Digital Commons Network^™

Mediated Field Experiences During Worldwide Pandemic: Adjusting Pedagogies To A Changing Climate, Holly H. Pinter

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This paper explores the use of a mediated field experience (MFE) for teacher candidates in a middle school setting a small laboratory school. This work focuses on adjustments made for the MFE to function in an online environment during remote instruction caused by a worldwide pandemic. Teacher candidates completed a learning cycle focused on experiencing mathematics as a learner, planning for mathematics instruction, implementing mathematics instruction, and analyzing teaching episodes alongside a mathematics teacher who is also the mathematics teacher educator for a methods course. Teacher candidates reflected on this experience positively, noting the benefits of learning how to teach …

The Evolving Middle School Concept: This We (Still) Believe, Lisa Harrison, Penny A. Bishop

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The Successful Middle School builds upon many decades of commitment to the middle school concept. The fifth edition of AMLE’s landmark position paper amplifies the importance of responding both to young adolescents’ developmental needs and to their social identities. The edition’s release amidst a global pandemic and increasing protests against racial injustice reminds us that responding to the full diversity of student experience is not optional. It is critical to helping young adolescents--and indeed the world--to thrive, now and in the future.

Simplified But Not The Same: Tracing Numeracy Events Through Manually Simplified Newsela Articles, Ellen C. Agnello

Numeracy

New York-based education startup Newsela has quickly gained popularity with K-12 educators in the six years since its launch. Its website boasts that it serves 90% of schools in the United States including the 1.5 million teachers they employ and their 20 million students. But what makes it so popular? Teachers are drawn to its Common Core-aligned informational texts which facilitate content-area connections while exposing students to important current events. Likely the most appealing aspect of the platform is its compatibility with differentiation, as it makes available five iterations of each article at varying levels of complexity or Lexile which …

Teaching Inquiry-Based Science Through The Critical Lens Of Social Justice, Tonya D. Jeffery, Isaac Aldrich, Jordan Anderson, Bailey Bettencourt, Lucy Castillo, Lily Carriger, Tosha Hawkins

Diversity Conference

In this session, the first presenter who is a teacher educator from a historically marginalized group, share their own experiences about what led them to teach their science methods course through the critical lens of social justice and through the theoretical frameworks of culturally responsive education. In addition, the presenter will discuss the tools and strategies utilized for teaching this course and for creating a safe space for preservice teachers’ dialogue and critical reflections about their own lives and experiences, identity, racism, biases, and the systemic and structural oppression among various groups in K-12 education.

Six (6) preservice teachers participated …

Diverse Co-Teaching: A One-Step Strategy For Assessment, Integration, Collegiality, Transformation, Professional And Personal Growth For The University Community, Darrell R. Fry, Odutayo O. Odunuga

Diversity Conference

Dr. Fry

Dr. Odunuga

Dr. Fry and Dr. Odunuga are two very different people. Yet the two share a passion for teaching chemistry and a desire to bring out the best in their students. Since 2016 the two have co-taught chemistry lectures and laboratories, and in this presentation they share their experiences and the benefits of diverse co-teaching. Diverse co-teaching naturally provides students, faculty and staff with a transformational experience, and serves as a universal platform for integrating various groups, promoting collegiality and performing assessment.

Summarized below are some items of the transformation that each audience within the university may …

Statewide Transitional English Course Parameters, Competencies, And Policies, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Using Web Quests And Learning Platforms For Teaching Mathematics On Developing The Mathematical Power Among Eighth Grade Students, Dr. Mofeed Ahmad Abumosa, Dr. Jafar Awad Saleh

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed to identify the effect of using web-quests and learning platforms to develop mathematical power among eighth-grade students. The study adopted the semi-experimental approach. A ninety-eight graders in the second semester 2018-2019 participated in this study. Participants were randomly distributed into three groups. The first group represented the first experimental group (web-quests), the second group represented the second experimental group (learning platforms), and the last group represented the control group (traditional). An achievement for mathematical power test was developed. The results showed statistical differences at (p < 0.05) among the average scores of the three study groups. Results showed that the second experimental group (learning platforms) was better than other groups. Moreover, the first experimental group (web-quests) was better than the third one (traditional). Recommendations to adopt learning platforms in teaching mathematics may help in developing mathematical power.

