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Eric.ed.gov – The STEM Initiative: Constraints and Challenges

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: There is considerable national interest in STEM initiatives, but yet there is little discussion concerning what STEM means in terms of a curriculum concept to be applied to school programming. This article focuses on STEM as a curriculum concept. First, STEM programming is discussed in terms of separate subjects, correlated and broad fields curriculum models. The issue of subject structure is examined. A distinction also is made between the four STEM subjects in terms of formal and applicative uses of knowledge. Second, some practical programming issues are discussed. These include the almost exclusive focus on science and math to the exclusion of technology and engineering; the challenge of serving multiple student populations; and the issue of what to do with the “T” in STEM. A concluding section… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Waukegan Behavior Analysis Follow Through Individualized Math Instruction Program: A Curriculum Manual for Teachers and Teacher Aides.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This document details aspects of the Waukegan Behavior Analysis Follow Through Program, designed for individualized instruction using Heath Elementary Mathematics textbooks. The guide contains five major sections. The first details the structure of the Heath series. Section two covers the process of student placement in the program. The third section contains: Preparing to Teach in a Behavior Analysis Classroom; Lesson Plans; Group Presentation of Concepts; Working in Books; and Recording Progress. Section four presents: How to Teach Math in a Behavior Analysis Classroom; Contacts; Concrete Materials for Instruction; Testing; Suggestions for Remediation; Red Line Procedures; Starred Words; and References. The final portion consists of eight appendices, titled: (A) Learning Objectives; (B) Trainee Checklist; (C) District Tests; (D) Page Correlations for Districts Tests; (E) General vs. Descriptive Praise;… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Project-Based Learning: A Literature Review. Working Paper

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The concept of project-based learning (PBL) has garnered wide support among a number of K-12 education policy advocates and funders. This working paper builds on and updates a seminal literature review of PBL published in 2000. Focused primarily on articles and studies that have emerged in the 17 years since then, the working paper discusses the principles that underlie PBL, how PBL has been used in K-12 settings, the challenges teachers have confronted in implementing it, how school and district factors influence its adoption, and what is known about its effectiveness in improving students’ learning outcomes. PBL is grounded in cross-cutting “design principles” often related to what is taught, how it is taught, and how students should be evaluated in a PBL classroom. PBL design principles emphasize… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – A Curriculum Redesign in Response to Students’ Anxiety to Math Competencies at the Secondary Level.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This action research project was designed to increase students’ math competencies and reduce math anxiety in targeted high school classes in a Midwestern suburb. The study included 37 students and took place from September through December in 2002. Factors influencing students’ math achievement included self-perceptions of math competence, teachers’ perceptions of students’ abilities, and an overemphasis on remediation which left students unchallenged and behind their peers (Fiore, 1999). Curriculum redesign is one way of improving students’ confidence and competence in their math abilities (Allexsaht-Snider and Hart, 2001). Given this, a curriculum redesign was selected as an intervention for this study. To document student progress in mathematical achievement and improve self-perception, methods of assessment used included surveys, document analysis, and observations. Post-intervention data indicated an increase in students’… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Getting State Certification in Your Embedded Math Programs.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This document presents materials that were developed for a presentation explaining how the Gordon Cooper Technology Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma, obtained state certification for the geometry and trigonometry program that is embedded in its residential and commercial construction program and enables its students to receive high school geometry or trigonometry credit and thereby meet the Oklahoma PASS (Priority Academic Student Skills) objectives for high school math credit. The document begins with a brief description of the presentation’s objectives and content. The remainder of the document consists of the following presentation handouts: (1) excerpts from Oklahoma legislation regarding high school graduation requirements affecting students attending technology centers; (2) the program approval letter sent to the technology center; (3) a description of the math program approval process; (4) information… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – A Survey of Best Practices and Key Learning Objectives for Successful Secondary School STEM Academy Settings

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Specialized secondary schools in the United States focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are becoming commonplace in the United States. Such schools are generally referred to by U.S. teachers as Academies. In a purposeful effort to provide a resource to educators building new STEM Academies, this study provides both a review of scholarly literature and the interview results from five successful STEM Academy educators from across the United States. This research addresses two overarching questions, (a) what are the best practices of STEM Academies, and (b) what are the key learning objectives of STEM Academies? Subject integration, in-house engineering curriculum design, student cohorts, community involvement, and internships were all revealed as being consistently reflective of best practices used in successful STEM Academies. Key learning objectives… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Remodeling Science Education

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Radical reform in science and mathematics education is needed to prepare citizens for challenges of the emerging knowledge-based global economy. We consider definite proposals to establish: (1) “Standards of science and math literacy” for all students. (2) “Integration of the science curriculum” with structure of matter, energy, models and modeling as unifying themes. (3) Pedagogy promoting “scientific inquiry” and argumentation. (4) Sustained “professional development” and support for teachers. (5) “Institutional support from local universities” for continuous upgrades in curriculum and teaching practices. Physics plays a central role in all these reforms. Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – Changing the Equation: Ensuring the Common Core Math Standards Enable All Students to Excel in California Schools. K-12 Practice

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Schools around California are implementing the new Common Core State Standards. In math specifically, where significant disparities in proficiency exist for African American, Latino, and low-income students as compared to their white, Asian and higher-income peers, these new standards provide an opportunity to close achievement and opportunity gaps. Our new report, “Changing the Equation Ensuring the Common Core Math Standards Enable All Students to Excel in California Schools”, describes both the challenges districts face in implementing the new math standards and best practices for addressing these challenges. Specific examples include ways to create a culture of high expectations for all students, models for supporting teachers as they design and implement rigorous curriculum, and strategies for meaningfully engaging students and parents with the standards. In highlighting practices from… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Creating Learning Environments for Indigenous Students through Cultured-Based Math Modules

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The main purposes of this one-year case study are to create learning environments for indigenous students through culture-based mathematics instructional modules, and what teachers’ responds are in two tribes. The researcher leads sixteen in-service teachers and seven pre-service teachers to enter two indigenous tribes- “Cado” and “Jayama,” and design culture-based math modules for indigenous students of tribal elementary schools. Through five stages of guidance, including “preparation and planning,” “exploration and understanding,” “reading and design,” “comment and revision,” and “practice and reflection,” the participants work together to develop seven sets of culture-based math modules in total. Based on observation, interview, and analysis of related documents, it is shown that the implementation through culture-based mathematics instructional modules could motivate students’ interest in learning math, and enhance their initiatives in… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Assessing Course Redesign: The Case of Developmental Math

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Higher education institutions have taken to redesigning high-enrollment, introductory courses to improve student learning outcomes, student success, and degree completion. This paper presents findings from the assessment of course redesign by focusing on the case of developmental math at a large community college. The college adopted modularization, a common course redesign method in which concepts are disaggregated into modules and delivered through computer software. Preliminary results from the quantitative analysis of student performance in redesigned courses have been mixed. The study discusses faculty and student views and experiences with modular math redesign in order to complement and help illuminate the results from the quantitative analysis. Using evidence from five focus groups, one with faculty and four with students, the paper provides insights on how to help faculty… Continue Reading