SV-2005-0007 School Connectivity Program (SCP) Questionnaire for U.S.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

For OMB Approval under Information Collection #1405-0158

School Connectivity Program (SCP)

Questionnaire for U.S. Students

Introduction:

The sponsors of the School Connectivity Program (SCP) are interested in your experiences and views on the programs, their activities, and how they might be improved. Therefore, the Office of Policy and Evaluation of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which sponsors the SCP, has contracted Aguirre International, an independent research firm, to conduct an evaluation to learn about your experiences.

Please note that the U.S. Department of State sponsors multiple School Connectivity Programs (SCP) in different parts of the world. Although the programs have the same basic structure and goals, the projects differ somewhat in their implementation, terminology, and services, which may be apparent in this survey. We appreciate your assistance in this effort and the time you are giving us.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only aggregated statistical information will be reported. No individual level data will be released by Aguirre International.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey. We expect the completion time to be approximately fifteen (15) minutes. In order to verify this estimate, we will ask you at the end of the survey to record the actual completion time. Please answer each question to the best of your ability.

Thank you for your participation.

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Statements:

The information solicited on this survey is requested pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-62) and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act (22 U.S.C. 2451, et seq.). In order to ensure that the U.S. Department of State’s international exchange programs meet statutory program requirements (22 U.S.C. 2460(c)), the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) regularly monitors the programs, gathers data about program accomplishments, and evaluates selected ones. ECA uses the information collected to inform program design, management, and funding. All personal information that is collected through surveys is considered confidential. All responses are coded to ensure the confidentiality of individual responses. Data collected under this study will not be shared, sold, or used for fundraising purposes. Survey data and findings will be used only in an aggregate form for the express purposes of fulfilling the data needs of the outcome assessment. Responses to this survey are voluntary.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average fifteen (15) minutes to respond to this survey, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Please send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to: A/RPS/DIR, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520.

1. Are you currently involved in SCP program activities of any kind?

 Yes, I am currently involved

 No, I am not currently involved but was in the past

 I have never been involved in SCP activities (Exit Survey)

2. What year did you become involved in SCP program activities? ______

3. When do you participate in the majority of SCP activities? Please select one response.

 Before or after school hours (01)

 During school hours (02)

 Both during AND after school hours (03)

4. Do you consider the SCP activities you participate in to be part of your school work or an extra-curricular activity?

 Part of my school work

 An extra-curricular activity

 Activities are part of my school work AND an extra-curricular activity (03)

 Other. Please explain:

5. Please indicate the reason you became involved in SCP program activities? Please select all that apply.

 To learn about other countries

 To participate in an on-line exchange

 The subject of the on-line forum interested me

 My friends were involved

 My teacher asked me to become involved

 I have been involved in international exchanges before

 Other, please specify.

6. Due to your participation in SCP activities, do you feel…

1. that you access the Internet more often ?  Yes (01)  No (02)

2. that your computer skills have improved ?  Yes (01)  No (02)

SCP ACTIVITIES

7. Have you worked with a partner school and/or students located overseas on any SCP activities? Please select one response.

Yes (01) 

No (02)  (Exit Survey)

8. In what country (or countries) are the students and/or the partner school located? Please select all that apply.

Azerbaijan (01) Albania (02) Armenia (03) Bosnia-Herzegovina (04) Kosovo (05)

Serbia and Montenegro 06) Tajikistan (07) Uzbekistan (08) Other (please specify) _____________

9. What activities have you participated in through SCP? If you did not participate in the activity, please select the Did not participate in this type of activity option. Please select all that apply.

	Activity	Did not participate in this type of activity (09)	Within your school (01)	With a school overseas (02)	With another school in the United States (03)
a.	Online forums/discussions/projects				
b.	Hosted a SCP student from another country				
c.	Website development				
d.	Online competitions				
e.	Online classes/courses				
f.	Special Presentations				
g.	Research projects with other students				
h.	Research projects with teachers				
i.	Own research projects				
j.	Other (please specify):				

10. Please select up to three topics that were discussed in your most substantial SCP activities. Please select up to three responses.

 Local community issues or local government (01)

 Culture, religion or history (02)

 International or national current events (03)

 Ethnic and race relations (04)

 Conflict resolution (05)

 Education (06)

 Environment/natural resources (07)

 Popular culture (movies, music) and sports (08)

 American studies, elections, holidays, etc. (09)

 English (10)

 Health (11)

 Issues affecting vulnerable groups (the disabled, refugees, etc) (12)

 Gender issues (13)

 Ethics (14)

 Information and communication technologies, including internet (15)

 Other (16)

11. Of the following activities, which were your favorites? Please choose up to three.

Online forum, discussions, or projects	
Hosting a SCP student from another country	
Website development	
Online competitions	
Online classes/courses	
Special presentations	
Research projects with other students	
Research projects with teachers	
Own research projects	
Other (please specify) _____	

12. Have you attended a national, regional and/or international conference/workshop sponsored by SCP ? Please select one response.

