SV-2005-0008 School Connectivity Program (SCP) Questionnaire for U.S.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

For OMB Approval under Information Collection #1405-0158

School Connectivity Program (SCP)

Questionnaire for U.S. Teachers

Introduction:

The sponsors of the School Connectivity Program (SCP) are interested in your experiences and views on the programs, their activities, and how they might be improved. Therefore, the Office of Policy and Evaluation of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which sponsors the SCP, has contracted Aguirre International, an independent research firm, to conduct an evaluation to learn about your experiences.

Please note that the U.S. Department of State sponsors multiple School Connectivity Programs (SCP) in different parts of the world. Although the programs have the same basic structure and goals, the projects differ somewhat in their implementation, terminology, and services, which may be apparent in this survey. We appreciate your assistance in this effort and the time you are giving us.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only aggregated statistical information will be reported. No individual level data will be released by Aguirre International.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey. We expect the completion time to be approximately twenty-five (25) minutes. In order to verify this estimate, we will ask you at the end of the survey to record the actual completion time. Please answer each question to the best of your ability.

Thank you for your participation.

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Statements:

The information solicited on this survey is requested pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-62) and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act (22 U.S.C. 2451, et seq.). In order to ensure that the U.S. Department of State’s international exchange programs meet statutory program requirements (22 U.S.C. 2460(c)), the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) regularly monitors the programs, gathers data about program accomplishments, and evaluates selected ones. ECA uses the information collected to inform program design, management, and funding. All personal information that is collected through surveys is considered confidential. All responses are coded to ensure the confidentiality of individual responses. Data collected under this study will not be shared, sold, or used for fundraising purposes. Survey data and findings will be used only in an aggregate form for the express purposes of fulfilling the data needs of the outcome assessment. Responses to this survey are voluntary.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average twenty-five (25) minutes to respond to this survey, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Please send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to: A/RPS/DIR, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520.

1. Are you, or were you once, involved in SCP program activities of any kind?

 Yes, I am currently involved in SCP activities

 No, I am not currently involved in SCP activities I but once was

 I have never been involved in SCP activities (Exit Survey)

2. What year did you become involved in SCP program activities? ______

3. What year did you become a teacher? ______

4. What subject(s) do you teach? Please select all that apply.

Social Studies/History (01) English/ESL (02) Art (03)	Math (06) Science (07) Foreign Language (08)
Computer Science (04) Literature (05)	Other: _________ (09)

5. What grades do you teach?

 Elementary School (1^st to 6^th grades) (01)

 Junior High (7^th, 8^th and 9^th grades) (02)

 High School (10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades) (03)

6. (OE) Please describe WHERE you learned about the SCP program.

7. (OE) Please describe WHY you decided to become involved.

8. Have you worked with a partner school or schools overseas on any SCP activities? Please select one response.

Yes (01) 

No (02)  (Exit Survey)

9. In what country (or countries) is the partner school located? Please select all that apply.

Azerbaijan (01) Albania (02) Armenia (03) Bosnia-Herzegovina (04) Kosovo (05)

Serbia and Montenegro (06) Tajikistan (07) Uzbekistan (08) Other (please specify) _____________

10. Approximately how many students and teachers at your school (including yourself) are currently participating in SCP activities?

1. Students: __________

2. Teachers: __________

11. Approximately how many students and teachers at your school (including yourself) have participated in SCP activities at some point?

1. Students:________

2. Teachers: ________

12. Have you recommended involvement in SCP activities to other teachers or educators?

 Yes (01)

 No (02); Why not?

13. When are the majority of SCP activities conducted? Please select one response.

 Before and/or after school hours (01)

 During school hours (02)

 Both during AND after school (03)

14. Are SCP activities part of students’ formal coursework?

 Yes (01)

 No (02)

 Sometimes (please explain) ___________________________________

15. Due to your participation in SCP activities, do you feel…

1. that you access the Internet more often ?  Yes (01)  No (02)

2. that your computer skills have improved?  Yes (01)  No (02)

16. Since your participation in SCP activities began, have you had the opportunity to do MORE of the following?

		YES (01)	NO (02)
a.	Use information technology in the classroom		
b.	Introduce more cross-cultural learning activities to my students		
c.	Apply project-based learning principles		

17. Please rate the OVERALL support that your school’s administration has provided you for SCP activities. Please select one response.

