eric.ed.gov har udgivet: For the past five years, Vermont has been developing an innovative statewide assessment system in which portfolios of student work in mathematics and writing are a key element. The use of mathematics portfolios, particularly in elementary school, is a novel aspect of the assessment system. This study examines the elementary school mathematics portfolio assessment and its instructional impact by exploring the conceptions of problem solving, the knowledge of problem-solving strategies, the evaluation of problem-solving tasks, and the instructional practices of 20 fourth-grade teachers. Teachers indicated that the portfolio assessment program has enhanced their understanding of mathematical problem solving and broadened their instructional practices, but that they have encountered difficulty in understanding certain components of the reform and making the relevant changes. Teachers did not share a common… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The present study, which was drawn from a larger project in which teachers developed and implemented performance assessments in their classrooms, investigates children’s perceptions of what reading and mathematics are and how they understand their teachers’ knowledge of them as readers and mathematicians. Two students from each of 13 third-grade classrooms were interviewed 3 times during the school year. In all, 75 interviews about reading and 76 about mathematics were conducted. Responses make it clear that students do recognize reading as a meaning-making task but that this recognition becomes distorted when they are assessed on their reading ability. They believe that assessment is often aimed at handwriting, punctuation, or expression when reading aloud. In mathematics, these students demonstrate consistency across definition of math and assessment of math.… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: While many of the concepts and approaches that comprise student-centered learning have deep roots in learning theory, the cognitive sciences, and youth and child development, empirical research on student-centered learning’s impact in K-12 classrooms remains limited. This report offers highlights from three studies commissioned by Nellie Mae, researched by Education Connection, American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) to examine student-centered learning in depth–what it looks like, and how students may benefit. Together, these studies strengthen the evidence base for those seeking to identify practices that will produce the greatest benefits for students. Furthermore, they provide new insights into how to achieve the highest outcomes equitably. These studies look at how to ensure that all students–including those in underserved groups–get… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The field of early childhood holds promising keys to unlocking many of the mysteries in learning. Educators in the field, given the right tools, have the potential to have a profound impact on the long-term success of their students. The design of this curriculum comes directly out of the incredible possibilities set in motion while exploring this field. Early childhood programs have three essential components or learners. Primary learners are the child, the parent(s) and the teacher. In order to best serve the child, early childhood programs must not only focus on the curriculum and programmatic issues, but must also spend time training staff and providing learning opportunities for parents. Successful early childhood programs aim to employ the most effective resources available to meet the needs of… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Teachers in Kentucky are using portfolios to determine strengths and weaknesses of individual students. Consequently, instruction is centered totally around the student. The implementation of portfolios sends the message to students that their first efforts should not be their last. Revision is part of improvement, and students are expected to reevaluate so that their portfolios represent their best work. The rationale and procedures for using mathematics and writing portfolios in Kentucky schools are explored. The use of portfolios grows from the Kentucky Educational Reform Act and is part of the performance based assessment mandated in 1992. The mathematics portfolio for grade 4, presently in use, contains a table of contents, a letter to the reviewer, and five to seven entries that reflect the students’ best work in… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: As schools work to implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a team at Stanford University found that project-based learning is an effective framework for engaging students. The team used project-based learning, group activities, and performance-based assessments to design an effective, engaging curriculum. Over a three-year period, the team conducted research which showed that the curriculum led to gains in both student engagement and learning outcomes (as measured by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium’s math and English language arts tests, the California English Language Development Test, and a science pre- and post-assessment). The team contends that these gains were supported by a curriculum and professional development package that led to changes in teachers’ instructional practices. It highlights five things to look for when evaluating NGSS instructional materials… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: In a more consistent and viable manner than ever before, education in Alabama is moving toward its ultimate goal of providing every student with a quality education, thereby preparing them for work, college, and life after high school. Alabama’s graduation rates from 2002 to 2008 increased significantly, tripling the national average increase and ranking fourth in the country. Alabama’s progress in reading continues to prove the state’s reading initiative is effective. Educational assessments clearly show the historic gains Alabama made in reading in 2007 (greatest gains in Reading in America and in the history of the National Assessment of Educational Progress) continue to remain steady. Alabama’s trailblazing distance learning program, ACCESS, remains a spectacle of achievement recognized and reported on by national television programs and newspapers across… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The study aimed at identifying the reasons behind the Jordanian students’ drop of performance in the TIMSS 2015 from the point of view of their teachers. Survey method was used because teachers are the most able to decide upon the reasons of this fall and so a questionnaire was designed to recognize their point of view concerning the reasons of this retreat. The study population consisted of 130 teachers of science and mathematics in Ma’an governorate. Teachers whose teaching experience was more than one year to make sure they are familiar with TIMSS tests. Random sampling technique was used to select 90 teachers representing 69% of the study population. For data analysis, means and standards deviations were calculated, and the Schiffe test was used to determine the… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: “The Right Trajectory” brings to the forefront an often-overlooked voice in the debate about new state assessments developed in consortia: that of the best teachers in the country. This research suggests, despite challenges still to overcome, that these front-line experts believe that the new consortia tests are an improvement on the former assessments and so represent movement in the right direction for students and for education in their states. What do great teachers think of the new assessments compared to the previous ones? As part of state transitions to college and career ready (CCR) standards, including the Common Core State Standards in more than 40 states (NGA & CCSSO, 2010), states are for the first time administering new summative assessments aligned to those standards and aiming for… Continue Reading →
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eric.ed.gov har udgivet: In this report we provide preliminary evidence on the measurement characteristics for a new type of teaching performance assessment designed to be combined with complementary assessments of teacher content knowledge. The resulting test, which we refer to as the Foundational Assessment of Competencies for Teaching (FACT), is designed for use as part of initial teacher licensure. Twenty elementary FACT performance tasks (10 for mathematics [MATH] and 10 for reading language arts [RLA]) were developed and then administered to 59 teacher candidates. The results from the pilot indicate that the performance tasks function as designed with candidates completing the tasks on average in approximately 3.5 min. Human raters were able to score the tasks quickly and accurately. All score points were well represented for all the scored tasks.… Continue Reading →
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