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A: Most people call or e-mail with a project idea, or submit an RFP (request for proposal). Edu, Inc. prefers to talk with project leaders to understand clearly the client's project, budget, needs, and expectations. If the client, project, and Edu, Inc. are a good fit, Edu will submit a formal proposal. If Edu, Inc. is unable to consider a project for any reason, it may be able to suggest other, appropriate consultants. Q: I am applying for funding. Can Edu, Inc. help? A: Yes. One of Education, Inc's services is to help clients write evaluation proposals. Clients often invite Edu, Inc. to write or review the evaluation plan and budget for major grant applications. The best evaluation plans usually begin several months before a grant application is due. Edu, Inc. can also identify and research additional funding sources for education projects. Q: What does Edu, Inc. charge? A: Edu, Inc. works within your budget. Clients and Edu, Inc. work together to tailor a scope of work that delivers the greatest benefit for an available budget. Some clients design projects in phases, stretching the cost over two or more budget years. For education projects funded by foundations or NGOs evaluation is normally 8 to 10 percent of the project budget. For training, e-Learning and New Media projects, clients may choose a fixed-rate contract, daily or hourly charges, plus expenses. Fixed-rate pricing guarantees project cost and deliverables. It is attractive for those who want the security of deliverables within a fixed budget. Fixed-budget projects normally range from $30,000 to $1,500,000. Daily or hourly rate is attractive for projects with a limited number of specific deliverables and a clearly defined timeline Education. Inc.'s daily rate ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 per day depending on the project and consulting team. Daily rate can be prorated to half day or hourly counsel. Edu, Inc. will not accept a project unless its work will either pay for itself or provide significant value. Edu, Inc. provides its clients with software to predict and measure return on investment (ROI) from Edu, Inc.'s work. For more information on pricing, please e-mail or, in North America , call toll free - 866.4eduinc (866.433.8462). A: Edu, Inc. proposals have two parts: a concise summary (one to three paragraphs) and a detailed plan that includes the scope of work, budget, production phases, and timeline for deliverables. Clients applying for funding often face tight deadlines. Edu, Inc. can customize proposals to match the format required by the funding agency. This allows clients to "plug" an Edu, Inc. customized evaluation plan into the larger request-for-funds proposal. Edu, Inc. is a registered user of the National Science Foundation's Fast Lane online grant submission system. Q: Who are Edu, Inc.'s clients? A: Edu, Inc. works with corporations, colleges, museums, foundations, independent schools and universities, non-profit organizations, and NGOs. Edu, Inc. corporate-client contacts typically are vice presidents, division heads, human-resources directors, and training-department managers. At colleges Edu, Inc. most often works with the president's office as well as provosts, vice presidents, and deans. Edu, Inc. contacts at museums, foundations, schools, and NGOs are usually directors, trustees, program officers, and project leaders. Q: What is the first step after project approval? A: Projects begin with a contract and a detailed scope of work. The contract defines clear deliverables, deadlines, and budgets; when and how often consultants will visit the client's site; and the number of video or web conferences. The contract includes clear milestones and a payment schedule. A: For more than ten years Edu, Inc. has offered expertise in education and e-learning. For each project Edu, Inc. forms a custom team of specialists by matching consultants' expertise with the project's needs. Edu, Inc. teams normally include a project manager and experts in education, training, and evaluation; a researcher; a writer/editor; and a technology specialist. Edu, Inc. offers a team of 20 consultants--all with advanced degrees and significant professional experience. Consultants include specialists in all areas of education; experts in communication and marketing; and programmers, database engineers, and web designers. Edu, Inc. relies on its large network of subject experts whose expertise ranges from science and technology to intellectual-property rights. Edu, Inc. always provides the names and credentials of team members before a project starts. For more information, please e-mail or, in North America , call toll free - 866.4eduinc (866.433.8462). Q: How does Edu, Inc. manage projects? A: Edu begins by developing detailed work plans, timelines, milestones, and budgets for each project. Edu assigns a project manager to communicate with the client's chosen point person. Edu communicates with clients by telephone, e-mail, and videoconference. Edu uses a web-conference center for on-line meetings, training, and support. Edu supplies regular reports using streaming media, PowerPoint presentations, and PDF files. The reports are tailored for management, the project team, or funding agencies to show progress toward stated objectives. Q: Does Edu, Inc. visit our site? A: Yes. Your contract with Edu, Inc. defines a specific number of site visits. Initial site visits are used to organize the project. Follow-up site visits are useful to review Edu, Inc. progress toward your specific goals, to help maintain focus, and to evaluate work plans. Q: How does the "Needs Assessment" work? A: The Edu, Inc. Needs Assessment has three phases: Discovery -- Consultants use interviews and focus groups, as well as paper, web, and e-mail-based surveys, to understand a client's characteristics (e.g., its technology, communication, markets, and competition). Audience Research -- An advocate for learners, Edu, Inc. talks to clients' audience(s) to understand what those learners want, need, know, and dislike. Work Plan -- Edu, Inc. uses data from its discovery and audience research to help the project team make clear decisions and to create a work plan and schedule. Q: What is an external evaluator? A: An external evaluator is an independent third party with advanced training in evaluation techniques. External evaluators are often required by a funding agency. Typically, an external evaluator will receive 8 to 10 percent of the project budget. External evaluators help to define project goals and then assess the extent to which the project met its goals. An evaluator's job is to help the project manager understand the audience; to articulate specific objectives, then to determine clear and measurable outcomes. Evaluators create an evaluation plan and provide assessment tools to gather and analyze data and report the results of the project leaders and funding agency. External evaluators for education projects normally hold a Ph.D. or other advanced degree, have significant professional experience evaluating similar projects, and offer a clear and unbiased point of view. They are conversant in evaluation techniques and have a command of database and statistical analysis tools. A: An evaluator often plays several roles within a project. Those roles include facilitator, unbiased observer, coach, and critical friend. Edu is a strong facilitator, asking questions, listening carefully, and solving problems. As an unbiased external evaluator, Edu provides the objective, third-party perspective required by most funding agencies. As a "critical friend" Edu offers constructive feedback--advice that's diplomatic but direct. As a "coach," Edu guides projects from needs assessment through to completion. Evaluators often provide professional development to help clients build capacity and develop programs. Edu's clients say its strength is working with on-site employees to build programs while getting things done on time and within the specified budget. Edu's experience shows that client-built programs better serve the client's unique audience and culture; and survive and grow after the consultant leaves. Q: What are the stages of an evaluation? A: Evaluation falls into three general stages:
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