Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Assessment Brief: The Eportfolio Process And Student Learning, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

An analysis of student survey results relating ePortfolio classroom practices to students' reported learning.

From Failing To Effective: A Case Study Of Transformational Leadership And Teaching At A Township High School In Durban, South Africa, Kathlyn Pattillo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research has documented what leadership qualities are necessary to improve an underperforming disadvantaged school in South Africa. This research has called for further study of effective township schools in order to understand what makes them succeed. This research project will offer a case study of one such school’s transformation from low to high quality. Menzi High School, an entirely African, under-resourced township school in Umlazi, has achieved extraordinarily high matric pass rates despite the fact that the majority of learners live in informal settlements. The school’s success is due to the strong leadership of a principal who has led the …

"Beyond Bio2010: Celebration And Opportunities" At The Intersection Of Mathematics And Biology, John R. Jungck, Holly D. Gaff, Adam P. Fagen, Jay B. Labov

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

With this special edition of CBE-LSE, which focuses on connections between and integration of the biological and mathematical sciences, it is especially fitting that we report on an important symposium, Beyond BIO2010: Celebration and Opportunities,1 which was held at the National Acad- emy of Sciences (NAS) in Washington, D.C. on May 21–22, 2010. This symposium was organized to assess what progress has been made in addressing the challenges and recommendations in the National Research Council’s (NRC) report: BIO2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists (NRC, 2003a). Most of the presen- tations and posters at this event emphasized the increasing …

A Demonstration Of ‘Regression Toward The Mean’, Edward B. Reeves

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

This paper provides a brief discussion and demonstration of regression toward the mean, a subtle statistical artifact that appears in the effort to measure change. Regression toward the mean frequently arises in educational assessment when repeated testing is used to determine achievement growth among students or schools at the extremes of the achievement distribution. This statistical artifact is important because it can lead to erroneous inferences about what is causing the observed changes in test scores. The demonstration makes use of Kentucky Core Content Test data.

High School End-Of-Course Exams Show Proficiency Gains For 2010, Nathan C. Jensen, Gary W. Ritter

Policy Briefs

In July, the ADE released results for the 2009-10 end-ofcourse (EOC) exams given in Algebra I, Geometry, and Biology administered in April 2010. These results followed the Grade 11 Literacy results released in June. First, we present statewide 2010 results compared to last year. Second, test scores are examined across the state by districts' region, poverty level, and size. Third, we consider the performance of Arkansas students on other assessments to see if these results are consistent with EOC results.

Explicitly Differentiated Eighth-Grade Reading Instruction In A Rural Middle School Seeking To Reestablish Adequate Yearly Progress Benchmarks, John W. Hill, Sean Dunphy

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of explicitly differentiated reading instruction on eighth-grade students’ reading comprehension assessment scores and classroom reading grade scores in a rural middle school seeking to reestablish satisfactory No Child Left Behind, Adequate Yearly Progress, benchmarks. After one school year of participation in assessment-based and readiness-focused explicitly differentiated instruction, randomly assigned students across all three reading ability conditions high (n = 25), middle (n = 25), and low (n = 25) had statistically significantly improved pretest-posttest reading comprehension assessment scores and classroom reading grade scores. Furthermore, statistical equipoise was observed for posttest-posttest …

Identifying Opportunities For Collaborations In International Engineering Education Research On Problem- And Project-Based Learning, Kacey D. Beddoes, Brent K. Jesiek, Maura Borrego

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

We report on the results of a study to examine the global state of engineering education research on problem- and project-based learning (PBL). This paper has two major aims. First, we analyze a large collection of conference papers and journal articles to report on research trends in PBL, including in specific, leading countries. Second, based upon our analysis as well as a literature review of meta-analyses/syntheses of PBL literature, we propose a theoretical model for conceptualizing international research collaborations. Based on this model, we make recommendations for future initiatives, including multinational collaborations for research on PBL in engineering education

Educational Outcomes Of English Language Learners In Massachusetts: A Focus On Latino/A Students, Faye Karp, Miren Uriarte

Gastón Institute Publications

This report analyzes trends in enrollment and outcomes for English Language Learner stu- dents (ELLs), a growing population in Massachusetts, in the post–Question 2 policy envi- ronment. Where possible, the report presents data on Latino students of Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Few LEP students, and few of the native Spanish speakers among them, reach the highest level of English language proficiency as measured by the Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment (MEPA).Though some improvements have been seen in terms of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) performance and graduation rates, the rates remain low and the persistence of large gaps between LEPs and …

The State Of Latinos And Education In Massachusetts: 2010, Billie Gastic, Melissa Colón, Andrew Flannery Aguilar

Gastón Institute Publications

Schools are critical public institutions for Latino youth in the Commonwealth, who make up 15% of the public school enrollment in the state. Sadly, despite leading the nation in student achievement, Massachusetts is still leaving its Latino students behind. This is evident from several indicators of Latino students’ academic success. School attendance is a significant concern since Latino students lose an average of more than two and a half weeks of school each year due to absences. Latino students are also frequently disciplined for behavioral is- sues at school. Latinos account for 23% of the incidents that result in disciplinary …

