In Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, understanding diverse student needs through effective survey tools is crucial for exposing and addressing equity issues.
This case study delves into the development of the “CTE and STEM Student Survey Generator,” a pioneering tool designed to help educators create surveys that reach the root causes of inequity and point us to targeted and strategic solutions.
You can access all project deliverables, including tutorials, a best practices PDF, and the survey generator, at the end of the post.
The need for a tool that could help educators design effective surveys was identified through a partnership with the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE). Dr. Meagan Pollock collaborated closely with Mimi Lufkin, CEO Emerita of NAPE and Project Director for the Toyota USA Foundation grant to NAPE, leveraging her 30-plus years of experience in addressing educational inequities in combination with Meagan’s 15 years. With decades of working with teams of educators in program improvement efforts, Meagan and Mimi pinpointed a specific need for technological intervention.
The survey generator has the potential to revolutionize how we approach equity in our programs. It will allow us to pinpoint specific areas of concern and act decisively.
Development of the Survey Generator
Unique Partnership and Expertise
Dr. Pollock’s history working with educators to create surveys and her background in computer science, engineering, and user-centered design were pivotal in developing this technological solution. The collaboration with Mimi Lufkin brought invaluable insight into the specific needs and challenges educators face in equity-focused education.
Technological Tools and Design Process
The development of the survey generator utilized advanced tools, including Typeform for survey management, Excel for data processing, Zapier for workflow automation, and OpenAI for AI-driven insights. Meagan designed all of the graphics using Adobe Creative Suite, with animations created in Apple Keynote, ensuring a highly professional and user-friendly interface.
Approach to Development
Contrary to typical development processes that rely heavily on user feedback, this project utilized a gap analysis protocol to identify critical needs among educators. This approach allowed the team to design a solution tailored to meet these specific challenges without the initial input from end-users, leveraging the team’s extensive experience instead. Had the budget allowed, we would have incorporated a comprehensive direct user-informed design and pilot testing.
Features of the Survey Generator
Customization and Flexibility
The tool allows educators to choose from hundreds of tailored questions that can be formatted as open-ended or Likert scale, focusing on up to three of NAPE’s identified root causes of equity disparities. This customization makes the surveys particularly effective in pinpointing and addressing specific areas of concern.
User-Friendly Design
The generator’s interface is intuitive; technical experience and expertise are NOT required! This accessibility ensures that all educators can efficiently use the tool to its full potential.
Impact and Potential
While the project was recently launched, and extensive data on its impact is not yet available; initial reactions have been promising. At a recent presentation in Washington DC, a CTE Coordinator remarked, “The survey generator has the potential to revolutionize how we approach equity in our programs. It will allow us to pinpoint specific areas of concern and act decisively.”
This project was both exhilarating and immensely challenging! I am eager to see educators begin using the survey generator and making a tangible difference in student outcomes. It's all about empowering educators to identify and tackle the root causes of inequity, and I can't wait to witness the positive changes it will bring.
The “CTE and STEM Student Survey Generator” is a prime example of how innovative technology and thoughtful design can be leveraged to significantly enhance educational equity. By enabling educators to create targeted surveys based on proven root causes, the tool empowers them to make informed decisions that can substantially improve educational outcomes.
Ready to transform your approach to educational equity? Reach out to us to discover how our custom solutions can address the unique challenges faced by your educational programs.Â
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Project Deliverables
This project was started in 2023 and completed in 2024.
Access the Survey Generator
Utilizing the framework of NAPE’s 15 root causes allows for the creation of specific hypotheses. Educators can choose from hundreds of tailored questions for open-ended or Likert scale surveys, focusing on up to 3 root causes. Give it a try today! It’s free, and you can use it as many times as you like.
Client Blog Post
Discover transformative tools that are revolutionizing how educators tackle equity challenges in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and STEM fields. Dr. Meagan Pollock introduces two innovative resources: the “Best Practices for Student Surveys” guide and the “CTE and STEM Student Survey Generator.” Crafted to help educators uncover and address root causes of inequity, these tools are essential for anyone committed to improving educational outcomes. Dive into our detailed blog post to explore how these resources can enhance your educational programs and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Survey Generator Overview and Tutorial
This video has two main goals: to familiarize you with the survey generator, including its background and how to get started with it; then, we’ll guide you through using the tool, showcasing its user-friendly design and how it can be used to improve equity within CTE and STEM programs.
Download Best Practices Guide
The “Best Practices for Student Surveys” guide is a comprehensive resource tailored for educators and administrators. It emphasizes the importance of creating effective, inclusive surveys to understand student experiences.Â
Covering four main areas—Design, Distribution & Accessibility, Ethics & Sensitivity, and Analysis & Feedback—the guide follows the CARES framework (Concise, Accessible, Relevant, Ethical, Simple) to aid in developing methodologically sound and engaging surveys.Â
This approach not only simplifies the survey creation process but also ensures ethical communication with students, fostering valuable insights to improve participation rates and address educational issues.Â
Survey Generator Overview and Tutorial
Join Dr. Meagan Pollock in this on-demand webinar titled ‘Best Practices for Student Surveys,’ a comprehensive guide for educators, administrators, and stakeholders aiming to craft effective and inclusive surveys.