The Relationship Between Learning Mode And Student Performance In An Undergraduate Elementary Statistics Course In The United States, John C. Griffith, Emily K. Faulconer, Bobby L. Mcmasters

Publications

Faculty have conducted many studies on the relationship between learning mode and student performance but few researchers have evaluated final grades, grade distribution, and pass rates in a sophomore introductory statistics course with a non-traditional student population who self-selected the learning mode from among different course sections. Accordingly, we examined 307 end-of-course grades from four different modes of instruction: (a) online, (b) videosynchronous learning classroom, (c) videosynchronous learning home, and (d) traditional classroom in an introductory statistics course. All data on grades, which included pass rate and grade distribution, were collected from the nine-week January 2019 term. All learning modes …

The Impact Of A 1:1 Technology Initiative On Student Achievement In 10th Grade English Language Arts In A South Texas Public School District, Lois E. Marshall Barker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the implementation of a south Texas public school district’s 1:1 technology initiative to determine the impact on 10th grade English Language Arts student achievement. A mixed method approach was used for this exploratory case study. Multicase sampling was implemented to identify participants. Qualitative data were collected through virtual video conference interviews and analyzed to reflect five emerging themes: lack of quality professional development, teacher efficacy, leadership attitudes toward the initiative, misconceptions about student attitudes and technology skillset, and lack of communication between district administration campus stakeholders. Quantitative data were collected through the CBAM SoCQ and archival campus …

Bc Bound: A Pathway Designed To Support Non-Traditional Students, Fiona J. Chan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This paper reviews the creation and practices of the Brooklyn College BC Bound Program, focusing on its mission and structure. The BC Bound Program is a one-semester service at Brooklyn College that admits and supports individuals with their high school equivalency diploma. Through an interview with a coordinator of the program and students who completed the BC Bound Program in their first semester, we can understand its positive impact on college students in their first semester and beyond. Program structure is key in analyzing the process by which the BC Bound program is and can be implemented effectively. Under the …

Jcctl Mailer – January 28, 2021, Josef Brandauer

JCCTL Mailers

Updates on training and support and useful pedagogical resources compiled and sent by the JCCTL on January 28, 2021.

Contents:

Upcoming Events:

• An effective first day of class

Readings & Resources

• Are we assigning too much work to our students?
• Resource guides: Rethinking the syllabus and "derailment prevention"

Grants and other Funding Opportunities

• Open Educational Resources (OER) Grants
• Faculty-Created Working Group

Cancer Curriculum For Appalachian Kentucky Middle And High Schools, Lauren Hudson, Katherine Sharp, Chris Prichard, Melinda J. Ickes, Sahar Alameh, Nathan L. Vanderford

Journal of Appalachian Health

Background: Appalachian Kentucky faces the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country due to poor health behaviors and lifestyle choices. These poor health behaviors are facilitated by a lack of cancer education. Youth represent a vulnerable population that could be greatly impacted by increased cancer education. Teachers have the power to facilitate this learning.

Purpose: This study examined the need for cancer education curriculum in Appalachian Kentucky middle and high schools from the perspective of educators.

Methods: An online survey was conducted with science and health teachers (n=21) in Appalachian Kentucky, consisting of questions that investigated existing cancer …

Book Review Of Motivation Matters And Interest Counts, Cassie Gannett

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

This book review of Motivation Matters and Interest Counts, written by by James A. Middleton and Amanda Jansen, yields insights for educators looking for ways to engage students in learning mathematics.

Mathematical Modeling: Part 1 Of Series, Catherine Martin

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

The Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Mathematical Modeling Education (GAIMME), released in April 2016, provides specific guidance and support to teachers as they incorporate the practice of mathematical modeling into classroom instruction.

