Evaluation of Think College’s Future Quest Island-Explorations Curriculum
Project Director:
Funded by:
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
Partners:
Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston; FableVision
Focus Area:
Education Workforce & SystemsElementary & Secondary EducationYouth & Workforce Development
Services:
Research & Evaluation
Region:
United States
Duration:
2018-Present
Challenge
Students with disabilities—and students from low-income communities and low-performing schools—may limit their plans for higher education and career goals if they see their potential only through the lens of their current circumstances. Although these students need support to increase their knowledge of employment and higher education options, few resources have been available to them.
To advance knowledge of how to support young students’ future career planning, EDC led an evaluation of Think College’s Future Quest Island-Explorations (FQI-E). FQI-E is an online curriculum that uses gaming strategies to raise students’ college and career awareness, support their self-awareness, and build their goal-setting skills. Drawing on evidence-based Possible Selves constructs, the curriculum seeks to broaden students’ goals and expectations for their futures.
Key Activities
EDC conducted a quasi-experimental design research study to measure the impact of FQI-E on elementary school students in 14 schools. The study examined how:
- FQI-E affects the early college and career awareness and self-concepts of 945 elementary school students
- FQI-E’s digital teacher toolkit—a self-paced implementation guide—supports 48 grade 3–5 teachers in engaging students in using the online curriculum
Our Impact
EDC’s evaluation has provided new insights into FQI-E’s potential to build students’ understanding of college and career opportunities.
