Generally outcomes are differentiated as intermediate and end outcomes. Intermediate outcomes are expected to lead to the ends desired, but are not themselves ends. End outcomes are the final desired results of the program's work. Intermediate outcomes are identified through experience, research, or logical analysis as being necessary prerequisites to achieve the end outcomes. Intermediate outcomes focus on what educators do related to technology that is expected to lead to improved student achievement and school performance.
Intermediate outcomes can also address issues related to the quality of the service delivery.
For example, participant evaluation of professional development activities will provide information about the quality of these activities. Measurement of end outcomes related to the implementation of technology into schools is very difficult outside of a traditional research environment. The two key end outcomes that are anticipated from the integration of technology in our schools are improvements in student achievement and school performance. It is difficult to identify measurable advancements in these end outcomes that can be directly attributable to investments made in technology. In the future, as we expand our understanding of the use of technology in education and expand the use of technology as a tool to conduct performance measurement, we should be able to do a better job of measuring end outcomes.