NTEC SERVICES
We begin with free consultation meetings so that we better understand your needs and develop a collaborative plan that will adequately address those needs. The plan developed for your organization is often quite unique, and depends on what is required.
Collaboratively designing and developing research studies to demonstrate the efficacy of interventions or programs can be particularly exciting. We will first meet with you to understand what data or measures are already available, and the extent to which rigorous research designs can be imposed that support inference of causal mechanisms associated with your program (is the design of the study strong enough to support saying that the program or intervention is the actual cause of observed changes?). Often, we can rough out a logic model with you that helps to explicate the impact of the program prior to beginning our work to implement the study. In addition, we can establish a research plan so that the requirements are clearly understood prior to contracting to conduct the study. Following an agreement, we develop all necessary ethical protocols and consent requirements before a study is implemented.
Real-time or static data visualization and dashboard building involves thoroughly understanding the data you have available in the initial consultation and the decision making that is needed from data. We can often help you identify what trends and visuals will assist you the most, and we are available to modify the resultant dashboard, or presentation for final signoff.
Our strategies work well when our associates are partnered with your internal staff to collaborate. Part of our initial consultation includes you deciding the extent to which you have availability among your staff and how it is best for us to engage them.
For program evaluation services, consultation often begins by understanding your program, how it is intended to be implemented, the intended outcomes (proximal to distal), the beneficiaries, your organizations’ inputs, data that is presently available, and what is possible for data collection. Ideally, these consultations are held prior to funding the initiative, however we are often brought in following funding to fill in the gaps required. In instances where pre-funding consultation is sought, we can develop an agreement to provide free proposal preparation for evaluation plans, and have considerable experience working with those proposing new projects with funding agencies.
For the development of educational measures, whether those are surveys, tests, or more comprehensive assessments, it is usually helpful to understand the statistical properties of any existing tools that may be in place. Consequently, initial discussions usually involve a better understanding of what may already be implemented, along with any data that may have already been collected. Several of our associates are highly trained and qualified psychometricians that will examine the existing data collected to identify any weaknesses in the data. A second phase of engagement may involve revision or redevelopment to existing measures, along with recommendations for implementation and further analyses.
We can also help your school or district establish benchmarks for your assessments based on the distribution of your scores using latent variable models that produce highly stable performance criteria.
Our Services
By Choosing Our Services You Will Receive . . .
Direct Consultation with Experienced Professionals
Access to data experts that specialize in all areas of education: administration, teaching, learning, and behavior change. We have more than 50 years of combined experience in working with educational data – analysis, modeling, interpretation, and reporting. Our work has been published in many of the most rigorous scholarly peer-reviewed journals in education, where we have pioneered new quantitative innovations in educational statistics and data analysis.
An Approach Built Specifically for You and Your Organization
NTEC’s approach is effective. We achieve success by enhancing data capacity and promoting sustainable practices that embrace a data-driven culture centered around continuous learning. We believe it is important to do this in a way that maximizes what you already do to collect data, provide minimal interference in your existing procedures/processes where possible, ensure data is collected ethically, and is done in a way supports your organization or projects.
A Dynamic and Adaptive Company
As a compact organization, our consultants possess the flexibility, innovation, and agility needed to deliver exceptional results. We constantly adapt and refine our approach to effectively cater to the unique requirements of our clients.
A Passion for Education
While we are quantitative methodologists and data analysts, we have a passion for education. Our hope is to make a difference in the promise that education brings, and we believe we share that passion with other education leaders and teachers with whom we work.