerings, faculty, and students fit into the national context; and to identify innovative outcomes measures, assessments, and processes. By providing an in-depth examination of these issues, this research will enable SOE-LC members to influence policymakers, benchmark against other peers, and consider the utility of various outcomes measures.

Assessing Effective P-12 Partnerships
This case analysis project focuses on examining members’ partnerships with local P-12 schools. The investigation assesses the impact of members’ programs on pupil performance at their partner schools and describes how data on pupil performance can be used to improve members’ programs. The results of this investigation are designed to assist members in identifying promising practices for achieving increased pupil performance and in demonstrating the impact of programming to university leaders, policymakers, and other external constituencies.

In addition to the Learning Collaborative Research studies, SOE-LC members are able to explore Learning Collaborative Research in greater detail or specificity through targeted analysis, inquiry, or analyst discussion.

Here are some examples of how SOE-LC members have taken advantage of their Learning Collaborative membership to more deeply explore specific areas of interest:

Serving Students

• Creating Professional Development Offerings to Serve Regional School Districts
• Assessing Student Demand for an Online Master’s Degree in Education

Managing Faculty

• Common Indicators and Benchmarks of Faculty Productivity

Managing Operations

• Identification of Best Practices in Marketing, Enrollment, and Recruiting
• Structuring Research Support Services for Faculty and Students

Demonstrating Accountability

• Measuring Teacher Success – A Review of the Field
• Alumni Success in the Workplace – How are We Doing?

Please contact us to explore how membership in Eduventures Schools of Education Learning Collaborative can help you make better, more-informed decisions.