Background
Developed and refined by Ron Ferguson over the past ten years, Tripod surveys and analysis methods have helped more than 1 million students communicate about their classroom experiences. The Tripod survey assessments is an integral part of the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) Project, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Tripod services comprise a well-designed, classroom-level data collection, analysis and reporting system. Tripod assessments have been used in hundreds of schools and thousands of classrooms in the U.S., Canada and China, providing insights about teaching effectiveness and the determinants of student performance. The student surveys measure multiple domains of teaching practice and student engagement. Data-collection instruments and procedures are tailored for grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-12. Surveys (questionnaires) are also available for teachers and parents.
Beyond Observations and Test Scores
Classroom observations have often been the primary or even the sole method of acquiring teacher-specific information about K-12 instruction. But no observer, no matter how well trained, has more first-hand experience in any particular classroom than the students. Tripod student questionnaires are designed to capture key dimensions of classroom life and teaching practice as students experience them.
Tripod surveys provide reliable, detailed and validated insights on teaching and learning in any classroom, including classrooms not tested with standardized exams. When requested, Tripod researchers can provide “value-added” analyses to demonstrate how student responses predict year-to-year learning gains as measured by standardized test scores, thus demystifying an important consideration in teaching effectiveness.
Student survey responses are reported out to clients according to Tripod “quality values” across multiple dimensions. Quality scores are available at the classroom, school and district levels. Findings can inform discussions about school quality and whole-school priorities, and give a fresh new focus to teacher professional development and student engagement projects.
About Cambridge Education
Cambridge Education has teamed with Ron Ferguson since 2007, building upon his work of the past decade. The firm is a leading provider of education services with over 25 years of experience working in over 45 countries throughout the world. In an extensive tool kit, Tripod survey assessments and reporting tools supplement school quality reviews and other school improvement services for which Cambridge Education is known around the world. In the United States Cambridge Education has partnered with over 2,500 schools in more than 200 districts across 25 states. The firm’s qualifications and expertise position it as an ideal choice for helping leaders in schools, districts and states.