External Evaluation of SEED Final Report - SEED - Schule.at

Network learning and development.
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• The internal evaluation, has allowed for greater coordination
between SEED activities and for network learning. The lessons
learnt from each event have been incorporated into each
subsequent activity. The issues raised from this process will be a
valuable resource for the development of future networks. This
process was undertaken very effectively.
• A number of difficulties were encountered in the early stages of
organising and managing the SEED events. This was mainly related
to the technical components of the COMENIUS grants associated
with SEED and was later resolved after much negotiation.
Product, Performance and Impact of SEED
Overall all the SEED products have been delivered professionally, in a
timely manner and have been made available to all network members
and partners. The content of SEED products have reflected good
practice in Education for Sustainable Development, Action Research and
Quality Criteria. SEED products have focused specifically on how these
themes relate to school development.
The success of the performance of SEED products and the network can
be measured by the impact they have had on COMENIUS school
development projects in promoting educational change and
improvement. SEED members have developed projects which have
extended the reach of SEED beyond their schools to local governments,
associations, businesses and local communities. SEED has been effective
in increasing international communication between and within Comenius
projects with evidence of sharing knowledge and experiences. Through
the participation in SEED members have begun to have impacts upon
policy relating to school development and school curricula development.
A key outcome of the program has been the development of partnerships
to increase the impact of school development. During the program
existing partnerships have been strengthened, new partnerships have
been developed or are planned for the future.
Recommendations:
As a result of the external evaluation of the SEED program the following
recommendations can be made. There is a need to:
1. Create further opportunities for countries to explore the value of
Environmental Education in whole-school development. The focus of
future programs/networks should go beyond curricula development.
2. Use the comprehensive work completed by SEED on Quality Criteria
in ESD-Schools and Action Research as the basis for further
extension work.
3. Streamline or provide greater clarification in the administration of
COMENIUS grants to enhance the accessibility and increase the
participation levels of any future programs/networks.
4. Extend the evaluation of SEED to include a review of impacts in four
years time. This will enable funding bodies to gauge the impact of
activities which are not immediate such as changes in curriculum.
5. Continue to support financially and administratively cross-European
networks in the area of EE as they have proven to be a valuable
force for innovation in schools. These networks should learn from the
experience of SEED particularly relating to:
� the use of Information and Communication Technology, such as
websites;
� the provision of a system of continuing support; and,
� how to conduct an internal evaluation process.