Exploring factors influencing the effectiveness of explicit instruction first and problem-solving first approaches

European Journal of Psychology of Education - Problem solving followed by explicit instruction, as suggested by productive failure and several other instructional theories, indicates long-term...     

Writing instruction in first grade: an observational study

As schools work to meet the ambitious Common Core State Standards in writing in the US, instructional approaches are likely to be examined (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010). However, there is little research on the current state of instruction. This study was designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of first-grade writing instruction across 13 schools in one state in the US. Daylong observations were conducted four times during the year in 50 first-grade classrooms. Using a time-sampled, observational protocol, observers coded multiple dimensions of instruction, including grouping, instructional focus, teacher instructional activity, and student writing activity. Results revealed that writing was taught for less than 30 min a day on average, and instruction in skills or process writing was common. Most instruction was organized in whole-class settings with teachers either presenting information or asking students questions. Variability in the amount and focus of writing instruction and in student writing activity was examined at the classroom and school levels. A small number of classrooms and schools were identified with distinctive patterns in their approach to instruction and writing activity. Several moderate relationships were found between the writing instructional focus and the nature of student writing. These findings suggest that first-grade writing instruction is inconsistent across classrooms and schools and point to instructional implications for teachers and schools in the US.     

Analysis of patterns in time for evaluating effectiveness of first principles of instruction

Educational technology research and development - In this naturalistic design-research study, we tracked 172,417 learning journeys of students who were interacting with an online resource, the...     

The effects of computer-assisted instruction on number combination skill in at-risk first graders

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the potential for computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to enhance number combination skill among children with concurrent risk for math disability and reading disability. A secondary purpose was to examine the effects of CAI on spelling. At-risk students were assigned randomly to math or spelling CAI, which they received in 50 sessions over 18 weeks. Acquisition and transfer effects were assessed. The results indicated that math CAI was effective in promoting addition but not subtraction number combination skill and that transfer to arithmetic story problems did not occur. Spelling CAI effects were reliable on acquisition and transfer spelling measures, with small to moderate effect sizes on transfer to reading measures. These results provide the basis for additional work with larger samples.     

Modeling the response of normally achieving and at-risk first grade children to word reading instruction

The purpose of this study was to identify important subject characteristics that predicted individual differences in responsiveness to word reading instruction in normally achieving and at-risk first grade children. This was accomplished by modeling individual word and nonword reading growth, and the correlates of change in these skills, in first grade students during two different phases of the school year. In the first phase of the study (October–January), word and nonword reading skill was modeled in normally achieving and at-risk children. Results of growth modeling indicated significant group differences in word and nonword reading growth parameters. A combination of phonemic awareness skill, advanced graphophoneme knowledge, and initial word/nonword reading skill predicted word and nonword reading growth in the control group, whereas, a combination of rapid naming speed, letter sound knowledge, and phonemic awareness skill predicted word and nonword reading growth in the at-risk group. In the second phase of the study (January–April), a subgroup of the at-risk subjects who exhibited limited growth in word reading skills during the first phase of the study was enrolled in 12 weeks of small group reading intervention designed to improve reading skills. Results of growth modeling indicated significant increases in word and nonword reading growth rates in this group during the intervention phase. Only rapid naming speed uniquely predicted word and nonword reading growth in the group of subjects receiving intervention.     

中等职业学校语文课堂教学模式改革初探

2004年初,我们以市教育局"用教育科研解决教育上的困难和问题"这一要求为指导思想,结合我市职业学校语文教学的实际,选择了<中等职业学校语文课堂教学模式的探究与实验>这一科研课题的研究.探索适合职业学校学生特点的、适应新的教育理念要求的语文课堂教学模式.     

