Already a winner of the Brandon Hall award for instructional design and an IACET Accredited Provider, CypherWorx partnered with Excel Beyond the Bell – San Antonio to test the effectiveness of its eLearning Out-of-School-Time professional development courses.
Just released, that study showed remarkable results. Between two and five participants at each school-age childcare provider served by Excel Beyond the Bell - San Antonio (EBBSA) were asked to participate in this efficacy study. The participants were chosen to represent a wide range of experience—from new hires to seasoned professionals, from those with high school/GED education to those with masters or doctoral degrees—and include people from front-line staff to director level, and from organizations of varying sizes.
"It appears that the participants' demographics in this study closely mirror the demographics of the national averages in the childcare field, which made this study even more exciting."
—Dr. James Marshall, San Diego State University.
A total of 147 people completed the six eLearning courses and pre- and post-surveys. Dr. Marshall analyzed the full dataset, and then conducted a topline analysis of participant test performance and survey item responses.
Of the six courses tested, average gains ranged from a low of 18 percentage points to a high of 33 percentage points. In all cases, the difference between pre- and post-test means was statistically significant—indicating little to no probability that the observed mean differences were the result of random chance (p = .000 in each case). While pre-test scores varied considerably among the six courses, mean post-test scores all clustered in the mid 80% range—between 83 and 90 percent. This indicates a high degree of mastery, regardless of the individual's performance level when the course began.
"We were very pleased to see the results our online courses had across broad demographic audiences. These learning gains definitively prove that the Out of School Time Professional Development Certificate Series courses make an impact on the field of school-age child care and assist practitioners in their knowledge and service to children, youth, and their families."
—Paul Cypher, President & CEO of CypherWorx.
Jill Oettinger, CEO of Good Samaritan Community Services, who managed this study, said, "These results exceeded all of our expectations! The CypherWorx certificate series will make a significant impact with our afterschool educators and ultimately provide the best care and service for the youth that we serve."
To learn more about this ground breaking Efficacy Study, please contact Al Ryan, Chief Experience Officer at CypherWorx: aryan@cypherworx.com | 585.278.4012
About CypherWorx:
Founded in 2007, CypherWorx develops comprehensive eLearning solutions for membership associations, nonprofit organizations, and small business providers using a unique, collaborative business model that has won praise for its effectiveness and accessibility. For more information, visit www.cypherworx.com.
About Excel Beyond the Bell–San Antonio (EBBSA):
San Antonio SPARC to Excel Beyond the Bell - San Antonio (EBBSA) comprises nonprofit and public agencies providing Out-of-School Time (OST) or related services to youth and their families. Its purpose is to pursue avenues for joint action and planning among these and other willing partners to communicate, cooperate, coordinate and collaborate in pursuit of their shared vision for San Antonio youth. For more information, visit www.beyondthebellsa.org.
About Dr. James Marshall:
James Marshall Ph.D. is a faculty member in the Department of Learning Design and Technology at San Diego State University. With over 20 years in the learning design field, he brings a wealth of applied experience to his teaching and research endeavors.