Act 60: The Past, Present, And Future Of School Consolidation In Arkansas, Nathan C. Jensen, Gary W. Ritter

Policy Briefs

Since its passage in 2004, Arkansas’ Act 60 has had a major impact on the smallest school districts in Arkansas. The law requires school districts to be consolidated if their enrollment drops below 350 for two consecutive years. This policy brief will report on the numbers and types of schools and districts that have closed since the passage of Act 60. Moreover, the brief will evaluate the enrollment trends to predict which school districts are “at-risk” of being consolidated for dropping below the 350 student threshold established by Act 60. The data for this policy brief is excerpted from a …

School Attendance And Retention Of Indigenous Australian Students, Nola Purdie, Sarah Buckley

Indigenous Education Research

Engagement in education is a key factor affecting the life chances of all Australians, and for Indigenous Australians in particular. Higher levels of educational attainment improve employment opportunities, are associated with higher income and promote participation in all societal activities. This paper evaluates the quality of available evidence regarding strategies for improving school attendance, with emphasis on Australian research. It examines the causes and consequences of non-attendance; measures of attendance and retention; examples of existing programs and initiatives; different program approaches, such as sanctions, incentives, and cultural relevance; what constitutes good evidence; what works in attendance and retention programs; and …

Against The Odds: Influences On The Post-School Success Of 'Low Performers', Sue Thomson, Kylie Hillman

Vocational, adult and professional education research

The link between academic achievement and labour market outcomes is well established. But how well does a student's achievement in a test predict their later success in life? This study examines this question, with 'success' considered to encompass satisfaction with life together with the extent to which young people are fully occupied with education, employment or a combination of these. Low performers in mathematics in the 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment were the focus. The study found that 'low performing' status has little impact on future success. Further, students who saw the value of mathematics for their future success …

Dropouts To Diplomas: Closing The Attainment Gap In Connecticut High Schools, Richard A. Wilson

Research Papers

The Connecticut Advisory Committee submits this report, Dropouts to Diplomas: Closing the Attainment Gap in Connecticut High Schools, as part of its responsibility to advise the Commission on civil rights issues in Connecticut. Based on the briefings, the Connecticut Advisory Committee offers this report and findings and recommendations with the aim of improving high school graduation rates in economically disadvantaged school districts and across the state. In distilling best practices, the report focuses on school culture, school leadership, teacher evaluation, teacher retention, parental involvement, data collection, English language learners, and the General Educational Development test.

Teach For Australia Pathway : Evaluation Report Phase 1 Of 3 (April-July 2010), Catherine Scott, Paul R. Weldon, Stephen Dinham

Initial Teacher education

This Report (Part 1) is designed to provide a summary of data gathered on the operation of the Teach for Australia Pathway to date.

Data were collected via site visits with schools and phone interviews with the program partners, the Associates, their mentors, principals and other school personnel, and the Educational Advisers over April through July 2010.

The information gathered to date aims to provide early feedback on how the program is being implemented – to synthesise emerging themes in the delivery of the program and to inform future development and implementation.

Causes Of Nonattendance And Its Effect On Student Achievement At The High School Level, Kelly D. Bracht

Dissertations

Many high schools in America have issues with student nonattendance. The researcher designed this mixed methods study to determine the affect of nonattendance on student achievement and to ascertain whether home-related factors or school-related factors were more significant causes of nonattendance. Both the high school in this study and other similar schools may use the results to develop effective nonattendance intervention programs. The researcher used cluster sampling to determine the sample population. She then collected attendance data (the number of absences each student had during one semester) and achievement data (each student’s Grade Point Average during that same semester) about …

Frinq Faculty Retreat, Portland State University. University Studies Program

University Studies Assessment Research

Presentation to FRINQ faculty on two projects connecting ePortfolio data with survey data focused on our Communication (writing) and Diversity learning goals.

Implementing Adult Learning Principles To Overcome Barriers Of Learning In Continuing Higher Education Programs, Kristen M. De Vito

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

A fundamental aspect to continuing higher education is overcoming of barriers of learning when dealing with non-traditional students. With non-traditional student enrollment on the rise, continuing higher education programs have an obligation to address issues of accessibility, affordability and accountability in higher education. The purpose of the study was to identify the relationship between adult learning principles and overcoming barriers of adult learning in continuing higher education at higher education institutions based on published literature.

Unfair Way To Evaluate Teachers: Test Scores About More Than Classroom, Aaron W. Hughey

Counseling & Student Affairs Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Apprenticeships And Traineeships: Participation, Progress And Completion, John Ainley, Steve Holden, Sheldon Rothman

LSAY Briefing Reports

This Briefing draws together findings from two LSAY Research Reports: Participation in and Progress through New Apprenticeships; and the VET Pathways Taken by School Leavers. They report on the characteristics of young people who become apprentices and trainees, their points of entry to, and patterns of progress, and completion of training.

Attitudes, Intentions And Participation In Education: Year 12 And Beyond, Kylie Hillman

LSAY Briefing Reports

This briefing paper synthesis findings from several LSAY Research Reports (5, 27, 31, 33 and 41) which report on how student attitudes and engagement in the formative school years influence subsequent participation in post-compulsory education and training.