Excellent (01)	Very Good (02)	Good (03)	Not Very Good (04)	Poor (05)	Don’t Know (09)
					

18. What additional support would you have liked to receive from your school’s administration? Please select all that apply.

 Reduced class load to spend more time on SCP activities

 Ability to travel to regional conferences, workshops or exchanges

 Additional computers for SCP activities

 School announcements about the SCP program

 Assistance organizing exchange at school

 Other, please specify:

SCP ACTIVITIES

19. As a teacher, what activities have you administered and/or participated in through SCP? Please select all that apply.

	Activity	Did not participate in this type of activity (09)	Within your school (01)	With a school overseas (02)	With another school in the U.S. (03)
a.	Online forums/projects or discussions				
b.	Hosted a SCP student from another country				
b.	Website development				
c.	Online courses				
d.	Special presentations				
e.	Research projects with students				
f.	Research projects with other teachers				
g.	Own research projects				
h.	Other (please specify) _____				

20. Please select three topics that were discussed in your most substantial SCP activities. Please select up to three.

 Local community issues or local government (01)

 Culture, religion or history (02)

 International or national current events (03)

 Ethnic and race relations (04)

 Conflict resolution (05)

 Education (06)

 Environment/natural resources (07)

 Popular culture (movies, music) and sports (08)

 American studies, holidays, etc. (09)

 English (10)

 Health (11)

 Issues affecting vulnerable groups (the disabled, refugees, etc) (12)

 Gender issues (13)

 Ethics (14)

 Information and Communication technologies, including Internet (15)

 Other (16)

21. Do you feel you were able to transfer civics-related knowledge to teachers in SCP countries?

 Yes (01)

 No (02)

22. How satisfied were you with the communication platform (i.e. the online space provided by Project Harmony, Relief International, or Catholic Relief Services) you used to participate in online SCP activities?

 Very Satisfied

 Satisfied

 Less Satisfied; Please explain:

 Not Satisfied at All; Please explain:

23. Did you receive formal training on how to use the communication platform?

 Yes (01)

 No (02) (Skip to # 25)

24. How satisfied were you with the training you received on the communication platform?

 Very Satisfied

 Satisfied

 Less Satisfied; Please explain:

 Not Satisfied at All; Please explain:

25. How satisfied were you with the format of the online forums/discussions?

 Very Satisfied

 Satisfied

 Less Satisfied; Please explain:

 Not Satisfied at All; Please explain:

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND PARTICIPANT REFLECTIONS

26. To what extent have the activities with the students, teachers, and other individuals you met through your participation in SCP activities helped you gain a better understanding of their culture or society? Please select one response.

To a Large Extent (01)	To Some Extent (02)	To a Small Extent (03)	Not At All (09)
			

27. In your opinion, to what extent have your students adopted a better understanding of other countries and their cultures by participating in SCP activities? Please select one response.

To a Large Extent (01)	To Some Extent (02)	To a Small Extent (03)	Not At All (04)	Don’t Know/ Not Applicable (09)
				

28. How would you rate your interest in international issues before your participation in SCP activities and now?

		Very Interested (01)	Interested (02)	Somewhat Interested (03)	Not Interested (04)	Don’t Know/ Not Applicable (09)
a.	Before Program					
b.	Now					

29. Are you planning on organizing and/or participating in SCP activities in the future?

 Yes (01)

 No (02); Why not?

30. As a result of participating in SCP, you may have developed relationships or linkages with other teachers, students, administrators, etc. How likely are you to continue these relationships once your participation in the program ends?

 Very Likely (04)

 Likely (03)

 Not Very Likely (02)

 Not At All (01)

31. What recommendations can you offer to increase the involvement of U.S. teachers in SCP activities?

TEACHER CONFERENCE/ WORKSHOPS & EXCHANGES

32. Have you attended a national, regional, and/or international workshop or conference sponsored by SCP? Please select one response.

Yes (01)   No (02) (Skip to #35)

33. What activities did you lead and/or participate in at the workshop or conference?

34. What did you gain from attending the workshop or conference that you could not have gained from solely participating in online activities?

