Methods and Sources
A qualitative mixed methods approach is being used for the Working Partners project. The use of survey methodology and follow-up interviews will allow for the collection of ATE community/industry partnership models as described by practitioners, as well as feedback on the outputs and models suggested by this research. Mini case studies will be completed to draw out illustrative examples of the various partnership models. Focus groups, webinars, and interviews, including targeted interviews with ATE grantees on campuses that have been recognized as exemplary by the Aspen Institute’s College for Excellence Program, will be used to triangulate the findings drawn from the other data sources. The following sources will be used to collect data during the tenure of the project:
Targeted Surveys
Two surveys will be used to collect input from the ATE community. The first targeted survey, in year one, will seek to identify and outline the most prevalent partnership models used in the community. In year two, the second survey will provide feedback data about the WP Toolkit and its components and features. In both surveys, respondents will be asked if they are willing to take part in follow-up interviews.
Follow-Up and Targeted Interviews
Survey follow-up interviews will allow for detailed questions and clarification of survey responses. These interviews will be used to solicit detailed data from the community at two key points: to deepen the definition of partnership models in year one and to provide feedback concerning the toolkit components and features in year two.
Interviews are also planned with ATE Centers who have been recognized by the Aspen Institute for providing leadership and innovative solutions in the arena of workforce development. These interviews will be used to gather feedback on the emergent partnership models as derived from the targeted surveys and follow-up interviews and to hone the selection process for the mini case studies.
ATE Survey
This annual survey is an NSF requirement for all ATE grantees and is administered by EvaluATE, an NSF ATE Center at Western Michigan. Based on the partnership models agreed upon by the community, questions introduced by Working Partners will be created and folded into a new section of the ATE annual survey in 2016. ATE survey participants will be asked which partnership models they employ, followed by survey items to collect implementation scenarios and outcomes (as well as an open ended “other” choice). By cross-referencing this new data on partnerships with the rich array of data provided in the rest of the ATE survey, a deeper understanding of partnership model applicability will be possible, as the ATE survey collects baseline data that will help provide a richer context for partnership activities. This new section of the ATE survey will be piloted in year two and repeated in year three.
Summer Interview Series (SIS)
The summer interview series will take place in years one and two of the project and be conducted with a random sample of 20 ATE PIs from those responding to the first targeted survey. The first SIS will occur in summer 2016 and provide feedback on the implementations, challenges, and impacts matrix of industry partnership models that will be prepared for integration into the EvaluATE survey. The second SIS will be conducted in year two, summer 2017, with a focus on discussing the data collected in the first EvaluATE survey and its utility to PIs and their project or center work.
Pilot Study
Indian River State College, named this year as a top-ten finalist for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, will act as a pilot study site for the Working Partners project. Indian River is also an ideal site as it is home to two regional Advanced Technology Education (ATE) centers. In particular the Working Partners team will work with Indian River’s Kevin Cooper, a member of the WP Advisory Committee and Director and PI of RCNET (the ATE Regional Center for Nuclear Education and Training) to organize an on-site visit to work with faculty to pilot the WP Toolkit.
Focus Groups & Webinars
Focus groups will be convened three times during the project: in October 2016 (PI Conference), July 2017 (HI-TEC), and October 2017 (PI Conference). Webinars, which will function both as an outreach pathway and a data collection method will function in many ways as a virtual focus group twice a year.
Mini Case Studies
As PIs are interviewed and surveyed in tandem with defining the full set of partnership models, a series of mini case studies will be developed that demonstrate best practice of each of the partnership models; the Aspen prize recipients in particular will be examined for potential inclusion in this set of studies. Each partnership model will be represented by one case study from a center and one from a project (assuming that all partnership models are used by both). If a particular partnership model is only being used by centers (or projects) then Working Partners will document two case studies that are as diverse as possible (e.g. different technology focus, different size, different geographical region). The case study subjects will be selected with input from the ATE community, the Advisory Committee, and NSF. The first set of case studies will be selected by the end of year one and vetted with the Advisory Committee at the October 2016 PI Conference and then written up during the following months. This same cycle will repeat in year two, with all case studies being completed and integrated into the WP Toolkit by the end of the final year.
