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Educational Methods

Illinois Math and Science Academy

Faculty Publications & Research

2022

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Why Are There Microscopes In The Art Room?, Joyce Symoniak Nov 2022

Why Are There Microscopes In The Art Room?, Joyce Symoniak

Faculty Publications & Research

During this presentation we will explore how working cross curriculum enhances learning within the visual arts, science and mathematics. We will discuss how the visual arts curriculum can be created in order to bond with STEM courses for student success. Through exploration we will discuss how collaboration within these courses can be used to solidify cross curriculum understanding and learning.


Can You Master This? : Initial Attempts At Specifications-Based Grading In Introductory Chemistry, Laura Kopff Jul 2022

Can You Master This? : Initial Attempts At Specifications-Based Grading In Introductory Chemistry, Laura Kopff

Faculty Publications & Research

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) requires all incoming students to complete a one-semester introductory chemistry course in their sophomore year – Scientific Inquiries in Chemistry (SI-Chem). This course has historically been taught using a traditional grading/assessment model, however, in the Spring of 2021, a switch was made to a specification-based grading system. One motivating factor in this decision is an institutional shift to an equity-focused grading approach, and an analysis of our historical assessment model indicated areas for improvement.

Our initial foray into specifications grading was during the Spring of 2021 semester, when all of our courses were …