Michelle Bakerson earned her Ph.D. in Evaluation, Measurement and Research Design at Western Michigan University (WMU), home of the Evaluation Center. As part of her educational background she has earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a focus in Organizational Analysis with Summa Cum Laude Honors. She also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Ferris State University. In addition, as part of her educational background, she earned K-8 teacher certification with Science and English teachable in self-contained classrooms. Dr. Bakerson is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Educational Research at Indiana University South Bend. In addition, she is the Weave Assessment Administrator for the IU South Bend regional campus and the Graduate Program Director. Dr. Bakerson is owner and CEO of B.A.R.E. Evaluation & Consulting, an evaluation firm and is a member of several professional associations such as the American Evaluation Association, Michigan Association for Evaluation, Indiana Evaluation Association, European Evaluation Society, Association for Higher Education Effectiveness and the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education among others.
Educational Background
- Ph.D. Evaluation, Measurement and Research Design Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Dissertation Thesis: Persistence and Success: A Study of Cognitive, Social, and Institutional Factors Related to Retention of Kalamazoo Promise Recipients at Western Michigan University.
- Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership - Organizational Analysis Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Major concentration in evaluation.
- Michigan Elementary Provisional Certificate Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Science and English Endorsement
- Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, Major concentration in organizational behavior.
Classes Taught
- Research Exit Project Elementary (EDUC-E591)
- Research Exit Project Secondary (EDUC-S591)
- Introduction to Research (EDUC-P503)
- Assessment in Schools (EDUC-P507)
- Psychological Measurement in the Schools (EDUC-P407)
- Introduction to Teaching (EDUC-F100)
Teaching Award
Trustees Teaching Award, Indiana University South Bend (2012)
Research Interest
- Program assessment
- Program evaluation
- Non-response bias
- Using assessment to measure educational impact
- Retention
University Service
- Competency Based Education (CBE) Subcommittee
- Prior Learning Assessments (PLA) and Competency Based Education (CBE) Task Force
- Indiana University Articulation and Transfer Committee
- Statewide Transfer and Articulation Committee (STAC)
- Core Transfer Library Standing Subcommittee (CTL) Committee; IUSB Campus Coordinator
- Transfer and Technology Subcommittee (TTS) of STAC
- National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Steering Committee
Campus/Community Service
- Ex-Officio – Higher Learning Commission Quality Initiative Assessment Committee
- Ex-Officio representing Academic Affairs – Senate Curriculum Committee
- Director - Graduate Programs/Council
- Weave Assessment (University wide web based assessment system, formally WEAVEonline)
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Steering Committee
- IUSB Adhoc Committee of General Education Assessment
- Strategic Planning Advisory Council
- Founder/Organizer - Bi-annual Graduate Research Conference (Campus wide)
- Ex-Officio- Campus Wide Assessment Committee Ex-Officio (2014- Present), Chair (2012 – Dec. 2013), Member (2008 - 2012)
School of Education Service
- School of Education Assessment Committee
- ED-IRB Task Force
- Trustees Teaching Award Committee (Member 2010, Chair 2011 & ‘13)
- Co-teaching Research and Grant Committee
Professional Memberships
- American Evaluation Association (AEA)
- Michigan Evaluation Association (MEA)
- European Evaluation Society (EES)
- Nonprofit Alliance (NPA)
- Indiana Evaluation Association (IEA)
- Association for Higher Education Effectiveness (AHEE)
- The Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE)
- IUSB, Representative - Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Recent Peer Reviewed Publications
Watson, B., & Bakerson, M. (2014, Jan.). University Professor Feedback That Works Proceedings from the Hawaii University International Conferences on Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Honolulu, HI: Hawaii University International Conferences. {{ISSN| 9162-917x}}(Blind Review).
Watson, B., Davis, H., & Bakerson, M. (2014, Jan.). Why Don’t They Do What I Say? The Different Ways Principals and Teachers Conceptualize Time. Proceedings from the Hawaii University International Conferences on Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Honolulu, HI: Hawaii University International Conferences. {{ISSN| 9162-917x}}(Blind Review).
Chang, N., Watson, B., Bakerson, M., and McGoron, F. (2013, Dec.). Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Electronic and Handwritten Feedback: A Follow-up Study across an Entire Midwestern University Campus. Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 21-42. (Blind Review).
Davis, H., Watson, B., & Bakerson, M. (2013, in press). How Principals and Teachers Frame the Building-Level Principal’s Role in Academics through Metaphor -- Metaphor Checking at the Group Level. In Graham Low and Wan Wan, (Eds.) Elicited Metaphor Analysis in Educational Research, John Benjamin’s Metaphor in Language, Cognition and Communication Series (Blind Review).
Bakerson, M., Trottier, T., & Mansfield, M. (2013, in press). The Value of Embedded Formative Assessment: An Integral Process in Online Courses Implemented Through Advances in Technology. Book chapter for edited book; Assessment in Online and Blended Learning Environments, Information Age Publishing submitted for publication. (Peer Review)
Mansfield, M., & Bakerson, M. (2012). Persistence Rates at IVY Tech Community College: A Report on Previous Perceptions in Congruence with Achieve the Dream Data. In S. Whalen (Ed.), Proceedings of the 8th National Symposium on Student Retention, 2012, New Orleans, Louisiana (pp. 280-291). Norman, OK: The University of Oklahoma. (Blind Review).
