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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 – Vermont Teachers’ Understanding of Mathematical Problem Solving and “Good” Math Problems.

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 – Assessing Teacher-Made Tests in Secondary Math and Science Classrooms.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: A model for use in identifying assessment needs in association with teacher-made mathematics and science tests at the secondary level was developed. The model focuses on the identification and narrowing of discrepancies between teachers’ perceptions of their testing practices and actual practice. All 19 math and 16 science teachers at a 4-year high school in a mixed suburban/rural school district participated in the project. Subjects’ involvement consisted of completing a brief survey instrument and supplying their most recently administered unit or quarter test. Data from 35 questionnaires and 34 tests containing more than 1,400 items were analyzed. Results cover the nature of classroom assessment, characteristics of teacher-made tests, item formats, cognitive levels treated, quality of items, and teachers’ confidence in testing skills. Topics identified as important for… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – “How Does My Teacher Know What I Know?” Third Graders’ Perceptions of Math, Reading, and Assessment.

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 – Assessment of Math Skills in ABE: A Challenge.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Criteria for placement tests on math skills of adult basic education (ABE) students are needed to develop tests that are not too “school-like” because the ABE students are often blocked by math anxiety due to past negative school experiences, students may encounter language problems that affect their math skills, simple math problems do not measure practical problem-solving skills, and a placement test having only right and wrong answers does not provide insight into mathematical procedures of adults. These are the criteria: (1) adult students should be enabled to show the best they can; (2) language in a placement test should not hamper the student from doing the math test; (3) adults, in particular second language learners, should have a chance to apply their own mathematical procedures and… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Development of Computational Thinking Scale: Validity and Reliability Study

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Computational thinking is a way of thinking that covers 21st century skills and includes new generation concepts such as robotics, coding, informatics and information construction. Computational thinking has reached an important point especially in the field of science in line with the rapid developments in technology. Robotics applications, software-based activities, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education and problem-based studies are some of the areas where this thinking is used. In this study, which is based on this point, it is aimed to develop a scale for computational thinking. Exploratory sequential design, one of the mixed research methods, was used in the study. First of all, a detailed literature review was conducted and needs analysis was carried out. This study consists of two stages. In the first stage,… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – A Mathematical Anxiety Scale Instrument for Junior High School Students

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Anxiety becomes one of the psychological symptoms that can appear in every student while solving mathematics problems. Anxiety cannot be denied to be one factor that affects students’ learning outcomes and interest in mathematics. Therefore, teachers should concern on this matter in order to decide the appropriate learning strategy. However, there is no instrument to measure the level of students’ anxiety towards mathematics, especially for junior high school students. For that reason, this research aims to: (1) design the construct of math anxiety scale instrument; and (2) find out the validity of the instrument. This research used Research and Development method to develop and validate the product which is in the form of a questionnaire. The analysis techniques used V Aiken for content validity, EFA for construct… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – easyCBM CCSS Math Item Scaling and Test Form Revision (2012-2013): Grades 6-8. Technical Report #1313

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The purpose of this technical report is to document the piloting and scaling of new easyCBM mathematics test items aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and to describe the process used to revise and supplement the 2012 research version easyCBM CCSS math tests in Grades 6-8. For all operational 2012 research version test forms (10 progress monitoring and 3 benchmark) five items were selected for removal based on statistics indicating less than optimal functioning. Items from the current pilot were used to replace the five selected items. Additionally, five items previously written to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Focal Point Standards, but rated as aligned with the CCSS, were added to each form. Finally, an additional fifteen items were included in benchmark tests… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Development of an Attitude Scale of Mathematics and Science Teachers towards Mistake and Instant Feedback to the Mistake: A Validity and Reliability Study

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The purpose of the research is to develop a valid and reliable attitude scale that can measure the attitudes of math and science teachers (315) and teacher candidates (105) towards mistakes and instant feedback. In the validity studies, the exploratory factor analysis was made with the SPS1S 8.0 package program after that the confirmatory factor analysis was made with Lisrel 8.8 software. To develop the scale; 1. Creation of Item Pool, 2. Obtaining Expert Opinion, 3. Creation of Pre-Trial Form, 4. Factor Analysis is made. According to factor analysis; Kaiser Meyer Olkin (KMO) rate; 0.808; Bartlett test result: 2148,354; Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient for the whole scale: 0.829. According to confirmatory factor analysis: Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) 0.022 (<0.05); p-Value for Test of Close… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Listen to Us: Teacher Views and Voices

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Education policymakers and leaders often say that the opinions and observations of teachers are among the most important information to help explain and understand what is happening in schools. Teachers’ voices can inject a sense of classroom and school-level realism into those discussions and add clarity and credibility to issues that are often clouded by competing interests. The Center on Education Policy (CEP), in an effort to gather and amplify teachers’ voices about current education issues and their own profession, conducted a national survey of public school K-12 teachers in the winter of 2015-16. The survey focused on a strategic set of issues for policymakers, educators, business leaders, and the public, including teachers’ views on their profession, standards, testing, and evaluations. The nationally representative sample surveyed for… Continue Reading