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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 – 2012 Survey of States: Successes and Challenges during a Time of Change

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This report summarizes the thirteenth survey of states by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) at the University of Minnesota. Results are presented for 49 states and 6 of the 11 unique states. The purpose of this report is to provide a snapshot of the new initiatives, trends, accomplishments, and emerging issues during this important period of education reform as states documented the academic achievement of students with disabilities. Key findings include: (1) Fewer than half of the states have defined what college-and-career-readiness means for students with disabilities participating in the alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS); (2) Fewer than half of the states offered their current general state assessments on computer-based platforms for math, reading, or science; (3) State technology staff contributed to… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Teaching and Learning Conditions Are Critical to the Success of Students and the Retention of Teachers. Final Report on the 2006 Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey to the Clark County School District and Clark County Education Association

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Emerging research from across the nation demonstrates that school working conditions–time, teacher empowerment, school leadership, professional development, and facilities and resources–are critical to increasing student achievement and retaining teachers. The existing national data regarding working conditions impact on student achievement and teacher turnover provided a meaningful impetus for the Clark County School District of Nevada (CCSD) and its schools to conduct a survey to gather data with which to inform local working condition reform strategies. By placing the perceptions of Clark County educators at the center of school and district efforts to better recruit and retain teachers, the goal is to create a stable teaching force that allows for a high quality teacher in every classroom across the district. Analysis of the approximately 8,500 survey responses (representing… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Aftermath of Accelerating Algebra: Evidence from a District Policy Initiative. Working Paper 69

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: In 2002/03, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools initiated a broad program of accelerating entry into algebra coursework. The proportion of moderately-performing students taking 8th grade algebra increased from less than half to nearly 90%, then reverted to baseline levels, in the span of just six age cohorts. We use this policy-induced variation to infer the impact of accelerated entry into algebra on student performance in math courses as students progress through high school. Students affected by the acceleration initiative scored significantly lower on end-of-course tests in Algebra I, and were either no more likely or significantly less likely to pass standard follow-up courses, Geometry and Algebra II, on a college-preparatory timetable. We also find that the district assigned teachers with weaker qualifications to Algebra I classes in the first… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The OECD, PISA and the Impacts on Educational Policy

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Large-scale assessment regularly takes place in most jurisdictions across Canada, a fact not lost on the Fraser Institute and other right wing think tanks such as AIMS (Atlantic Institute for Market Studies) which use the test results as the primary basis for compiling school rankings at both the elementary and secondary level (see Gutstein, 2010). The frequency of external testing at different levels (provincial/territorial, national, international)–coupled with the high visibility accorded by the mainstream media to the results, usually in the form of league tables, and the imperatives of short term political mandates–have all contributed to a focus on improving one’s position within the list of rankings, as well as to a narrow focus on the tested subjects–math, science, reading. In this era of accountability-by-numbers, the elevated… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Gifted Females Can Be Supported in Math and Science: A Proposal for Mentoring in Secondary Schools.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This paper addresses the personological aspects relative to male and female success in two subject areas (math and science) and addresses specific concerns in the area of mentoring. Personality factors operative for success in math and science are reviewed, and teachers are advised to encourage, support, and facilitate those personality traits which appear to augur for success. One particular technique for encouraging females to pursue their interests is mentoring. The need of the mentor to nurture, encourage, and develop certain salient personality traits is emphasized. Reasons why bright individuals (both females and males) do not succeed are listed, such as lack of product orientation and capitalizing on the wrong abilities. Guidelines are presented for mentoring creatively gifted youth. Mentors are urged to guide their female protegees to… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Impact and Implementation Analyses of the ELM Kindergarten Mathematics Intervention

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The purpose of this 4-year efficacy trial, funded by IES under the Mathematics and Science Education topic, is to study the efficacy of a (Tier 1) core kindergarten math curriculum, “Early Learning in Mathematics” (ELM), when implemented under rigorous experimental conditions. In the first year of this study (2008-09), kindergarten classrooms were randomly assigned, blocking on schools, to treatment and control conditions in two districts in Oregon. There are two primary purposes of this presentation. The first is to briefly present impact findings from the first year of the 4-year study. The second focus of the presentation will be to discuss procedural fidelity and variations in the quality of implementation of the intervention. The focus of the discussion will be on the nature of the association between… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Children’s Kindergarten Outcomes and Program Quality in the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program: 2013-2014 Statewide Evaluation

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The 2013-2014 North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten (NC Pre-K) Evaluation study was designed to examine the longitudinal outcomes through kindergarten for children who attended the Pre-K program, along with comparisons to previous cohorts of program attendees. A sample of 561 children was included in the study, with data gathered at the beginning and end of NC Pre-K (2012- 2013) and kindergarten (2013-2014) to examine their growth in skills. Researchers conducted individual assessments of children’s language, literacy, math, and general knowledge skills and gathered teacher ratings of behavior skills. For 119 Spanish-speaking dual language learners (DLLs) in the sample, parallel assessments were conducted in both English and Spanish to examine their progress when measured in both languages. In addition, program characteristics and services were examined for the 2013-2014 NC Pre-K… Continue Reading

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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 – A Case Study: Teaching Engineering Concepts in Science

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This study was conducted to describe a high school engineering curriculum, identify teaching strategies used to increase math and science literacy, and discover challenges and constraints that occur during its development and delivery, as well as what strategies are used to overcome these obstacles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the engineering instructor. In addition, students were observed and curriculum documents, teacher lesson plans, and teacher resources were examined. Concepts created the platform for delivery, curricular trial and error was at work, science and engineering competitions were leveraged as a basis for learning activities, and project based learning and teaching was critical. There was a clear emphasis on creative thought and work. Assessment of student learning was dubious and elusive and stakeholders tended to be uneasy with this… Continue Reading