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An Evolving Change In Public Schools: An Assessment Of Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions And Classroom Changes Concerning High-Stakes Testing., Selena Marie Kiser Aug 2007

An Evolving Change In Public Schools: An Assessment Of Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions And Classroom Changes Concerning High-Stakes Testing., Selena Marie Kiser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to investigate changes in the curriculum caused by high-stakes testing mandates within 3 Southwest Virginia school systems to find best practices for instructional application in classrooms. This qualitative study was comprised of indepth interviews and observations with elementary school teachers and administrators. High-stakes testing has impacted the nation in myriad ways. The mandates from the government presented teachers and administrators with conditions that must be met according to the No Child Left Behind Act and individual state's standards. Teachers' perceptions of curriculum changes, Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), testing mandates according to high-stakes testing, and …


The Sociomoral Atmosphere Rating Template (Smart): An Investigation Of Reliability And Validity, Richard Sean Durham Jan 2007

The Sociomoral Atmosphere Rating Template (Smart): An Investigation Of Reliability And Validity, Richard Sean Durham

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study describes the development of the Sociomoral Atmosphere Rating Template (SMART), an instrument designed to rate the sociomoral atmosphere in early childhood classrooms, and an investigation of the instrument's reliability and validity. Results indicate that individuals can be trained to reliably use the SMART and that the measure is internally consistent. In addition to its face validity, results indicate that the SMART has convergent validity when compared to the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale - Revised (Harms, Clifford, & Cryer, 1998) and the Teacher Interaction Scale (Arnett, 1989). Comparisons at the subscale level suggest discriminant validity. Implications and plans …


Accountability, Equity, And Practitioner Learning And Change, Estela M. Bensimon, Rueda Robert, Alicia Dowd, Frank Harris Dec 2006

Accountability, Equity, And Practitioner Learning And Change, Estela M. Bensimon, Rueda Robert, Alicia Dowd, Frank Harris

Frank Harris III

Accountability and evidence-based decision-making have become the mantra of government polilcymakers, and even private foundations. Yet most attempts to foster cultures of evidence have not brought about change in Practices, notably because they are treated as management tools rather than learning processes. Equity for All is an approach to accountability that is grounded on the principles of practice theory and sociocultural theories of learning. The authors provide empirical evidence to illustrate practitioner learning.