数学课堂教学德育渗透途径初探

数学揭示了客观世界在数和形方面的规律性,存在着丰富的德育因素。在中学课堂数学中,进行德育渗透的途径主要有：创设问题情境、巧用名人史话、激发学习兴趣、铺设思维阶梯、弘扬学生个性、搭建参与平台、揭示数学美学等。     

化学趣味教学点滴谈

近几年中职学校学生素质与以往相比差别较大。很多学生对化学一无所知,或知道得很少,一部分学生连元素符号也不认识。针对这种现状,为了能让这样的学生学到化学知识,经过几年的摸索,我总结了一套趣味教学法,收到了一定的教学效果。     

Lecture-driven instruction

INSTRUCTION, LECTURE-DRIVEN–a form of instruction in which the major activity is that of a seated or standing or walking around or even rolling around instructor talking to a group of students; may include occasionally any of the following–answering/asking questions, commenting on student's answers to questions, writing on chalkboard/easel pad, displaying a visual (e. g., slide, transparency), demonstrating a procedure while pointing out its main features, or doing the same for equipment or job aids or refereence material, and so on.     

Prospective teacher beliefs about liberative and oppressive mathematics teaching practices: a first step toward equitable instruction

This article reports findings from a study conducted within a teacher education program to help highlight the importance of equitable instruction of mathematics for all students. The researcher developed four scenarios of her oppressive and liberative teaching practices. Prospective teachers were then asked to write scenarios describing their oppressive and liberative teaching practices. Results showed that prospective teachers found it easier to write liberative teaching practices of themselves than oppressive examples. Scenario themes centered on allowing students ample time to understand mathematical concepts, having high expectations for all students, and addressing individual student’s needs. Developing prospective teachers who are aware of equity in teaching requires ample time to discuss authentic issues in diversity. Teacher educators need to be aware of their own oppressive and liberative teaching practices in doing such work.     

O2O迭代式项目学习的设计与应用——基于首要教学原理视角

针对传统项目学习存在周期长、自由度大等问题,O2O迭代式项目学习引入了"O2O迭代"为新型学习脚手架。它将复杂项目分解成前后知识相关的多个功能小项目,串接起线上线下的迭代学习和知识运用,螺旋式发展学习者融合知识解决复杂项目问题的能力。以首要教学原理为处方科学指导,它聚焦复杂项目增量式的解决,在O2O空间环境和协同机制的配合下,通过"结构、指导、辅导和反思"的过程,衔接"教与学"成为统一整体,服务于学习者在线上"需要知道"和线下"需要做"之间反复迭代的学习。在以开放教育"信息技术应用"课程为应用案例的实证研究中,样本统计显示,它能尽早发现和控制项目学习的过程变异,促进学习最终成果的绩效交付,一定程度上解决了传统项目学习容易遭遇过程障碍的难题。     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of 3D vascular stereoscopic models in anatomy instruction for first year medical students

The head and neck region is one of the most complex areas featured in the medical gross anatomy curriculum. The effectiveness of using three‐dimensional (3D) models to teach anatomy is a topic of much discussion in medical education research. However, the use of 3D stereoscopic models of the head and neck circulation in anatomy education has not been previously studied in detail. This study investigated whether 3D stereoscopic models created from computed tomographic angiography (CTA) data were efficacious teaching tools for the head and neck vascular anatomy. The test subjects were first year medical students at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The assessment tools included: anatomy knowledge tests (prelearning session knowledge test and postlearning session knowledge test), mental rotation tests (spatial ability; presession MRT and postsession MRT), and a satisfaction survey. Results were analyzed using a Wilcoxon rank‐sum test and linear regression analysis. A total of 39 first year medical students participated in the study. The results indicated that all students who were exposed to the stereoscopic 3D vascular models in 3D learning sessions increased their ability to correctly identify the head and neck vascular anatomy. Most importantly, for students with low‐spatial ability, 3D learning sessions improved postsession knowledge scores to a level comparable to that demonstrated by students with high‐spatial ability indicating that the use of 3D stereoscopic models may be particularly valuable to these students with low‐spatial ability. Anat Sci Educ 10: 34–45. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.     

Using the first principles of instruction and multimedia learning principles to design and develop in-game learning support videos

Educational technology research and development - Over three years, our research team has designed various learning supports for promoting content knowledge and solving game levels. In this case...