Yes (01) 

No (02)  (If No, Skip to #14)

13. What did you learn from attending the conference/workshop that you did not learn from participating in the online activities?

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND PARTICIPANT REFLECTIONS

14. To what extent have the activities with the students you met through your participation in SCP activities helped you gain a better understanding of their culture and/or society? Please select one response.

To a Large Extent (04)	To Some Extent (03)	To a Small Extent (02)	Not At All (01)
			

15. How would you rate your interest in international issues before your participation in SCP program activities and now?

		Very Interested (04)	Interested (03)	Somewhat Interested (02)	Not Interested (01)	Not Applicable/ Don’t Know (09)
a.	Before Program					
b.	Now					

16. Have you shared what you have learned about other countries through SCP activities with other students, friends, family members, and/or other individuals?

 Yes (01)

 No (02)

17. What was one surprising thing that you learned about the countries, or country, you interacted with through SCP activities?

18. What have you learned about YOUR OWN COUNTRY as a result of participating in the SCP program?

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE…
Please select one response for each question below.

19. Do you think you will remain in contact with the students you have communicated with through SCP activities after you move on to the next grade level and/or complete your schooling?

 Yes (01)  No (02)  Don’t Know (09)

20. Have parent and/or community groups formed to plan out and/or fundraise for SCP activities at your school?

 Yes (01)  No (02)  Don’t Know (09)

INDICATOR QUESTIONS

You will notice that the questions below use the phrases “exchange program” and “exchange experience.” This is meant to include both online exchanges you may have had with students and/or teachers outside of your school or any travel you’ve done or visits you’ve made as part of the SCP activities.

21. Have you shared your program experience or the knowledge you gained during your participation in any of the following ways? Please check response in each row.

	Yes (01)	No (02)
Participated in media interviews (newspaper, television, radio, internet)		
Gave presentations to community, neighborhood, school or university groups		
Wrote newspapers articles, including editorials and opinion pieces.		
Wrote academic books		
Wrote non-academic books		
Wrote academic articles for journals or academic publications		
Other (please write in):		

22. As a direct result of your participation in the exchange program, have you done or received any of the following in your school or university? Please check one response for each item.

		Yes (01)	No (02)
a.	Higher level of responsibilities or leadership at school/university		
b.	Organized or initiated new activities or projects at school/university community		
c.	Established a new organization at school/university		

23. As a direct result of your participation in the exchange program, have you done or received any of the following in your community? Please check one response for each item.

		Yes (01)	No (02)
a.	Assumed a leadership role or position in your community		
b.	Organized or initiated new activities or projects in your community		
c.	Established a new organization in your community		

24. Have you used the knowledge or experience gained in the program to initiate any of these formal or informal changes in your organization or work? Please check one response for each item.

	Yes (01)	No (01)
Increased volunteer activities/community service		
Founded an NGO or new organization		
Introduced new ideas and knowledge		
Introduced initiatives, new ways of doing things		
Established new exchanges		
Tried to influence public opinion about the United States through the media		
Established joint ventures, organizational partnerships, or linkages		
Introduced new policies or procedures		
Introduced new curricula, pedagogical methods, or educational standards		
Became elected or appointed to a local, regional or national government position		
Proposed, wrote, and/or passed a new law or treaty		

25. Please rate your satisfaction with the following program components.

	Very Dissatisfied (01)	Dissatisfied (02)	Neutral (03)	Satisfied (04)	Very Satisfied (05)
a. Administration					
b. Content					
c. Variety of experiences					
d. Relevance of program to professional or educational development					

DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS

Sex:  Male (01)  Female (02)

Year of Birth _ _ _ _

What grade are you in?

 Elementary School (1^st to 6^th grades) (01)

 Junior High (7^th, 8^th and 9^th grades) (02)

 High School (10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades) (03)

I currently live in (or reside most of the time) a:

 Small city, town or rural location (100,000 – 499,999 people) (01)

 Medium size city (500,000 – 1,499,999 people) (02)

 Large size city (1,500,000 -2,999,999 people) (03)

 Very large size city (3,000,000 or more people) (04)

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY? ________ MINUTES

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION

SV-2005-0007 OMB No.: 1405-0150

Expiration Date: 02/29/2005

Estimated Burden: 15 minutes