Our Work
We have helped nationally and internationally renowned nonprofits, universities, museums, and other learning organizations define and measure their impact.
With a special emphasis on informal STEM learning and youth-based programs, we design mixed-methods evaluations that can assess changes in learning, behavior, affect, skill development, and more.
Our approach is informed by culturally responsive, utilization-focused, and participatory evaluation, ensuring that we center the unique needs and context of your audience, that project stakeholders are included in the evaluation process, and that the insights we uncover together are useful and actionable.
Previous evaluations have asked:
How are visitors using this nature play space?
Are participants developing skills in entrepreneurship and innovation as a result of this program?
What types of non-academic STEM experiences (e.g., undergraduate research experiences, internships, etc.) do students have during their time at our university?
Are students gaining a greater awareness of conservation via their experiences in conservation learning?
In what ways does this program increase participants’ understanding of how to reach STEM career goals?
To what extent, if at all, does this program impact students’ self-efficacy in STEM?
Client Case Studies
NOAA Facilitator’s Guide to MWEE Training - Great Lakes Region
Improved Insights worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to evaluate environmental education organizations and resources in the Great Lakes region and produce this Facilitator’s Guide to MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences) Training for the Great Lakes region. This train-the-trainer style guide introduces educators to resources and activities for developing MWEEs in their communities.
“Improved Insights was attentive to the needs of our project, and they were a pleasure to work with — the final product was just what we were looking for. It would be a pleasure to work with Sarah and her team again!”
Great Lakes B-WET Program at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
ACE Mentor Cleveland Impact Report
Improved Insights produced a one-page visual Impact Report to demonstrate the work of ACE Mentor Cleveland to funders and other stakeholders. Pulling from several mixed-methods data sources, we designed custom data visualizations and crafted language to tell an organizational story of impact.
“I love this document. This is the best version of what our message has been to-date.”
BridgeYear Logic Model
BridgeYear operates out of Houston, Texas and fundamentally believes that there is no “one size fits all” approach to education and that multiple options must be made available for students to make informed decisions about their futures.
We worked with BridgeYear to design a logic model (at right) and theory of change which better illustrated the connections between their work and their intended outcomes.
Through interactive sessions on a virtual whiteboard, we employed a participatory approach to ensure stakeholder views led the way.
“[Improved Insights was] efficient and direct; the time we spent working together was meaningful and productive. I appreciate how focused our meetings were.”
MillennialScnce STEM Practices Framework
Millennial Scnce provides quality STEM programs & academic support for homeless youth. Working with students in grades 2-12, they partner with transitional housing facilities to aid children with free interactive STEM programs and one-on-one mentoring.
To support MillennialScnce's goals of better understanding the impacts of their programs, we collaborated to produce evaluation foci and tools to address questions like "To what extent is MillennialScnce increasing participants' STEM career awareness?" and "What opportunities to practice STEM skills are offered to MillennialScnce participants?"
This STEM Practices Framework (at left) was developed to help MillennialScnce assess their curriculum for Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Science and Engineering Practices - key indicators of opportunities for students to practice STEM skills.
“[Assessments] are so crucial to our organization because it helps us to develop and create new ideas. […] We have a more accurate snapshot of what our program is doing and what we have done.”