College teaching shifts to more "student-centered" approaches

See the comparative data from 2005-2008 for the Higher Education Research Institute study in this chart excerpted by the Chronicle. Also, for a laugh, read the comments :-)

The challenges faced by veterans returning to college

Great article from the Chronicle on the types of challenges faced by former soldiers coming to college. Includes a picture of students at UNLV!

NCES study finds states lowered proficiency levels

To read the full report, visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2010456.asp

Additional resources for understanding state proficiency standards, including profiles of proficiency standards for each state, frequently asked questions, and copies of past reports, are available at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/statemapping.asp

Some excerpts from an article in today's Education Week~

"With 2014 approaching as the deadline by which states must get their all their students up to “proficient” levels on state tests, the U.S. Department of Education’s top statistics agency released data today suggesting that some states may have lowered student-proficiency standards on such tests in recent years.

For the 47-state study, researchers for the National Center for Education Statistics used student test scores to figure out where the proficiency levels on various state tests would lie on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Their results suggest that between 2005 and 2007, various states made their standards less rigorous in one or more grade levels or subjects in at least 26 instances. In 12 instances, particular states appeared to make their standards more stringent in one or more grade levels or subjects.

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, adopted nearly eight years ago, states are required to show that all students have attained proficient levels of performance in reading and mathematics by the end of the 2013-14 school year, and most states are far from reaching that goal.

“I think as 2014 looms, ... clearly what a lot of states are doing is changing the bar so that a lot more students will become proficient,” said Mark S. Schneider, who served as the NCES commissioner from 2005 to November 2008....

But the study uses a methodology that is controversial among some testing experts. They caution that the standardized exams that states use and the more rigorous NAEP—the congressionally mandated program known as “the nation’s report card”—are too different to put on the same scale....

The results, nonetheless, are expected to figure in growing efforts to develop common academic standards for what K-12 students should know and be able to do. So far, 48 states are taking part in a push to craft such standards, while federal education officials are at the same time making plans to award $350 million in grants to help states plan common assessments.

APA finally does the right thing!

Apparently the pressure has paid off and APA is going to replace the flawed first printing of the APA manual. There was a brief storty today: Inside Higher Ed and a longer one in the Chronicle The information has been posted on a Facebook page organized to boycott purchase of the manual. I reprint the instructions here:

"I have just received word that After November 2, call APA at 1-800-374-2721, ext. 5510. Ask for instructions on how to go on-line and print a mailing label you can use to return your copy and receive a corrected copy."

An added note (3 pm, Oct. 28): I just saw on a listserv: "they (APA) said starting Nov. 2 they would have a form online and let us all fill it out. They would then send us a mailing label to return the copies. The only copies they would take would be copies purchased no desk copies or free copies. "

Arne Duncan's speech at Teachers College

Since it has generated so much press and conversation among individuals and organizations, I thought I would put a link to the text of the speech here.

Undergraduate Students & Technology

From the most recent Educause survey...
"Since 2004, the annual ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology has sought to shed light on how information technology affects the college experience. We ask students about the technology they own and how they use it in and out of their academic world. We gather information about how skilled students believe they are with technologies; how they perceive technology is affecting their learning experience; and their preferences for IT in courses. The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2009 is a longitudinal extension of the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 studies. It is based on quantitative data from a spring 2009 survey of 30,616 freshmen and seniors at 103 four-year institutions and students at 12 two-year institutions; student focus groups that included input from 62 students at 4 institutions; and review of qualitative data from written responses to open-ended questions. In addition to studying student ownership, experience, behaviors, preferences, and skills with respect to information technologies, the 2009 study also includes a special focus on student ownership and use of Internet-capable handheld devices."

NCES report on public elementary-secondary schools: 2007-2008

While the largest school districts represented less than 1 percent of all districts during the 2007-08 school year, they served 12.5 percent of public school students. The National Center for Education Statistics has released "Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Local Education Agencies From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2007-08." This report presents selected findings on the numbers and types of public elementary and secondary local education agencies in the United States and the territories in the 2007-08 school year, using data from Public Elementary/Secondary Local Education Agency Universe Survey of the Common Core of Data survey system. Findings include:

* There were 17,775 operating local education agencies in the 2007-08 school year, and among those agencies, 13,924 were regular school districts.

* Approximately 699,000 students enrolled in the 2,012 independent charter agencies, districts in which all schools were charter schools.

* Twenty-seven of the 13,924 active regular school districts enrolled 100,000 or more students.

To view the full report please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010306

If you want to buy the corrected APA 6th Ed...

This blog from Education Librarian, Kate Corby, is trying to pull together info from publishers to assist buyers in getting a corrected (i.e., 2nd printing) of the APA Style Manual 6th Ed. She states,
"My purpose here is to gather and make generally available, information for anyone who would like to buy a second printing copy of the new sixth edition Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
My initial dismay at the situation of multiple pages of corrections to the newly released edition has turned to fascination with how the booksellers are responding to the issue. So I'm actively gathering information and hope to provide useful information that students and faculty as well as librarians can use.
Your comments are welcome, especially those that add new information, all comments will be moderated. I would prefer not to post hearsay, please include snips from emails with vendors, etc. to validate information whenever possible."

