Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Assessment Matters #15, Feb 2012, Assessment In Action Committee

Assessment Matters @ WMU

No abstract provided.

First-Year Superintendents‘ Perceptions Of Preparation And Practice, Brady D. Quirk

Dissertations

Through this qualitative study, the perceptions of first-year superintendents in Missouri were obtained regarding their graduate preparation program and the types of supports they sought in their new position. The superintendency is a complex role, requiring the school district leader to work within the often-conflicting framework of organizational manager versus instructional leader. The superintendents, both male and female from districts of varying sizes, were interviewed within this framework in order to make comparisons with the existing related literature. Certain themes emerged from the data, notably, a relationship between district size and the perception of the primary responsibilities of the superintendent. …

The Disconnection Between High School And College: A Study Of Retention Of Students Who Are At Risk Of Leaving College Before Completing A Degree, Peggy R. Sherwin

Dissertations

The number of students graduating high school and entering community colleges academically unprepared has increased. The problem is that they are at risk of leaving before degree completion. The community college in this study requires remedial no credit courses for unprepared students transitioning from high school based on an academic assessment test. There is no follow up once they are placed into the remedial courses. In contrast, non-traditional “returning learners” who test into remedial courses additionally receive follow-up in the form of an orientation workshop, a study skills course, and mentoring. The purpose of the study was to (a) review …

The Challenge Program: A Quantitative Analysis Of Strategies Designed To Eliminate The Achievement Gap, Diane L. Moore

Dissertations

The achievement gap is one of the most daunting challenges educators face in U.S. schools today. Researchers have identified many factors that contribute to the persistence of this gap in public schools. Family backgrounds, cultural environment, and socioeconomic status appear to be the main environmental factors perpetuating the achievement gap. A review of literature also revealed poor quality teachers, ineffective school leadership, course tracking in high schools, and a lack of parental involvement were the main school factors identified. This quantitative study examined one public high school’s effort to reduce the achievement gap between African American students and Caucasian students. …

The Impact Of Classroom Performance System-Based Instruction With Peer Instruction Upon Student Achievement And Motivation In Eighth Grade Math Students, Tracy Hunter Allison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher employed two designs to address the research question for this particular study. This quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group study compared the math achievement of 92 eighth grade students who received Classroom Performance System (CPS)-based instruction using Peer Instruction (PI) to 76 eighth grade students who received CPS-based math instruction without PI. Posttest scores were statistically analyzed using an ANCOVA. Iowa Test of Basic Skills scores were used as a covariate. A statistic control group design was employed to examine student motivation for the same group of students under the same conditions. Student motivation data from the Instructional Materials Motivation …

Some Assembly Required: How Scientific Explanations Are Constructed During Clinical Interviews, Bruce L. Sherin, Moshe Krakowski, Victor R. Lee

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This article is concerned with commonsense science knowledge, the informally-gained knowledge of the natural world that students possess prior to formal instruction in a scientific discipline. Although commonsense science has been the focus of substantial study for more than two decades, there are still profound disagreements about its nature and origin, and its role in science learning. What is the reason that it has been so difficult to reach consensus? We believe that the problems run deep; there are difficulties both with how the field has framed questions and the way that it has gone about seeking answers. In order …

Designed To Benefit Whom? An Evaluation Of Irish Early Childhood Education And Care Policy Using Policy Design Theory., Bernie O'Donoghue Hynes

Doctoral

The overarching aim of the research was to evaluate whether the mechanisms used by the state to implement policy were designed to effectively realise national early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy objectives and children‟s rights within that context. The theoretical framework selected for the project was policy design theory, a framework that emerged from within the field of implementation study. A focus on the distinct implementation phase within the policy process enabled an evaluation of policy achievements relative to policy intentions articulated in various policy documents. Five separate policy tool design models were selected and applied to data which …

Creating A Culture That Focuses On Assessing Leap Essential Learning Outcomes Without Killing Ourselves, Kenneth M. Jones, Philip I. Kramer, Peggy Retka

Office of Academic Review and Curricular Advancement Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Quality Counts 2012, Misty Newcomb, Gary W. Ritter

Policy Briefs

In an attempt to gauge the educational progress of the nation and each state, Education Week has published state report cards since 1997 in its annual Quality Counts series. The 16th annual report - Quality Counts 2012 - was released in January. Overall, Arkansas ranked 5th among the 50 states and was one of only nine states in the U.S. that received a B. This policy brief examines Arkansas’ rank in each category of the report as well as the quality of the report itself.

