Outcomes Assessment

In order to provide a sound basis for measurement and to continuously improve the programs, Worldfund has collaborated with Mexico City-based consulting firm Aseguramiento de la Calidad en la Educación y en el Trabajo, S.C. (ACET) to conduct an ongoing and comprehensive evaluation of the IAPE programs’ impact.

ACET’s study of the 2008 IAPE Teachers’ Collaborative group showed statistically significant increases in the following important indicators when compared to the pre-program baseline:

• the percentage of time that students speak English in class
• the percentage of teachers who now report collaborating with colleagues in the design of their classroom activities
• the percentage of teachers who report discussing their classroom experiences with other teachers.

The study also found participating teachers to have incorporated interactive Rassias Method® techniques into their classroom activities. Teachers reported greater confidence in their ability to teach English; more empathy for their students, and more appreciation for their role as teachers and for their students’ needs.

Additionally, the study found that supervisors who participated in the program became more supportive of teachers under their supervision, more interested in creating appropriate teaching materials; and more interested in training their teachers to improve their practices in ways that support student learning outcomes.

ACET will conduct a comprehensive study of the impact of the IAPE Intensive English Program during the 2009-2010 academic year. In addition, ACET tracks the number of students directly and indirectly impacted by the introduction of new methodology in the classroom as a result of all IAPE programs and reports these numbers annually.