evaluation research for the ct program in haredi preschools final version 15 9 14

Dr. Edith Manny-Ikan, Ravit Efrati

September2014

The Henrietta Szold Institute

The Creative Thinking (CT) Program

Main Evaluation Findings

“The children come from a

weak

background… hard

working families.

They do not participate in

enrichment

activities beyond

preschool...

This program allows them

to be exposed

to new content they'll

never reach otherwise

and they really need it”

(Teacher 5, Second Year)

The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

In a nutshell.…

Program Level

• Program Implementation

• Program Sustainability

Child Level

• Responses• Contribution

(engagement, curiosity, dialogue)

Teacher Level• Attitude• Integration and

Implementation

Community Level

• Parents’ cooperation and attitudes


Research Topics

Observations

Teacher Training (n=2)

Preschools (n=8)

Questionnaires

Teachers (n=25)

Parents (n=332)

Interviews

Teachers (n=8)

CT Program Facilitators (n=2)

Developmental Teacher Assistants (n=2)

Program Managers (n=2)


Research Tools

Preschool Teachers (N=25)

Overall satisfaction

Children's enjoyment

Facilitator's attitude

Variety of content

Guidance given by the facilitator

Adjustment to religious values

Adjustment to childrens' age

100%

100%

96%

92%

88%

87%

83%

4%

8%

13%

13%

17%

Moderately agree Highly agree


Satisfying Aspects of the CT program

The Impact of the Program on the ChildrenPreschool Teachers (N=25)


Exposure to scientific topics

Enjoyment from scientific topics

Acquisition of scientific concepts

Fostering creative thinking

Fostering interest and curiosity in scientific phenomena

Ability to link scientific phenomena to everyday life

Comprehension of scientific laws and principles

8%

8%

9%

13%

17%

21%

29%

92%

92%

91%

87%

83%

75%

67%

0.0416666666666667

0.0416666666666667

Slightly agree Moderatly agree Highly agree

The Impact of the Program on the ChildrenParents (N= 290)


Enjoyment from scientific topics

Exposure to scientific topics

Fostering interest and curiosity in scientific phenomena

Acquisition of scientific concepts

Comprehension of scientific laws and principles

Ability to link scientific phenomena to everyday life

7%

8%

8%

10%

7%

10%

14%

15%

19%

18%

22%

26%

79%

77%

73%

72%

72%

64%


The Impact of the Program on the Parents


72% participated in 2 workshops

74% received ideas for activities to do at home and 58% tried them

94% were highly satisfied with the workshops

95% would like to participate in future workshops

The Contribution of the Training WorkshopsPreschool Teachers (N=25)


Experiental experience

Teaches preparation of sceintific products

Clear and understandable

Provides new knowledge

Provides new skills

Interesting

Gives ideas for further activity

Gives ideas for implementation with religious values

Prepares teachers for future implementation

100%

100%

92%

79%

76%

72%

72%

56%

46%

4%

4%

4%

8%

8%

4%

4%

17%

20%

20%

28%

36%

50%


Preschool Teachers

Using a variety of teaching methods during the CT activity

Distribution of information sheets to parents after each activity

Adapting the content and explanations to the children's age

Creating a repository of learning materials and activities

Using a variety of teaching methods in the training sessions

Parents

Increasing the cooperation with parents

Increasing the frequency of the CT activity in the preschools

Increased emphasis on acquisition of scientific concepts and their connection to everyday life

Adapting the content and explanations to the children's age


Areas for Improvement


Improvement of training sessions (new implementation ideas, peer learning) in order to maintain sustainability

Improvement of teacher involvement (experiencing teaching CT activities in the preschool)

Adjustment of preschool activities (teaching suitable content according to children's age, more emphasis on understanding of scientific concepts and their connection to everyday life)

Recommendations

evaluation research for the ct program in haredi preschools final version 15 9 14

Education

national institute

behavioral sciences

scientific topicsenjoyment

scientific topicsfostering

scientific topicsexposure

scientific phenomenaability

interviewsteachers n

preschools n