The Effect of Changing Content on IRT Scaling Methods

Equating test forms is an essential activity in standardized testing, with increased importance with the accountability systems in existence through the mandate of Adequate Yearly Progress. It is through equating that scores from different test forms become comparable, which allows for the tracking of changes in the performance of students from one year to the next. This study compares three different item response theory scaling methods (fixed common item parameter, Stocking & Lord, and Concurrent Calibration) with respect to examinee classification into performance categories, and estimation of the ability parameter, when the content of the test form changes slightly from year to year, and the examinee ability distribution changes. The results indicate that calibration methods, especially concurrent calibration, produced more stable results than the transformation method.     

Effectiveness of motivationally adaptive computer-assisted instruction on the dynamic aspects of motivation

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a prototype of motivationally-adaptive computer-assisted instruction (CAI). The foundation for motivational theory and design was provided by the ARCS model (an acronym formed from attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction). This model provides a definition of motivation, a motivational design process, and recommendations for motivational strategies. Three treatment conditions were considered: (a) motivationally adaptive CAI, (b) motivationally saturated CAI, and (c) motivationally minimized CAI. Dependent variables were effectiveness, perceived motivation (both overall motivation and each of A, R, C, & S components), efficiency, and continuing motivation. The motivationally adaptive CAI showed higher effectiveness, overall motivation, and attention than the other two CAI types. For efficiency, both motivationally adaptive CAI and motivationally minimized CAI were higher than motivationally saturated CAI. For continuing motivation, there were no significant differences among the three CAI types, but a significant correlation was found between overall motivation and continuing motivation across the three CAI types. This study supports the conclusion that CAI can be designed to be motivationally adaptive to respond to changes in learner motivation that may occur over time. It also illustrates that the ARCS model can be useful and effective in support of designing for these dynamic aspects of motivation.     

Teacher Enthusiasm: Reviewing and Redefining a Complex Construct

Educational Psychology Review - The last review on teacher enthusiasm was 45 years ago, and teacher enthusiasm remains a compelling yet complex variable in the educational context. Since...     

多媒体环境中动机、意志和成绩的整合理论

动机、意志和成绩的整合理论(MVP)在宏观动机模式ARCS(Attention,Relevence,Confidence,Satisfaction)基础上发展而成,它囊括了动机意志模式中动机和行为的各个行动阶段——从目标确定到意志行动再到目标实现,有效地解释了从愿望到行动的进程。MVP还吸纳了行动控制理论、动机意志模式、阿斯特累特纳和威斯纳的多媒体与动机整合模式以及迈耶的多媒体学习理论中的合理成分,使动机加工成分得到了重新定位和补充,因而与ARCS相比,MVP更有利于综合地解释动机、意志、学习和成绩之间的复杂关系,更有利于进一步支持有关的理论构建、经验研究以及使用策略的开发与验证。     

R‐CBM IN SPANISH AND IN ENGLISH: DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONS DEPENDING ON STUDENT READING PERFORMANCE

This study investigated how performance on reading curriculum‐based measurement (R‐CBM) in Spanish is related to performance on R‐CBM in English. Parallel process growth models and quantile regression analyses were used to examine the relations between initial benchmark scores and growth and the consistency of the relations across student reading skill levels. Initial benchmark scores and growth were strongly related across languages in most grades, and initial scores were less strongly related for students with low and high reading achievement, as measured by curriculum‐based measurement in most grades. Rates of growth were evenly related across performance in fourth and fifth grades, but less strongly related for high‐achieving students in second and third grades. Practical implications and future directions are discussed.