What strategies can you use to measure the impact of international partnerships on student learning?

1 Define your goals and indicators

The first step to measure the impact of your international partnerships is to define your goals and indicators. What are the specific objectives and expected outcomes of your collaboration? How do they align with your curriculum, standards, and mission? What are the indicators that can show the progress and achievement of your goals? For example, you may want to measure the impact of your partnership on students' academic performance, intercultural competence, global awareness, or engagement. You may use quantitative indicators, such as test scores, grades, or surveys, or qualitative indicators, such as portfolios, reflections, or interviews.

3 Involve your stakeholders

The third step is to involve your stakeholders in the measurement process. Your stakeholders may include your students, teachers, administrators, parents, partners, funders, or community members. You should communicate your goals and indicators, methods and tools, and expected results and benefits to your stakeholders, and seek their feedback and input. You should also engage your stakeholders in the data collection and analysis, as they can provide valuable insights and perspectives on the impact of your partnership. For example, you may invite your students to share their learning experiences and outcomes, your teachers to reflect on their pedagogical practices and challenges, or your partners to evaluate the quality and sustainability of your collaboration.

4 Compare and contrast your results

The fourth step is to compare and contrast your results with different sources and perspectives. You should analyze your data and look for patterns, trends, gaps, or discrepancies that can reveal the impact of your partnership on student learning. You should also compare and contrast your results with other sources of data, such as external assessments, benchmarks, or standards, or with other perspectives, such as those of your stakeholders, partners, or peers. This can help you validate, triangulate, or contextualize your findings, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or challenges of your partnership.

5 Share and disseminate your findings

The fifth step is to share and disseminate your findings with your stakeholders, partners, and wider audiences. You should present your findings in a clear, concise, and compelling way, using different formats and media, such as reports, presentations, posters, videos, or podcasts. You should also highlight the impact, value, and implications of your partnership for student learning, as well as the lessons learned, best practices, or recommendations for improvement. You should also acknowledge the contributions, challenges, and limitations of your measurement process, and invite feedback and suggestions for future partnerships and evaluations.

6 Learn and improve your practice

The sixth and final step is to learn and improve your practice based on your findings and feedback. You should use your findings and feedback to inform your decision making, planning, and implementation of your current and future partnerships. You should also use them to improve your measurement strategies, methods, and tools, and to address any gaps or issues that may affect the quality and impact of your partnership. You should also celebrate your achievements, recognize your challenges, and appreciate your learning opportunities. By doing so, you can enhance your educational leadership skills and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in your international partnerships.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?