Arcs: Activities With Rigor And Coherence, Janet Oien

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

ARCs are Activities with Rigor and Coherence. They integrate a wide array of resources from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics to optimize opportunities for learning.

How I See Addition Facts, Jason Zimba

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

At a "Saturday School," work with flashcards is customized to a student’s current state of mastery.

Procedural Fluency, Sandie Gilliam

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

This article presents main points from Diane Briars’ session, Supporting Teachers in Building Procedural Fluency from Conceptual Understanding, presented at the 2016 Annual Conference of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics.

Committing To Equity: Going Beyond Teaching Mathematics, Nora Ramirez

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

There are many actions that can impact the goal of achieving equity in—and access to—school mathematics. A few actions are presented, some not often addressed, because one might not think them directly related to the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Math Discourse, Joanie Funderburk

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

Meaningful mathematical discourse can serve to build shared understanding of mathematical ideas.

From The Editor's Desk, Sandie Gilliam

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

The Colorado Mathematics Teacher received the 2016 Publication Award for best newsletter from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Connecting Algebra To Geometry: A Transition Summer Camp For At-Risk Students, Mary E. Pilgrim, John Bloemker

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

The authors share how they designed curriculum for a summer algebra camp, for eighth graders in a district serving high proportions of Latino students. They discuss the impact the algebra camp had on students’ confidence in mathematics and mathematical ability.

Nctm 2015 Summer High School Institute, Jennifer Perego, Mary E. Pilgrim

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

NCTM’s 2015 High School Interactive Institute engaged teachers in learning opportunities to promote effective mathematics teaching. Through keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and facilitated task discussion groups, teachers reflected on current and best practices, participated in classroom-ready lessons, and collaborate with other educators.

Book Review Of Mathematical Mindsets, Leigh Ann Kudloff

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

This book review of Jo Boaler's Mathematical Mindsets yields insight into how teachers can build their students’ mindsets to improve math achievement.

Why Zombies Love Me: Shifting Mathematical Mindsets, Stephanie Hammes

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

An elementary teacher shares how a year of mindset lessons and messages impacted students’ mathematics experiences.

President's Message, Joanie Funderburk

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

Avoid temptation to keep students from experiencing struggle. Promote students’ productive struggle, by providing rich tasks and problems for students to engage with, anticipating student difficulties, and planning questions and supports.

From The Editor's Desk, Sandie Gilliam

Colorado Mathematics Teacher

Reflect on the 2015-2016 school year and plan for the summer.

Problem Centered Teaching By Tomorrow, Cassandra Armstrong

Publications & Research

Problem Centered Instruction is a great way to engage students, integrate content, and inspire learning. However, true problem centered instruction requires a major shift in both teaching and learning, requiring the one thing teachers don't have: time. In today's session, we will look at some simple strategies that teachers can put to immediate use within the classroom to help start the shift towards a student-led, problem centered learning environment.

Statewide Transitional Math Competencies And Policies, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

No abstract provided.

Jcctl Mailer – January 19, 2021, Josef Brandauer

JCCTL Mailers

Updates on training and support and useful pedagogical resources compiled and sent by the JCCTL on January 19, 2021.

Contents:

Upcoming Events:

• What you say and how you say it: The Syllabus as a guiding document
• Derailment prevention: Course design strategies for fostering respectful dialogue
• Understanding our students’ lives outside the classroom
• An effective first day of class

Readings & Resources

• 8 Strategies to Prevent Teaching Burnout, Flower Darby
• What do we do and say on the all-important first day of class

Grants and other Funding Opportunities

• Open Educational Resources (OER) Grants
• Faculty-Created Working Group

January Agenda, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting agenda. Includes minutes of November 12th meeting; Graduate Council curriculum report tracking; Student Research Grant requests; graduate enrollment report; thesis, and special project & dissertation guidelines.