WWC evaluation of READ 180 program

What Works Clearinghouse seldom reports out studies that meet their evidence standards, so when they find some that meet standards, even with reservations, I do pay attention. Here is a brief description of this program and a link to the page with a brief chart and links to the full report.

"READ 180 is a reading program designed for students in elementary through high school whose reading achievement is below the proficient level. The goal of READ 180 is to address gaps in students’ skills through the use of a computer program, literature, and direct instruction in reading skills. The software component of the program aims to track and adapt to each student’s progress. In addition to the computer program, the READ 180 program includes workbooks designed to address reading comprehension skills, paperback books for independent reading, and audiobooks with corresponding CDs for modeled reading.

No studies of READ 180 meet What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards,² but seven studies meet WWC evidence standards with reservations. The seven studies included 10,638 students, ranging from grade 4 to grade 9, who attended elementary, middle, and high schools in Arizona, California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.³

Based on these seven studies, the WWC considers the extent of evidence for READ 180 to be medium to large for comprehension and general literacy achievement. No studies that meet WWC evidence standards with or without reservations examined the effectiveness of READ 180 in the alphabetics or reading fluency domains."

APA is taking a lot of flak...

Inside Higher Ed added their chastisement to the general griping about all the mistakes in the first printing of the new APA manual. The article has links to the corrections as does my earlier blog post.

2009 NAEP Math report card is out

Links to the report are here.
Significant results for mathematics in 2009 include:

* For the first time since the assessment began, 4th graders showed no overall increase at the national level, although they scored significantly higher in 2009 than when the assessment began in 1990. For 8th graders, scores in 2009 were higher when compared to both 2007 and 1990. These nationwide patterns also held for most student subgroups. Findings regarding students performing at or above the NAEP achievement levels mirror those of the scale scores at both grades.

* Compared to 2007, five states and jurisdictions made gains at both grades 4 and 8, three states increased at grade 4 only, and ten increased at grade 8 only. Scores declined in four states at grade 4, while no state declined at grade 8.

CHE report on institutions awarding minority doctorates

The Chronicle of Higher Education just issued a report on which institutions are awarding the most doctoral degrees to minorities--dates covered are 2003-2007. See the results here.

New report from NCES on HS graduation and dropout rates

"High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2007"
includes national and regional population estimates for the percentage of students who dropped out of high school between 2006 and 2007, the percentage of young people who were dropouts in 2007, and the percentage of young people who were not in high school and had some form of high school credential in 2007.

Annual data from 1972-2007 reveals trends by race, gender, income and other characteristics. State, regional and national level data is provided.
To view the full report please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009064

Practice guide on "Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making"

Provides a framework for using student achievement data to support instructional decision making, including how to adapt lessons or assignments in response to students' needs, and how to alter classroom goals or objectives or modify student-grouping arrangements.

This practice guide offers five recommendations for creating the organizational and technological conditions that foster effective data use, including: 1) make data part of an ongoing cycle of instructional improvement; 2) teach students to examine their own data and set learning goals; 3) establish a clear vision for school wide data use; 4) provide supports that foster a data-driven culture within the school; and 5) develop and maintain a district wide data system. Each recommendation describes action steps for implementation, as well as suggestions for tackling obstacles that may impede progress. The practice guide was released by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance at the Institute for Education Sciences.

To view the practice guide, please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/publications/practiceguides/#dddm_pg

Reading strategies for 4th grade: an international perspective

PIRLS assesses the reading achievement of fourth-graders and collects data on teachers' reading instruction practices and strategies. These strategies include: (a) waiting to see if performance improves with maturation, (b) spending more time working on reading individually with that student, (c) having other students work on reading with the student having difficulty, (d) having the student work in the regular classroom with a teacher-aide, (e) having the student work in the regular classroom with a reading specialist, (f) having the student work in a remedial reading classroom with a reading specialist, (g) assigning homework to help the student catch up, (h) and asking the parents to help the student with reading.

To view the full report please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009013

New report on post-secondary education

New NCES report focuses on the cost of getting a college degree. Tables include profiles of post-secondary institutions which include data on tuition, degrees awarded, demographics of students. Link to full report is here: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009165

Corrections to APA 6th Ed. Manual

APA has now categorized the "corrections" (not errors :-) to the new 6th edition of their publication manual, so it doesn't seem like such a long list. The majority of errors....err, make that corrections...are in the sample papers. If you know someone who has a first printing of the manual, you should alert them to the changes. The categorized lists are here.
A separate link to the corrected Sample Papers is here. A new 2nd printing has been issued.