Research Collaboration and Value-Added Measurement
Madison, Wisconsin Area
- Current
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- Associate Scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- WCER Director of Technical Services at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Past
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- Researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Researcher at Center on Education and Work
- Education
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- Universität Bielefeld
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- The Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Connections
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144
connections
- Industry
- Research
- Websites
Chris Thorn’s Summary
Goals
My research and work experiences represent my interest in collaborative R&D and the role of technology tools in enabling new forms of work. I am always looking for ways to extendmy network to other peer scholars, technologists, and policy leaders.
I am currently working to support the development and use of value-added analytics in K-12 districts and state educational agencies. This includes analysis of tests, development of professional learning communities, and a focus on program and project evaluation.
I am also engaged with two major projects on campus. One team is engaged in business process redesign around travel and employee reimbursement. The other is the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery. I serve on the Program Committee. This new public-private collaboration is a bold attempt to organize and manage interdisciplinary research differently.
Current Responsibilities:
Chicago Community Trust Education Initiative Evaluation
The evaluation team is exploring the institutional relationships formed by the various grantees, and the relationships between differing constellations of actors and success.
Data Structures and Systems Leader - Value-Added Research Center (VARC)
My work focuses on the links between operational information systems, value-added analysis results, and decision support systems at the state-, district-, and school-levels.
Director of Technical Services
I lead the technical team of network specialists, web and video experts, application and database developers, and help desk. I also support researchers (faculty and staff) as they apply for research funding and operationalize their research designs. Many of the technical staff are actively engaged in the research of projects housed the Center.
Chris Thorn’s Specialties:
Technology assessment, mixed methods evaluation, education reform, decision support, collaborative research, process re-engineering, business intelligence
Chris Thorn’s Experience
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Associate Scientist
University of Wisconsin-Madison
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
January 2005 — Present (4 years 11 months)
I am currently engaged in two different research projects. I am the PI of the evaluation of the Chicago Community Trust's Education Initiative. I am also one of the project leaders in the Value Added Research Center and the Project Leader in our work with Vanderbilt University to provide technical assistance to recipients of the U.S. Department of Education Teacher Incentive Fund Grants. VARC work also includes research work with Milwaukee and Chicago Public Schools to develop and extend value-added models for accountability, evaluation, and school improvement.
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WCER Director of Technical Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison
(Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Research industry)
August 1997 — Present (12 years 4 months)
Technical Services comprises four teams: (a) research consulting, (b) computer support, (c) Web and media services, and (d) database and application development. These teams work together to provide sophisticated and coordinated solutions to WCER researcher, educator, and staff needs.
I am the Director of the overall department and personally lead the Research Consulting team.
WCER research consulting experts provide direct support for the following services:
• Proposal development. Advice to investigators about possible technologies and effort required to accomplish proposed tasks; assistance with proposal writing.
• Methods/analytical tools. Research design, operationalization of methods, training with analytical tools, and other direct research support.
• Partnering/enterprise access. Large-scale storage and collaborative environments to bridge the gap between WCER and partners at a distance; access to data warehouse and other enterprise technologies -
Researcher
University of Wisconsin-Madison
(Educational Institution; 5001-10,000 employees; Research industry)
October 2000 — December 2004 (4 years 3 months)
I was the principal investigator of Digital Insight, project that developed tools and processes to automate elements of video data analysis that are currently "handcrafted." The project both built capacity for analyzing rich, complex data sets and built histories of student learning for use in research and instruction in math and science education. We will, at the same time, studied the dynamics of successful collaborative teams and their interaction with the tools developed and services provided in an attempt to discover and disseminate more efficient practices and more powerful analytical tools. We developed both video-analysis tools and a research-based online workflow environment to support participating research teams. We also developed a prototype process model for supporting collaborative research. Our research was aimed squarely at the intersection of this effort to build capacity and to understand the consequences of this new capacity for research and professional development
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Researcher
Center on Education and Work
(Research industry)
September 1995 — August 1997 (2 years )
• Designed and co-administered state-wide, multi-year data collection and
analysis effort focused on the transition of high school students into the
workforce.
• Evaluated the effectiveness of several competing approaches to vocational
education and curriculum reform.
• Provided program participants and administrators with site-specific analysis,
technical assistance, and policy recommendations.
Chris Thorn’s Education
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Universität Bielefeld
Dr. , Sociology , 1991 — 1994
Participated in the Leibniz Prize-funded work of Adrienne Héritier and Helmut Willke. Our team studied public-private collaboration in high technology.
- Activities and Societies:
- Graduated magna cum laude.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
MA , Political Science , 1989 — 1990
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The Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
MA , International Relations , 1985 — 1987
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Indiana University Bloomington
BA , Economics and German , 1981 — 1985
- Activities and Societies:
- Phi Beta Kappa
Additional Information
Chris Thorn’s Websites:
Chris Thorn’s Interests:
social networks and collaborative research models, mixed methods evaluation, a capella choral singing, and historical fiction
Chris Thorn’s Groups:
American Education Research Association, International Federation for Information Processing - TC 3 IT in Educational Management
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ValueNetworks.com Value Networks -
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) - Johns Hopkins University -
Visual Analytics -
EDUCAUSE -
SIF Association -
American Evaluation Association -
Games + Learning + Society -
Research Methods
Chris Thorn’s Honors:
UW-Madison, School of Education, Distinguished Achievement Award – April, 2004
Outstanding Academic Staff Achievement Award, UW-Madison, School of Education – 2004
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Research Fellowship – 1993-1996
University of Wisconsin Big Ten Traveling Scholar Grant – 1991
German Academic Exchange Service Pre-Dissertation Research Grant, Max Planck Institute for Social Research, Cologne, Germany – 1990
Fulbright Commission Collaborative Research Grant – 1989
Phi Beta Kappa, Indiana University Chapter – 1985