35. Have you participated in an overseas exchange through SCP? Please select one response.

 Yes (01)  No (02) (Skip to #41)

36. What country (or countries) did you travel to?

Azerbaijan (01) Albania (02) Armenia (03) Bosnia-Herzegovina (04) Kosovo (07)

Serbia and Montenegro (11) Tajikistan (12) Uzbekistan (13) Other (please specify) _____________

37. What activities did you take part in during your visit? Please select one response for each item.

		Yes (01)	No (02)
a.	Provided training to in-country teachers		
b.	Taught a class or led a lesson in collaboration with an in-country teacher
c.	Homestay with a local family		
d.	Cultural Activities		
e.	Site visits to schools and school districts		
f.	Meetings with community and/or government leaders		
g.	Gave a presentation on my country and customs		
h.	Participated in a community service project		

38. After you returned to the U.S., did you begin work on a follow-up joint project with the students and/or teachers you met during the exchange? Please select one response.

 Yes (01)  No (02)

39. Please assess how much your participation in online collaborative projects with overseas schools, students and/or teachers has increased since your return to the United States. Please select one response.

To a Large Degree (01)	To Some Degree (02)	To a Small Degree (03)	Not At All (04)
			

40. What do you feel you gained from participating in the physical exchange that you did not gain from participating in online exchanges?

INDICATOR QUESTIONS

41. You will notice that the questions below use the phrases “exchange program” and “exchange experience.” This is meant to include both online exchanges you may have had with students and/or teachers outside of your school or any travel you’ve done or visits you’ve made as part of the School Connectivity Program. Please select one response for each item.

		Yes (01)	No (02)
a.	Have you remained in contact with people you met during your exchange program?		
b.	Have you established or continued professional collaborations that grew out of your exchange experience?		
c.	As a result of your exchange experience, have you or your organization established a formal, institutional relationship with another organization?		

42. Have you used the knowledge or experience gained in the program to initiate any of these formal or informal changes in your organization or work? Please select one response for each item.

		Yes (01)	No (02)
a.	Increased volunteer activities/community service		
b.	Founded an NGO or new organization		
c.	Introduced new ideas and knowledge		
d.	Introduced initiatives, new ways of doing things		
e.	Established new exchanges		
f.	Tried to influence public opinion about the United States through the media		
g.	Established joint ventures, organizational partnerships, or linkages		
h.	Introduced new policies or procedures		
i.	Introduced new curricula, pedagogical methods, or educational standards		
k.	Became elected or appointed to a local, regional or national government position		
l.	Proposed, wrote, and/or passed a new law or treaty		

43. As a direct result of your participation in the exchange program, have you done or received any of the following at work? Please check one response for each item.

		Yes (01)	No (02)
a.	Higher level of responsibilities or leadership in the same job		
b.	Organized or initiate new activities or projects in the same job		
c.	New, more responsible job		
d.	Increased salary/wages		

44. As a direct result of your participation in the exchange program, have you done or received any of the following in your community? Please check one response for each item.

		Yes (01)	No (02)
a.	Assumed a leadership role or position in your community		
b.	Organized or initiate new activities or projects in your community		
c.	Established a new organization in your community?		

45. Have you shared your SCP program experience or the knowledge that you gained through the program in any of the following ways? Please check one response in each row.

	Yes (01)	No (02)
Participated in media interviews (newspaper, television, radio, internet)		
Gave presentations to community, neighborhood, school or university groups		
Wrote newspapers articles, including editorials and opinion pieces.		
Wrote academic books		
Wrote non-academic books		
Wrote academic articles—for journals or academic publications		
Other (please write in):		

46. Please rate your satisfaction with the following program components. Please select one response for each item.

		Very Dissatisfied (01)	Dissatisfied (02)	Neutral (03)	Satisfied (04)	Very Satisfied (05)
a.	Administration					
b.	Content					
c.	Variety of Experiences					
d.	Relevance of program to professional or educational development					

DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS

47. Sex:  Male (01)  Female (02)

48. Year of Birth _ _ _ _

49. I currently reside in (or reside most of the time) a:

 Small city, town or rural location (100,000 – 499,999) (01)

 Medium size city (500,000 – 1,499,999) (02)

 Large size city (1,500,000 -2,999,999) (03)

 Very large size city (3,000,000 or greater) (04)

50. Home State:

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY? ________ MINUTES

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION

SV-2005-0008 OMB No.: 1405-0158

Expiration Date: 02/29/2008

Estimated Burden: 25 minutes