The purpose of this external evaluation was to assess the efficacy of the Catalyzing IDEAs for the San Joaquin Valley: Innovating Math and Chemistry Curriculum (“MC2”) project. MC2 proposed to design, deliver, and test transformative STEM-specific learning interventions for undergraduate students in “gateway” Chemistry and Mathematics courses in order to decrease failure rate in target STEM classes for Hispanic, low income and first generation students.
The external evaluation of this project included an implementation and progressive and formative components. The implementation evaluation monitored and critiqued all project activities (including both the HIP practices/learning interventions /implementation and any research components of the project). The progressive evaluation component was responsive (Stake & Ambra, 2005), and gathered data on the quality and effectiveness of the specific project activities in moving participants toward project goals using document analysis, interviews, evaluator observations and evaluator-designed surveys.