Larrier, Y., Kijai, J., Bakerson, M., Walker, L.,* Linton, J., Woolford-Hunt, C., Sallinen, B.J. & Woolford, S. (2012, July/Aug.). School counselors’ perspectives of the barriers and facilitators associated with their involvement in childhood obesity epidemic: A national K-12 survey. American Journal of Health Education, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 218-224. (Blind Review).
Chang, N., Watson, B., Bakerson, M., Williams, E., McGoron, F., & Spitzer, B. (2012, June). Electronic Feedback or Handwritten Feedback: What Do Undergraduate Students Prefer and Why? Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Vol.1, No. 1, pp. 1-23. Retrieved from http://jotlt.indiana.edu/article/view/2043/1996 (Blind Review) (Invited Article).
Recent Peer Reviewed Presentations
International Conference Presentations (Peer Reviewed)
Watson, B., & Bakerson, M. (2014, Jan.). University Professor Feedback That Works: What College Students Think. Paper presented at the Hawaii University International Conferences on Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Watson, B., Davis, H., & Bakerson, M. (2014, Jan.). Why Don’t They Do What I Say? Leaders Communicating Effectively with Their Staff. Paper presented at the Hawaii University International Conferences on Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Watson, B., & Bakerson, M. (2014, Jan.). College Students’ Thoughts on Professor Feedback: What Works and Why? Paper presented at the 12th Annual Conference at the Hawaii International Conference on Education; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Watson, B., Davis, H., & Bakerson, M. (2014, Jan.). Wait: That’s Not What I Said! Paper presented at the 12th Annual Conference at the Hawaii International Conference on Education; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Trottier, T. & Bakerson, M. (2013, Nov.). Embedding Formative Assessment in Your Online Learning Environment: An Opportunity for Improved Student Learning. Paper presented at the 19th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning: A Universe of Opportunities; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA.
Skarbek, D., Atkins, H., Hahn, K., Bakerson, M. & Okrah, K. (2013, Nov.). Global + Mobile = Globile: US Teacher Candidates Text Tutoring International Students. Presented at the 19th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning: A Universe of Opportunities; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA.
Bakerson, M. (2013, Oct.). Evaluating Non-response Error: Impact and Repercussions of Survey Data on Evaluation Findings. Paper presented at the 27th Annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association at Evaluation in The State of Evaluation Practice in the Early 21st Century; Washington, DC, USA.
Bakerson, M. (2013, Oct.). Evaluating School Connectedness: Effects of Natural Helpers Program on High School Students’ Feelings of School Connectedness. Paper presented at the 27th Annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association at Evaluation in The State of Evaluation Practice in the Early 21st Century; Washington, DC, USA.
Bakerson, M., Heck, M. & Mettetal. G. (2013, July). When Imagining ‘What If’ is Problematic: Complexities of IRB Teacher Research Approval. Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Science and the Interdisciplinary Social Science Knowledge Community held in Prague, Czech Republic.
Bakerson, M. (2012, Oct.). Survey Non-response Error: Responsible Decision Making and Its Implications on Evaluation Findings. Paper presented at the 26th Annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association at Evaluation in Complex Ecologies, Relationships, Responsibilities, Relevance; Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bakerson, M. (2012, Oct.). Evaluating K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment: Effects on Standardized Tests and Teacher Attitudes. Paper presented at the 26th Annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association at Evaluation in Complex Ecologies, Relationships, Responsibilities, Relevance; Minneapolis, Minnesota.
National Conference Presentations (Peer Reviewed)
Mansfield, M. & Bakerson, M. (2012, Oct.) Persistence Rates at IVY Tech Community College: A Report on Previous Perceptions in Congruence with Achieve the Dream Data. Paper presented at the Eighth Annual National Symposium on Student Retention held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Regional Conference Presentations (Peer Reviewed)
Watson, B., Davis, H., & Bakerson, M. (2013, April). The Principal wants it When? An Analysis of Principals’ and Teachers’ Conceptions of Language used to Connote Time-Sensitive Actions. Paper presented at the Midwest SoTL Conference, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, South Bend, Indiana.
Chang, N., Watson, B., Bakerson, M., and McGoron, F. (2013, April). Electronic Feedback and Handwritten Feedback: Undergraduate Students’ Preferences and Rationale. Paper presented at the Midwest SoTL Conference, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, South Bend, Indiana.
Chang, N., Watson, B., Bakerson, M., Williams, E., and McGoron, F. (2012, Nov). Electronic Feedback or Handwritten Feedback: What Do Undergraduate Students Prefer and Why? Paper was presented to the Teacher Education Division, Council for Exceptional Children at Embracing the Future in Higher Education, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Research Related Grants Funded
- External Evaluator. Indiana’s Mathematics and Science Partnership Program in conjunction with the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC). Evaluation funded through the Indiana Department of Education. Duration 3 years (2012/13, 2013/14 & 2014/15). Amount: $478,000. I was involved in the planning stages and designed, wrote and am implementing the evaluation of this grant.
- External Evaluator. IU South Bend Campus Wide Assessment Grant for Surveys of Enacted Curriculum (SEC): State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards. Duration 2 years. Amount: $3,000.
- External Evaluator. Mathematics and Science Partnership Program in conjunction with Notre Dame and the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC). Evaluation funded through the Indiana Department of Education. Duration 3 years. Amount: $448,000. I was involved in the planning stages and designed, wrote and implemented the evaluation of this grant.