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Eric.ed.gov – Alternate Explanations for Learning Disabled, Emotionally Disturbed, and Educable Mentally Retarded Students’ Math Achievement. Research Report No. 11. Instructional Alternatives Project.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The study investigated alternative explanations for differences in mathematics achievement between pairs of handicapped students exhibiting comparable amounts of academic engaged time. Forty-two students in grades 2-4 from urban and suburban districts participated; 14 students were classified as learning disabled, 14 as emotionally or behaviorally disturbed, and 14 as educable mentally retarded. Explanations investigated were student demographics, cognitive functioning, home and family factors, teacher stress, student cognitions (including cognitive style), student motivation, behavior, and conditions in the learning environment. Of all factors investigated, only cognitive ability served as a consistent explanation for differences in math achievement for students matched on academic engaged time. Creating composite variables (specifically attitude modeling by significant others, stress/chaos in the child’s environment, and home-school cooperation) was not helpful in explaining math achievement… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Who Does the Alternate Assessment Really Assess?

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Special education teachers in Georgia are required to develop grade level tasks, reflecting grade level standards, teach the tasks and document the progress of their students with significant cognitive disabilities in the areas of math, science, literature, and social studies. The teachers must then compile the evidence of the students’ progress on the tasks into a portfolio that is graded to determine if the students (and sometimes the schools) make adequate yearly progress. This literature review will look at research concerning teachers’ perceptions of alternate assessments. This literature will attempt to prove the hypothesis that teachers perceive alternate assessments as an assessment of their ability to complete the task rather than student learning and knowledge. The literature is arranged chronologically. Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – Structural Equation Modeling of Knowledge Content Improvement Using Inquiry Based Instruction

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: A key element in science education is establishing and maintaining linkages between teachers and researchers that can eventuate in enhanced student outcomes. Determining when and where a new educational program or intervention results in an enhanced outcome can be sensitive to many different forces that the researcher must carefully manage. The target of inquiry-based approach is to increase cognitive abilities such as critical thinking. However, students, teachers, and schools are evaluated based on content student knowledge. Statistical modeling choices affect the ability to determine the efficacy of the intervention and the ability to identify those students who receive the greatest and least benefit from the intervention. As it is imperative to determine how an increase in cognitive abilities corresponds to an increase in content across different demographics… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Math Problem Solving and Mental Discipline: The Myth of Transferability.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: It is alleged by math teachers and their supporters that math problem solving actually transfers to skills in real or applied problem solving (RAPS). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issue of math problem solving and the concomitant concept of mental discipline/transfer of learning. The mental discipline theory and evidence to support this theory is broached first, then the relationship between mental discipline and math problem solving is discussed. It is concluded that mathematics should be taught in public schools when there is high interest, high aptitude, or high need for this kind of learning. When math is taught, it should be taught well, integrating math theory as much as possible into the real world that surrounds students. Otherwise, the time spent in public… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Teacher Perceptions of High School Students Underachievement in Science

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Low high school graduation rates continue to be a challenge in American public education. The pressure to meet the demands of adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the No Child Left behind Act of 2001 has led to an achievement gap in student performance between science and other core subjects, namely English, math, and social studies, on the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT). GHSGT statistics have consistently reflected a lower science pass percentage compared with other core subjects on the test. The objective of this nonexperimental, quantitative study was to analyze teacher perceptions on reasons for student science underachievement on the GHSGT. A self-developed questionnaire based on Bloom’s taxonomy model was administered to 115 high school core subject teachers of a single school district. Analyses of variance… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Early Education Gaps by Social Class and Race Start U.S. Children Out on Unequal Footing: A Summary of the Major Findings in “Inequalities at the Starting Gate”

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Understanding disparities in school readiness among America’s children when they begin kindergarten is critically important, now more than ever. In today’s 21st century global economy, it is expected that the great majority of children will complete high school ready to enter college or begin a career, and assume their civic responsibilities. This requires strong math, reading, science, and other cognitive skills, as well as the abilities to work well and communicate eeffectively with others, solve problems creatively, and see tasks to completion. Unfortunately, the weak early starts that many children are getting make it hard to attain these societal goals. Knowing which groups of children tend to start school behind, how far behind they are, and what factors contribute to their lag, can help in developing policies… Continue Reading