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Eric.ed.gov – Mathematics: Essential Research, Essential Practice. Volumes 1 and 2. Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This is a record of the proceedings of the 30th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA). The theme of the conference is “Mathematics: Essential research, essential practice.” The theme draws attention to the importance of developing and maintaining links between research and practice and ties in with the joint day of presentations with the 21st biennial conference of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT). This special feature highlights the benefits of collaboration between researchers, practicing classroom teachers, and curriculum developers. Volume 1 contains the following papers: (1) The Beginnings of MERGA (Ken Clements); (2) Teaching and Learning by Example: The Annual Clements/Foyster Lecture (Helen L. Chick); (3) Introducing Students to Data Representation and Statistics (Richard Lehrer); (4) Studies in the Zone… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Research Mathematicians’ Participation in the MSP Program

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The purpose of this study was to examine the involvement of higher education STEM faculty in disciplinary departments with pre-K-12 public schools. In particular, the study focused on 15 nationally funded awards, targeted at education in mathematics, in the National Science Foundation’s Math and Science Partnership (NSF MSP) Program. One important goal of the MSP Program is to further cultural change in the STEM departments. Other studies have analyzed the effectiveness of efforts to engage STEM faculty in education activities; however, the groups studied previously included those faculty whose primary research field was STEM education. Taking the view that achieving cultural change in disciplinary departments may require an attitudinal shift among disciplinary research faculty, this analysis selected only the faculty group self-identified as “mathematics researchers” for study.… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Retaining Quality Teachers for Alaska.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This report examines the demand for teachers, teacher turnover, and teacher education in Alaska. Surveys were conducted with school district personnel directors, directors of Alaska teacher education programs, teachers who exited Alaska schools in 2001, and rural and urban instructional aides. Alaska is facing teacher shortages, but these are confined to certain specializations–particularly special education and secondary math and science–and a few rural districts. Since most of Alaska’s teachers come from outside the state, the state is particularly vulnerable to the vicissitudes of the national teacher labor market. In addition, cost-of-living adjusted salaries for Alaska teachers have declined in the past decade. Surveys of exiting teachers found that rural teachers were dissatisfied with student motivation and effort and lack of support from parents. Alaska’s institutions of higher… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Adult Basic Education: An Evaluation of Materials. Volume III. Contains resource materials on Supplemental Language Arts; Vocational Education; Social Living; General Equivalency Diploma: English, Literature, Math, Social Studies, Science; Equivalency Examination Materials; Spelling; Vocational.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: An attempt to meet the need for resource materials available for Adult Basic Education (ABE) personnel who work with Spanish-speaking adults is presented. The information presented was acquired by writing to commercial publishers throughout the country. Evaluations included were completed by identifying the usefulness of the curricular offerings for Spanish-speaking adults. Portions of the evaluations are designed for children and junior and senior high school students; some of these have proven useful to adults. Evaluative criteria used when the materials were assessed include: Title, Author, Publisher, Objectives, Criterion Measures, Instructional Components, Learner Prerequisite, Teacher Requirements, Reliability Effect, Cost and Time. (Author/CK) Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – Independence and Interdependence: An Analysis of Pre-Service Candidates’ Use of Focused Assignments on an Electronic Discussion Forum during the Initial Field Experience

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This article describes a case study using an electronic learning platform for creating an interactive learning community through asynchronous discussion to enhance the initial field experience of secondary math and English teacher candidates enrolled in Field Experience. We identified three problems with the field experience course–lack of structure, isolation of the candidates in the field, and passivity of the candidates. To address these problems, we established three goals–to create a way for candidates to structure their reflections in the field, to create a learning community of pre-professionals, and to foster independence and assertiveness in our candidates. With these goals in mind, focused assignments were developed and implemented in an interactive online discussion forum. The results of this study have two important implications for teacher preparation. First, the… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Learning in Linguistically Diverse Middle School Classrooms: The Role of the Classroom Peer Network

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The literature suggests there is much to be gained from exploring the role of the peer network in linguistically diverse “mainstream” middle school classrooms (i.e., classrooms that include English language learners alongside fluent English-speakers). The present study uses social network analysis to examine whether between-classroom and between-student variation in cross-language-status integration in the classroom peer network may contribute to between-classroom and between-student differences in learning. Data from a larger mixed-methods study at a linguistically diverse middle school in the southeastern United States are analyzed to test two hypotheses: (1) Classrooms with more linguistically integrated peer networks (i.e., those in which the network of friendships in the classroom is less segregated by ELL status) will show greater growth in classroom mean standardized test scores across the school year;… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Evaluation of Enhanced Academic Instruction in After-School Programs: Final Report. NCEE 2009-4077

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether providing structured academic instruction in reading or math to students in grades two to five during their afterschool hours–instead of the less formal academic supports offered in regular after-school programs– improves their academic performance in the subject. This is the second and final report from the Evaluation of Enhanced Academic Instruction in After-School Programs–a two-year demonstration and random assignment evaluation of structured approaches to teaching math and reading in after-school settings. This report includes two parallel impact studies, a math program study (“Mathletics” developed by Harcourt School Publishers) and a reading program study (“Adventure Island” developed by the Success for All Foundation) in which students attending an afterschool program are assigned by lottery to either receive the… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Measuring Student Success from a Developmental Mathematics Course at an Elite Public Institution

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This paper asks whether placement recommendations for a developmental math course at an elite public institution impact students’ future academic performance, course-taking, and college outcomes. Researchers use these specific outcomes to measure whether developmental courses help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in college, inspire them to take different courses, and help them graduate or persist in college. The study examines the ways in which instructor characteristics can drive these outcomes, and whether instruction at this university in a program for low-achieving students and particularly underprepared low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented minority students achieves its goal of reducing achievement gaps. This informs specific course and instructor policies to help underprepared students in their first semesters in college. The research setting is an elite public institution with a… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Adult Basic Education: An Evaluation of Materials. Volume II. Contains materials on Reading, Math, Citizenship, Consumer Education, Science-Health, and Social Studies.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: An attempt to meet the need for resource materials Spanish-speaking adults is presented. The information presented was acquired by writing to commercial publishers throughout the country. Evaluations included were completed by identifying the usefulness of the curricular offerings for Spanish-speaking adults. Portions of the evaluations are designed for children and junior high school students; some of these have proven useful to adults. Evaluative criteria used when the materials were assessed include: Title, Author, Publisher, Objectives, Criterion Measures, Instructional Components, Learner Prerequisite, Teacher Requirements, Reliability Effect, Cost, and Time. (Author/CK) Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – Why Potential Science and Math Teachers Are Choosing Not to Teach–And What We Can Do about It.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The factors which discourage prospective teachers from pursuing teaching careers are examined in this study. College freshmen from a medium-sized engineering university in the Midwest were selected to participate in the investigation. Based on responses to a questionnaire, these students were grouped as “teaching oriented” and “non-teaching oriented.” Reasons for not teaching given by the “teaching oriented” students (N=20) included, in order of priority: (1) low salary; (2) not wanting to do the typical things that teachers do each day; (3) concern for job security; (4) low maximum salaries after years of work; and (5) poor job availability. The findings of this study confirm concerns about the level of teaching salaries as a major deterrent to prospective teachers. It was also stated that increased guidance counselor encouragement… Continue Reading