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Eric.ed.gov – Increasing School Engagement through Theme-Based Curriculum

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This paper reports on an evaluation of a distinctive university-school partnership program, Curriculum Bridges. Curriculum Bridges aims to develop the enthusiasm and capacity of students from disadvantaged schools in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). These objectives are sought by developing a theme in the curriculum across subjects in years 10, 11 and 12. In the pilot phase, the curricula of English, Maths and Biology were linked together through the theme of ‘understanding and curing disease’. These curricula were developed by the school teachers, who received training in the ‘backward design’ approach. The model also integrates into the curriculum university on-campus activities and excursions. UniBridges was originally implemented in three schools in 2011 and is ongoing. Our evaluation found that UniBridges has increased student… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Mathematical Teaching Strategies: Pathways to Critical Thinking and Metacognition

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: A teacher that emphasizes reasoning, logic and validity gives their students access to mathematics as an effective way of practicing critical thinking. All students have the ability to enhance and expand their critical thinking when learning mathematics. Students can develop this ability when confronting mathematical problems, identifying possible solutions and evaluating and justifying their reasons for the results, thereby allowing students to become confident critical thinkers. Critical thinking and reasoning allows students to think about how they utilize their discipline of mathematical skills (i.e., they think about their method of thinking). Metacognition helps students to recognize that math is logical reasoning on solutions to problems. Students are taught how to: identify scenarios; evaluate; select problem-solving strategies; identify possible conclusions; select logical conclusions; describe how a solution was… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellowship: A Five-Year Statewide Investment to Improve Teacher Preparation

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Both Ohio’s state leadership and its foundation community recognized that, to move forward in a global economy, Ohio would need a highly trained workforce that would attract high tech companies to the state. Though STEM shortages have been a pervasive problem for decades, with the election of a new Governor in 2008, there was call to action from state higher education executive officers to address the STEM shortage areas as well as the growing achievement gap. In the years leading up to 2010, the state had significant teacher shortages in ten subject areas, with the greatest need in mathematics, sciences, and special education. These shortages, already severe, were projected to worsen as the state looked to adopt new rules for additional math and science courses required for… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Opening Opportunities through Math Board Games: Collaboration between Schools and a Teacher Education Program

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: As the recession that began in 2008 continues to impact schools at every level, collaboration among educational entities is a matter of survival because public schools and universities are strapped for resources. Therefore, they must reach out and combine their efforts to provide needed services at a minimum cost. A natural partnership exists between public schools and institutions of higher learning that provide the lifeline to schools via their teacher preparation programs. When properly coordinated, collaboration between a college of education and public schools can benefit everyone involved. This article outlines the collaborative efforts between a university and a school district focusing on a math program, the eX-Games Project, a community-based project that brings together pre-service and in-service teachers, graduate students, and K-8th grade students to develop… Continue Reading