Targeted Surveys
Two surveys will be used to collect input from the ATE community. The first targeted survey, in year one, will seek to identify and outline the most prevalent partnership models used in the community. In year two, the second survey will provide feedback data about the WP Toolkit and its components and features. In both surveys, respondents will be asked if they are willing to take part in follow-up interviews.
Follow-Up and Targeted Interviews
Survey follow-up interviews will allow for detailed questions and clarification of survey responses. These interviews will be used to solicit detailed data from the community at two key points: to deepen the definition of partnership models in year one and to provide feedback concerning the toolkit components and features in year two.
Interviews are also planned with ATE Centers who have been recognized by the Aspen Institute for providing leadership and innovative solutions in the arena of workforce development. These interviews will be used to gather feedback on the emergent partnership models as derived from the targeted surveys and follow-up interviews and to hone the selection process for the mini case studies.
ATE Survey
This annual survey is an NSF requirement for all ATE grantees and is administered by EvaluATE, an NSF ATE Center at Western Michigan. Based on the partnership models agreed upon by the community, questions introduced by Working Partners will be created and folded into a new section of the ATE annual survey in 2016. ATE survey participants will be asked which partnership models they employ, followed by survey items to collect implementation scenarios and outcomes (as well as an open ended “other” choice). By cross-referencing this new data on partnerships with the rich array of data provided in the rest of the ATE survey, a deeper understanding of partnership model applicability will be possible, as the ATE survey collects baseline data that will help provide a richer context for partnership activities. This new section of the ATE survey will be piloted in year two and repeated in year three.
Summer Interview Series (SIS)
The summer interview series will take place in years one and two of the project and be conducted with a random sample of 20 ATE PIs from those responding to the first targeted survey. The first SIS will occur in summer 2016 and provide feedback on the implementations, challenges, and impacts matrix of industry partnership models that will be prepared for integration into the EvaluATE survey. The second SIS will be conducted in year two, summer 2017, with a focus on discussing the data collected in the first EvaluATE survey and its utility to PIs and their project or center work.
Pilot Study
Indian River State College, named this year as a top-ten finalist for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, will act as a pilot study site for the Working Partners project. Indian River is also an ideal site as it is home to two regional Advanced Technology Education (ATE) centers. In particular the Working Partners team will work with Indian River’s Kevin Cooper, a member of the WP Advisory Committee and Director and PI of RCNET (the ATE Regional Center for Nuclear Education and Training) to organize an on-site visit to work with faculty to pilot the WP Toolkit.
Focus Groups & Webinars
Focus groups will be convened three times during the project: in October 2016 (PI Conference), July 2017 (HI-TEC), and October 2017 (PI Conference). Webinars, which will function both as an outreach pathway and a data collection method will function in many ways as a virtual focus group twice a year.
Mini Case Studies
As PIs are interviewed and surveyed in tandem with defining the full set of partnership models, a series of mini case studies will be developed that demonstrate best practice of each of the partnership models; the Aspen prize recipients in particular will be examined for potential inclusion in this set of studies. Each partnership model will be represented by one case study from a center and one from a project (assuming that all partnership models are used by both). If a particular partnership model is only being used by centers (or projects) then Working Partners will document two case studies that are as diverse as possible (e.g. different technology focus, different size, different geographical region). The case study subjects will be selected with input from the ATE community, the Advisory Committee, and NSF. The first set of case studies will be selected by the end of year one and vetted with the Advisory Committee at the October 2016 PI Conference and then written up during the following months. This same cycle will repeat in year two, with all case studies being completed and integrated into the WP Toolkit by the end of the final year.