ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
In regards to Bill's comment about evidence that hands-on education
impacts tests scores:
Here at SMV we have a program that mixes what we hope is the best of the
"hands-on fun stuff" (also known as good teaching methods) with test
taking skills and awareness. In Virginia, our standards are called "The
Standards of Learning" or "SOLs." This program, which is now in its 5th
year, is called the SOL Enrichment program and we work primarily with
inner city 5th graders who perform poorly on standardized tests. The
program is fairly intense with eleven 1 hour visits to each classroom.
We have a very strong correlation over several years of improved test
scores with the schools with which we work. The schools and teachers
love the program and beg to have it each year. We have also received
great success with grant funding for this program. While I can't answer
whether or not everyone will agree that what the VA SOL's test is
"important" to them, it seems to be very important to parents, teachers,
administrators and politicians here in Virginia.
Bee Schnell
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------
Bee Ellis Schnell
Director, Outreach Educational Programs
Science Museum of Virginia
2500 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
804-864-1421
www.smv.org
For monthly museum updates by e-mail: www.SMV.org\extra
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill Watson
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 2:10 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: school program numbers
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****
I have one comment and one question about this discussion:
1) (Comment): I agree with Alexis's statement that informal educators
should be involved in education policy. I would also add that we should
be involved with educational research (at least reading it) to inform
our involvement with policy. Alexis noted that teachers might be
"dropping the fun, hands-on stuff to focus more time on test materials
and test-taking skills". Although some of the readers of this list might
scoff, I think that one of the best things we might be able to do,
vis-a-vis policy, is to help argue that the "fun, hands-on stuff"
actually helps kids to learn what they "need to" learn. I haven't seen
any empirical evidence to suggest that inquiry-centered activity (in the
classroom or elsewhere) helps kids to perform better on standardized
tests. That might be nice to have. Being comfortable with such research
would require, of course, that the tests actually assess what the
readers of this list would probably say qualifies as "important".
Therein lies another possible policy challenge for us as informal
educators: to provide evidence (or at least use other people's
evidence) to support curriculum and testing decisions that come as close
as possible to supporting a definition of "science literacy" that we can
accept.
2) (Question): For Beryl (and others who have noted that "teachers now
have to justify the trip and pretty much guarantee that the visit will
result in substantially higher grades"). Do you know of any empirical
evidence to support this idea, or are your data based upon what you hear
"informally" from teachers?
Thanks,
Bill
Bill Watson
Research Assistant, SCALE-uP
The George Washington University
Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Department of Teacher Preparation and Special Education
2134 G St. NW
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: (202) 994-1171
Fax: (202) 994-0692
[log in to unmask]
www.gwu.edu/~scale-up
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Alexis Abramo
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 1:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: school program numbers
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
****
*
I have been doing some informal polling among teachers I know and have
found that in addition to the high cost of transportation, many schools
are also experiencing a reduction in the overall budget, and therefore
have less money to spend on "extras."
Additionally, I believe there are two reasons to blame the No Child Left
Behind legislation.
First, because of NCLB's focus on testing, many teachers are dropping
the fun, hands-on stuff to focus more time on test materials and
test-taking skills.
Second, and maybe more importantly: the focus on testing and meeting a
minimum academic level means that schools must spend more of their
budgets getting every kid up to speed. I wholeheartedly agree that we
need to make sure all students reach a minimum level but there is an
unintended result. Creating academic requirements without providing
financial resources to help reach them means that schools are
transferring their limited resources away from enriching activities for
all students and focusing them on students who need to catch up.
(Witness: the drop off in arts programs, field trips, etc.)
Another good reason why even informal educators should get involved with
educational policy!
Alexis Abramo
Education Program Coordinator
Sciencenter
601 First St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
[log in to unmask]
607-272-0600 ext. 20
[log in to unmask]
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
http://www.astc.org. To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L
list, send the message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
|
