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Evidence for Improvement: An Integrated Analytic Approach for Supporting Networks in Education

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Title
Evidence for Improvement: An Integrated Analytic Approach for Supporting Networks in Education
Abstract/Description
Across the social sectors, a growing number of organizations are embracing continuous improvement approaches and organizing themselves as networks in order to attack complex problems. To succeed, networks must learn quickly by studying their own practices, continuously adapting to changing circumstances within their organizations and in the broader environment, and incorporating this learning into their ongoing work. In this paper, we describe an integrated approach—which we call Evidence for Improvement (EFI)—that explains how a variety of tools and practices drawn from diverse forms of program evaluation can inform the leaders of these networks in advancing productive change. We propose that improvement networks can be conceptualized and measured using a three-level nested model composed of a working theory of improvement, an improvement enterprise, and environmental contexts.

As they engage in inquiry targeted at each level, those with evaluative expertise should become authentic partners with improvement leaders and fully align their analytic efforts with the improvement activities and social contexts of the network. The EFI approach we describe is designed to enhance a network’s internal learning processes and, in turn, lead to more positive impacts for educators and students. It has implications for improvement practitioners, evaluators, and funders.
Date
February 2020
Pages
1-39
Resource type
Resource status/form
en
Scholarship genre
en
IRE Approach/Concept
Continuous Improvement
Evidence for Improvement (EFI)
Networked Improvement Community (NIC)
Improvement Science
Developmental Evaluation
Language
en
Open access/full-text available
en Yes
Citation
Sherer, D., Norman, J., Bryk, A. S., Peurach, D. J., Vasudeva, A., & McMahon, K. (2020). Evidence for improvement: An Integrated Analytic Approach for Supporting Networks in Education. Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching,

Linked resources

Items with "Other related resources/entities: Evidence for Improvement: An Integrated Analytic Approach for Supporting Networks in Education"
Title Class
Evidence for Improvement (EFI) Network Webpage
Items with "Other related resources/entities: Evidence for Improvement: An Integrated Analytic Approach for Supporting Networks in Education"
Title Class
Evidence for Improvement: An Integrated Approach Presentation

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