Snapshot : Current International Projects

International Developments

This article gives a brief overview of ACER's current international projects including an overview of ACER's work in Spain, Norway, India, the Arab States, and Saudi Arabia.

Graduate Capability, Hamish Bennett Coates

International Developments

Is it feasible to produce a generalisable assessment of higher education learning outcomes to demonstrate the capability of graduates? In a word, yes. Hamish Coates explains.

Regional Focus : South East Asia

International Developments

Foreign Ministers at the sixth East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bali, Indonesia, in July 2011 welcomed the convening of the first EAS Education Ministers meeting. The meeting of the Education Ministers of the 18 EAS countries was agreed at the previous EAS meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, in October 2010. The ministers agreed to pursue further cooperation to enhance the quality of education, and promote educational exchange and innovation in the region.

Regional Focus : India And Bangladesh

International Developments

ACER India increased the size of its workforce in 2011 and now boasts more than double the number of staff employed in 2010. The expansion increases the capacity of ACER India in terms of data analysis with a focus on international achievement studies, state monitoring programs and evaluation studies, as well as in terms of publication and marketing. The increased capacity means ACER India is well placed to independently undertake educational research and development work in India and beyond.

Partner Focus : Good Neighbours, Leila Ismail

International Developments

Researchers at ACER are ensuring Australia's international aid program in support of quality education is as smart as it can be, through its work with AusAID.

A Clearer Picture : National And International Testing In The Uae, Alan Egbert

International Developments

The Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently introduced the UAE National Assessment Program (UAENAP), developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in partnership with the ministry, to monitor student achievement and progress, in order to inform policy and curriculum development for the nation.

International Developments (No.2) 2012

International Developments

No abstract provided.

International Update (No. 2) November 2011

International Update archive (2010-2012)

Table of contents for this issue: (a) Beginning teacher standards in Saudi Arabia; (b) National assessment reports on health of UAE school system; (c) AHELO moves ahead; (d) ACER and CBSE conduct international assessment conference; (e) ACER India expands operations; (f) Measuring adult skills in New Zealand; (g) ACER and UNESCO Beirut collaborate in Arab States; (h) Reading literacy reform in Portugal; (i) Assessing generic skills; (j) Testing basic mathematics in Norway.

Walking Box Ranch Custodianship Quarterly Progress Report: Period Ending January 10, 2012, Margaret N. Rees

Walking Box Ranch

• UNLV provides stewardship of Walking Box Ranch (WBR) by providing a caretaker who oversees the property, facilitating use of the property by researchers and educators, developing a use and research policy for the property, and coordinating these activities with BLM and in accordance with TNC restrictions.
• UNLV currently addresses security issues for the property through the presence of the caretaker and two Metro Officers who reside on the property in two recreational vehicles.
• UNLV is working with new BLM employees Glen Marsh and Audrey Asselin to address continuing deterioration of the ranch house. UNLV has suggested to BLM that they …

Walking Box Ranch Planning And Design Quarterly Progress Report: Period Ending January 10, 2012, Margaret N. Rees

Walking Box Ranch

• UNLV’s President Smatresk has reiterated his commitment to the WBR project and has further committed full funding for IT and security costs.
• UNLV participated in a one-half day meeting with BLM to discuss the future WBR operating agreement between BLM and UNLV; UNLV participated in a 1.5 day meeting to review the 100% Design drawings.
• UNLV continues to wait on BLM for direction on how to mitigate the continuing deterioration of the ranch house.
• Weather station research continues and has produced the following this past quarter. 1) Ground-source heat pump (GSHP) Vs Photovoltaic (PV) technology: A detailed analysis comparing these …

Student Financial Aid 2012-13, Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

IPEDS Financial Aid

IPEDS Student Financial Aid annual report contains the following information:

• Number and percent of undergraduate and of full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students receiving student financial aid, by type of aid and average amount of aid received