This is the site of the Applied Research on Science Materials Implementation: Bringing Measurement of Fidelity of Implementation (FOI) to Scale project. This three-year, National Science Foundation-funded project is developing a suite of instruments for rigorously measuring the fidelity of implementation of reform-based science and mathematics instructional materials at the K-8 level. Staff at the Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education (CEMSE) at the University of Chicago have produced instruments for measuring use of six specific curricula (FOSS, STC, Science Companion, IES, SEPUP, and Everyday Mathematics) and are developing a User’s Guide that describes procedures for using those instruments and adapting them for use with other instructional materials.
Our approach to measuring fidelity of implementation departs from typical approaches in at least two important ways. First, measures are often grounded in an assumption that "more" fidelity is "better." Our tools on the other hand, reflect an understanding that teachers rarely, if ever, implement a program exactly as written. Thus, rather than focus primarily on the overall extent of implementation, our tools focus on clearly and specifically describing the nature of the implementation using over 30 constructs residing in the 4 categories of our conceptual framework. Second, although the instruments specifically focus on reform-based science and mathematics, the constructs are grounded in a common conceptual framework that facilitates the use of the instruments across multiple programs. The User’s Guide that accompanies the instruments will provide guidance for how a range of audiences including school districts, schools, teachers, and researchers can use the instruments as they are or customize them for particular programs or research needs.
In addition to the work described above CEMSE is developing an on-line collaborative community of individuals interested in sharing resources and knowledge about FOI measurement. To become part of the on-line community and learn more about an in-person meeting associated with that community, visit Researchers Without Borders, a collaborative environment for open research in education. More information and many resources related to the FOI project can be found on the Researchers Without Borders: Measuring Enactment of Innovations project page. You are also invited to participate in discussions about FOI by joining the Researchers Without Borders Ning.