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Eric.ed.gov – One Instructor’s Quest for a Collaborative Professional Culture

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: With a B.S. in math but no prior math education training, the author’s first job as a math teacher was at an alternative charter school with a holistic mission. The author struggled tremendously and no doubt left numerous opponents to math reform in his wake. Fortunately, he attributed his ineffectiveness to his lack of experience and skill as a facilitator and curriculum writer, not to a flaw in the vision. Though he has no way of knowing, he has since wondered what percentage of new educators in similar situations would draw a different conclusion, something like, “Math is different from other subjects. It can’t be learned collaboratively. You just have to memorize.” This experience motivated him to understand why and how math teachers can become effective in… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Professional Development Integrating Technology: Does Delivery Format Matter?

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The goal of the two Power of Data (POD) projects was to increase science, technology and math skills through the implementation of project-based learning modules that teach students how to solve problems through data collection and analysis utilizing geospatial technologies. Professional development institutes in two formats were offered to encourage teachers to implement the modules. We compared teacher learning, teacher implementation, and student learning from the two different professional development formats to examine how each format supported teachers to implement the modules, and, ultimately, improve student understanding. Teacher surveys, content and technology assessments, classroom observations, student assessments, and student work samples were analyzed for comparison between a two-week summer institute and monthly meetings held throughout the academic year. Teachers and students from both formats showed improvement in… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – A Preliminary Case Study of SCALE Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: Factors Influencing Change Initiatives in STEM Undergraduate Education, Teacher Training, and Partnerships with K-12 Districts. WCER Working Paper No. 2007-2

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This report on the SCALE Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Case Studies line of work provides preliminary findings about SCALE activities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). This study focuses on the structural and behavioral dynamics influencing the implementation of the four core SCALE strategies for effecting change in IHEs: (1) reform undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses; (2) promote collaboration between STEM and education departments regarding pre-service teacher education; (3) promote collaboration between IHEs and K-12 districts regarding in-service professional development; and (4) improve institutional policies and practices at the IHE level that support faculty engaged in pre- and in-service activities. Preliminary findings indicate that SCALE is making progress in each of these areas. Through the Math Masters and Immersion Unit professional development programs… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Gearing up to Teach the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in the Rural Northeast Region. Stated Briefly. REL 2015-066

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This study describes key challenges and necessary supports related to implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) identified by rural math educators in the Northeast. The research team interviewed state and district math coordinators and surveyed teachers in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, to assess their most pressing challenges and associated needs. Key challenges included time and support for teachers to change their instructional practices to meet the CCSSM, availability of high-quality instructional materials, and opportunities for collaboration. The report was produced in response to input from the Northeast Rural Districts Research Alliance (NRDRA), one of eight research alliances working with REL Northeast & Islands. This “Stated Briefly” report is a companion piece that summarizes the results of another report entitled “Gearing… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Designing Professional Development around Key Principles and Formative Assessments to Improve Teachers’ Knowledge to Teach Mathematics

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The authors’ hypothesis is that if teachers (as experts) understand and teach concepts from the position of expertise teacher quality will improve. They believe that focusing on the key ideas will deepen both teacher and student understanding and allow learners to build the concepts necessary to form solid foundations for the application of mathematics both in and out of school. But such methods of instruction often require that teachers learn to reorganize and teach fundamental concepts in more expert-like ways. Because many teachers were taught in a system that stressed procedure rather than conceptual understanding, and the dearth of guidance on how teachers might change their teaching in this manner, such change may be difficult. Building on the expert-novice literature, and the findings by Carpenter, Fenamya, Levi,… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Professional Development for Math and Science.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Because the key agent in mathematics and science reform is the teacher, this issue of the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (ENC) Focus highlights professional development. Whatever curriculum change is adopted in a school district, whatever new textbook series is chosen, it is through the teacher that the program will be adapted and translated into classroom activities and assignments. This issue lists 31 resources (books, videotapes, CD-Roms, the Internet) related to professional development in mathematics and science education. The resources featured in this issue were selected from the existing collection at ENC and can be used in a variety of settings from self-study to group study, in consultation with peers and supervisors, and as part of an inquiry into practice or an action research… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Math, Science, & Manufacturing Collaborative.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The concept of a collaborative math and science project grew out of the need expressed by Cleveland State University (Ohio) engineering faculty and junior and senior high school teachers. These groups sought to provide students with connections to “real world” situations that they will face as they transition into the workplace of the future. The underlying assumptions of the collaboration are that secondary teachers’ understanding of engineering concepts will be enhanced by engaging in engineering problem solving and that the teachers will then incorporate lessons learned from the experiences into their classroom teaching. The goals for the project were to: (1) improve the quality of instruction provided to students; (2) better prepare in-service teachers; (3) increase understanding of educational barriers to curricular change; (4) facilitate the exchange… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – West Virginia University’s Health Sciences and Technology Academy

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This article describes the Health Sciences and Technology Academy, an outreach and engagement program by West Virginia University to encourage higher education faculty members and administrators, public school teachers, and community leaders to assume the responsibility of mentoring high school students. The primary goal is to increase the college going rate among underrepresented students in West Virginia. Additional goals are to improve science and math skill acquisition, to empower communities through leadership development of their youth, and to increase the number of health care providers as well as the number of math and science educators in West Virginia’s currently underserved communities. Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – A Study of Japanese Lesson Study with Third Grade Mathematics Teachers in a Small School District

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This paper describes implementation of a Lesson Study project with third grade teachers in a small school district to study the development of the critical lenses (perspectives) necessary for meaningful lesson study work. Adapting the Lesson Study process to meet school system needs, two outside facilitators stimulated teacher thinking with math explorations and probing/what if questioning. Using a qualitative methodology and the group as the unit of analysis, data were coded for evidence of and change in the lenses. After one year, the 8 participating teachers showed a qualitative difference in two of the three lenses: the student lens and the curriculum developer lens. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.) Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – The Role of the National Science Foundation in K-12 Science and Math Education. Hearing before the Committee on Science, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, Second Session (May 3, 2006). Serial Number 109-46

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The purpose of this hearing was to review the effectiveness and value of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) past and present programs in support of improvement of K-12 science and math education and to examine what role the Foundation should play in future federal initiatives for strengthening K-12 science and math education. This hearing follows up on the March 30 Science Committee hearing entitled, “K-12 Science and Math Education Across the Federal Agencies,” which featured Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, NSF Director Arden Bement, and representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Energy. The officials outlined their individual agencies’ activities to improve K-12 science and math education and described interagency coordination efforts. The charter for that… Continue Reading