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Eric.ed.gov – Innovations in Math/Science Teacher Education: A New Population; A Revised Training Agenda.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: A special program was initiated in 1985 at George Washington University to encourage persons from other careers to pursue a second career in teaching in the Washington D.C. area. This report describes the variables that had to be and are continuing to be considered in the design of this training effort for mid-career professionals. Factors considered include: (1) difference in the culture of the school and the environment of the first career; (2) developmental process of learning; (3) the educated consumer and teacher education; (4) the attributes and experiences of the career population; (5) match between the mid-career professional and the level and age of the student population; (6) certification is critical, the degree is not; and (7) part-time student/full-time professional. Perspectives are also offered on reform… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Investigating Meaning in Learning: A Case Study of Adult Developmental Mathematics

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The objective of this article is to investigate meaning and relevance in the context of adult developmental math learning and instruction. In this case study, at the Art Institute of San Francisco, 12 vocational instructors and four math learners are interviewed on their early and current math experiences. During the semi-structured interviews, the adult math learners and vocational instructors reminisce on math in their learning and in their work. The interview transcripts are later analyzed for constructivist themes or codes. From instructor interviews, there appears to be a strong correlation between instructor views of meaning and learning and constructivist principles. There is a weaker correlation of these themes with the views of the adult learners, and there is evidence these developmental learners show signs of cognitive overload… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Massachusetts Adult Basic Education Math Standards. The ABE Math Standards Project. Volume 1.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This document is the outcome of a project conducted in Massachusetts to apply the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ (NCTM) “Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics” to adult basic education (ABE) learning environments. The first chapter describes the work of the Math Team, a committee of 22 adult basic education teachers who conducted the project. Four goals are discussed: review the NCTM standards and study their applicability to ABE; develop NCTM-based standards for four environments–ABE/basic literacy, adult secondary/General Educational Development, English as a Second Language, and workplace education; implement draft standards in field-based teacher research situations; and produce final standards and a report recording the teacher research process. Chapter 2 explores the characteristics of adult learners in each of these environments. Chapter 3 lists the… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Adult Multiple Intelligences and Math.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: In the Adult Multiple Intelligences (AMI) study, 10 teachers of adults from the northeastern region of the United States explored for 18 months the ways that multiple intelligences (MI) theory could support instruction and assessment in various adult learning contexts. The results of this research were published in a book by Julie Viens called MI Grows Up. Two themes identified in the book, MI reflections and MI-inspired instruction, relate specifically to math instruction for adult learners. MI reflections focuses on ways to teach about MI theory and how to use it as a tool for student self-reflection and self-understanding. By creating AMI profiles for adult learners in an adult secondary education class, the researcher had success helping the learners identify the intelligences of problems or questions and… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – National Center for Education Research Publication Handbook: Publications from Funded Education Research Grants, FY 2002 to FY 2013

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Since its inception in 2002, the National Center for Education Research (NCER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has funded over 700 education research grants and over 60 education training grants. The research grants have supported exploratory research to build theory or generate hypotheses on factors that may affect educational outcomes, development and innovation research to create or refine academic interventions, evaluation studies to test the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions, and measurement work to help develop more accurate and valid assessments, and the training grants have helped prepare the next generation of education researchers. NCER’s education research grantees have focused on the needs of a wide range of students, from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary and adult education, and have tackled a variety of topic areas. The… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Algebraic Thinking in Adult Education

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: In adult education, algebraic thinking can be a sense-making tool that introduces coherence among mathematical concepts for those who previously have had trouble learning math. Further, a modeling approach to algebra connects mathematics and the real world, demonstrating the usefulness of math to those who have seen it as just an academic exercise. This paper recommends two significant and necessary changes in the concept of algebra and the ways the authors approach it in education: a shift from thinking of algebra as one course to thinking of it as a content strand integrated into arithmetic instruction and a shift from thinking of algebra as merely manipulation skills to thinking of it as a means of representing and analyzing real situations. This fresh look at algebra and mathematics… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Does Adding Mathematics to English Language Learners’ Timetables Improve Their Acquisition of English?

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This enquiry based project set out to find out if adult English language learners, known as ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners in the UK, might benefit, in terms of their acquisition of English, from studying maths. This research has been conducted at a medium sized FE college in the East Midlands where I teach. I evaluate this in two ways, firstly by analysing learners’ results, and secondly by asking experienced ESOL teachers to observe and reflect on an ESOL Maths session. This project found a correlation between attending a maths class and improved English language exam results over 5 cohorts of students. In addition, ESOL teachers noted many and varied opportunities for English language learning in an ESOL Maths class, with higher levels of… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Math Is in the Eye of the Beholder.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: A researcher surveyed 161 students in adult education math classes at four community colleges in Illinois and 13 adult education math teachers. Both groups were asked to complete the survey from the viewpoint of a student. The respondents were asked what should math classes teach; what kind of problems they most enjoy working on in class; whether they prefer working on their own in a good workbook with teacher help, working with a partner or small group, or working as a whole class; whether they think it is more productive to do workbook word problems, seek solutions to math problems in students’ lives, or practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; would they rather listen to the teacher’s explanation, practice by solving games and puzzles, watch an example… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Training in Influencing Skills from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (Modelled from Hypnosis and Family Therapy), in Combination with Innovative Maths Pedagogy, Raises Maths Attainment in Adult Numeracy Learners

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Case study research suggests that NLP [neuro-linguistic programming] influencing strategies benefit teacher effectiveness. Maths pedagogy involving higher-order questioning, challenge, problem solving and collaborative working may be a way of improving attainment in adult numeracy learning, however, such strategies may be less effective if the relationship between teacher and learner does not reflect sensitivity to attitudes, beliefs and emotions (areas in which advocates of NLP claim effectiveness). The present study investigated these claims and the combined effect of such approaches using a pre- and post-treatment test design with 173 adult numeracy learners. Teachers were randomly allocated to three conditions, these were: (1) teachers given no training (control condition); (2) teachers trained in innovative maths pedagogy (including more frequent higher-order questioning, challenge, problem solving and collaborative learning); and (3)… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – It Does Matter How We Teach Math

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This paper describes application of innovative practice and procedures in relationship to recognized principles and theory of adult education used in college math instruction. Adult learning principles provide the theoretical constructs and foundation of the practice supporting a learner-centered approach to learning. The purpose was to explore the needs of learners and the learning contexts that would help them achieve higher dimensions of critical thinking and cognitive development. Based on Knowles’ six assumptions of andragogy, curriculum was designed to provide college math students meaningful learning experiences, critical thinking skills, and application within the context of the classroom. Creativity and hands-on learning proved to be beneficial not only to tactile and kinesthetic learners but to others in the classrooms as well. Additionally, math anxiety is addressed and how… Continue Reading