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Eric.ed.gov – Self-Report and Academic Factors in Relation to High School Students’ Success in an Innovative Biotechnology Program

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Biotechnology constitutes one of the most challenging, cutting-edge, and rapidly growing fields in science today. Both the practical implications and the hands-on nature of this “modern science” make the topic of biotechnology an attractive addition to the high school science curriculum. The current study is the first of its kind to explore how student characteristics and biotechnology course outcomes relate to one another. Results indicated that students’ general attitudes about science and their overall math skills predicted success across a number of measures, including both self-reported skill ratings as well as the more traditional measures of course grade and exam score. The results also demonstrated the association between skill, as measured through self-reported proficiency ratings, and achievement on an articulation exam. It documented the relation between skills… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Gender Differences in Interest, Perceived Personal Capacity, and Participation in STEM-Related Activities

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Today, more women than in the past obtain degrees in science and engineering. However, women still remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This study identifies whether the Engagement, Capacity, and Continuity (ECC) Trilogy could be utilized by teachers in technology and engineering program setting to examine their students’ interest (engagement), perceived personal capacity (capacity), and participation (continuity) in technology- and engineering-related activities. The ECC Trilogy provides a practical framework that can potentially assist teachers in identifying what factors create barriers to students wanting to become an engineer or pursuing a career in a technology- or engineering-related field. In order to identify where a lack of interest may occur, this study compares male and female middle school and high school students’ responses to STEM-related survey… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Gender Equity in High School Math: A Study of Female Participation and Achievement.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This survey of 316 Precalculus, Calculus AB, and Calculus BC students from markedly different socioeconomic levels in four district high schools in San Antonio, Texas, looked at factors that have traditionally caused women to avoid mathematics, and attempted to discover which of them continue to influence women’s decisions to reject the discipline. The questionnaire contained 25 questions based on assumptions drawn from literature on the subject. Reported and discussed are all differences in gender opinion above 9 percentage points, even though a difference of 11.4 percentage points would begin to indicate a statistically significant result. Findings where such differences occur showed that: (1) mathematics enrollment favored men, especially in BC Calculus; (2) female respondents more frequently perceived no bias in teacher expectations; (3) female students less frequently… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Using Accelerated Math To Enhance Student Achievement in High School Mathematics Courses.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The purpose of this study is to compare the results achieved when a computer-managed learning program is used in high school mathematics classes with the results achieved when traditional teaching strategies are utilized. The control groups for Pre-algebra, Algebra 1, and Geometry received traditional classroom instruction. The intervention groups received individualized instruction as their progress through the predetermined objectives were assessed and managed using a computer software package. Following the pre-tests, 3 and a half months of treatment and post-tests, major differences were found. The intervention group showed significantly larger gains in achievement than the control group. Changes in student attitudes were also observed. Computer-managed learning systems appeared to be an effective method for teaching mathematics to high school students. Appended are: Student Surveys; Parent Surveys; Accelerated… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – How Negative Expectancies and Attitudes Undermine Females’ Math Confidence and Performance: A Review of the Literature.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Females’ underperformance in mathematics is discussed as a function of negative expectancies by parents, teachers, and peers. These negative expectancies of significant others lead to negative self-expectancies and negative attitudes about mathematics on the part of female students. These negative expectancies and attitudes lead to lower performance, reinforcing parents’ and teachers’ negative expectancies. Thus a cycle of low expectancies leading to low performance leading to even lower expectancies is perpetuated. Some reasons this cycle persists are: (1) girls, more than boys, tend to believe that mathematical ability is something individuals either have or do not have; (2) girls are more math anxious than boys; (3) girls may believe that “girls just cannot do math”; (4) girls’ belief that their ability is so low that no amount of… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Writing, Solving, and Sharing Original Math Story Problems: Case Studies of Fifth Grade Children’s Cognitive Behavior.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The purpose of this research was to understand fifth grade children’s cognitive behavior as they wrote, solved and then, in small groups, shared original math story problems. Research questions examined children’s: (1) beliefs about math in this problem-writing classroom, (2) math story problem-writing behavior, (3) difficulties with their self-generated problems, and (4) small-group problem solving behavior. Case studies were conducted in the context of a teaching experiment in one fifth grade classroom. Children were engaged to write, solve and then share math story problems three or four days a week during this one year study. There were three overlapping groups of participant children. Eight children were observed as they wrote and solved math story problems. Seventeen children, including the eight previously observed, were observed via audio-recordings as… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Ability Grouping Effects on Lower Level Math Students’ Self-Concept and Achievement.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The differences in effects of heterogeneous and homogeneous regrouping for math on academic ability and self-concept in math were investigated. Five sixth-grade students from both grouping placements were interviewed to determine their self-concept of their math abilities. All students labeled as average or below from both placements were given an assessment of basic grade-level math skills. The classes containing these students were observed, and each placement had the same teacher providing all math instruction. The results indicated that the homogeneous students liked their math classes better and were more likely to compare themselves above their classmates in ability than the heterogeneous students. However, there were almost no differences between overall self-concept in math between the placements, and the scores on the assessment substantially favored the heterogeneous placement.… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Early Progress: Interim Research on Personalized Learning

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This interim report from the RAND Corporation is the first in what will be a series of research reports based on an ongoing long-term study of foundation-funded schools that are using a variety of approaches to personalized learning. Although the early results are encouraging, the study does not attempt to make claims about which aspects of these schools contributed to the gains in student learning to date. This research is part of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to spread effective practices across districts and charter networks, support innovative roles for teachers, and support implementation of college-ready standards. All of the schools in the study received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, either directly or through intermediary organizations, to implement personalized learning practices. Each of the participating… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Investigations in Math and Science AB: A Course of Study for Grades 7-12.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: “Investigations in Math and Science AB” is an annual science elective for students in grades 7-12 in Los Angeles Unified School District. Section 1 of this guide provides teachers with a discussion of the course content, including the course description, representative objectives, required instructional units, and enrichment activities. Basic skills to be mastered include the communication skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing; reasoning; problem solving; computation skills; and performance skills. The second section discusses lesson planning and instruction for the course and includes: (1) a list of teacher responsibilities; (2) a model for the teacher-directed lesson process; (3) an agenda format for daily activities; (4) questions and commentary for teaching decisions; (5) a suggested lesson plan format; (6) questions and vocabulary to promote higher levels of… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Helping Your Child Learn Math with Activities for Children Aged 5 through 13.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This booklet is one in a series on different education topics intended to help parents make the most of their child’s natural curiosity and become an integral part of reaching the National Education Goals as set forth by the President and governors in 1990. The book suggests ways that parents can generate interest in mathematics in children aged 5-13. Three initial sections discuss ideas parents need to consider when working with their children. Concepts discussed include the importance of mathematics, parents’ and students’ attitudes toward mathematics, the meaning of being a mathematics problem solver, communicating mathematics, and how to use the book. Twenty-six activities are presented that incorporate games, problem solving, and hands-on experiences to teach mathematical concepts. The activities are divided into three categories: (1) Math… Continue Reading