The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) within the U.S. Department of Education is proposing data collection activity as part of the What Works Clearinghouse Feedback Task. The task and its associated efforts are being undertaken by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES), and is being conducted by Mathematica Policy Research. The intended purpose of the Department of Education (ED), Institute of Education Sciences (IES) WWC feedback task is to collect feedback from users on the relevance, timeliness, quality, and ease of use of the products associated with the What Works Clearinghouse website. The results of the data collection will be used to inform improvements in ED program products and services for its customers. The WWC provides educators, policymakers, and the public with a central and trusted source of scientific evidence of what works in education. The WWC aims to make findings from education research easy and accessible through its searchable online repository of intervention reports, single study reviews, and practice guides. There are thousands of empirical studies that claim to identify effective instructional approaches, many using complicated research methods and statistical analyses. This research often yields conflicting results, leaving educators wondering which approach to take. Given the large volume of education research and significant variation in quality, principals and other educators need help identifying reliable research and interpreting findings. Using systematic review processes and evidence standards, the WWC reviews all the research on a topic to identify the most rigorous studies and synthesize the findings from high-quality education research.
The WWC has developed three new products that focus on utilizing the WWC and the WWC resources when making key decisions in education. First, the WWC will produce and is developing several videos that describe the purpose of the WWC or how to understand specific materials on the website. For example, the WWC has already released a video that addresses how to select a mathematics curriculum. The WWC also developed practice guide summaries which consolidate the information from practice guides into an 8â10 page summary that presents expert recommendations from the field, along with tips on implementing the recommendations. The WWC has already released two of these summaries â Teaching Math to Young Children and Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers. Finally, topical blasts consolidate WWC content relevant to a specific education topic. E-mails direct users to a dedicated landing page containing links to the relevant content. Findings from the case studies of these topics will be used to improve these and other WWC products going forward. The WWC feedback task will include the following data collection methods: focus groups with WWC users, user feedback web surveys, and data analytics.
US Code:
50 USC 171(b)
Name of Law: Education Sciences Research Act of 2002
There is an increase of hours (program change) due to the number of responses have increased from the previous collection, mainly due the web survey, and the addition of new formative feedback instruments.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
IES Response to Public Comment from 30-day notice.docx
What Works Clearinghouse Formative Feedback