Student Engagement in U.S. Urban High School Mathematics and Science Classrooms: Findings on Social Organization, Race, and Ethnicity

   This paper reports results of intensive field work in urban high school mathematics and science classrooms based on research with students attending eight high schools located in large, disparate urban sites across the U.S. During the course of our observations and interviews we recorded students’ activities as well as their impressions of classroom processes over the course of a week in each classroom using the Experience Sampling Method (ESM). ESM allows students to record information about their classroom experiences at intervals during daily mathematics and science classroom lessons. We measured levels of student engagement and examined relationships between student engagement and an array of predictors. We take a social organizational approach to interpreting classroom processes, examining the extent to which classroom activities influence student perception of class and communication among students and how these intervening factors affect student engagement during on-going classroom activities. Results suggest that there is variation between group members’ reactions to classroom activities. Specifically, as an example, Latino Students in Chicago, Miami and El Paso were far more engaged and responsive to classroom lessons during the time they spent in small problem-solving groups during class. Student Engagement in High School Mathematics and Science. Kazuaki Uekawa is affiliated with the American Institutes for Research, Washinton DC, USA. Kathryn Borman and Reginald Lee are affilated with the The University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. Address correspondence to Kazuaki Uekawa, American Institutes for Research, Washinton DC, USA; e-mail: kuekawa@air.org     

Counter engagement: parents refusing high stakes testing and questioning policy in the era of the common core

This study is a critical discourse analysis of the New Jersey Opt-Out Movement. In 2015, and in response to the increasing standardization of US public school instruction, and over-use of high-stakes testing, NJ parents began to refuse to allow their children to take a key end-of-the year exam, the PARCC. We employ the concepts of master and counter narratives to exam the qualitative data that was collected in an online-questionnaire, a focus group, and refusal letters. We argue that these parents have refused this exam for their children based on differing reasons, that parents effectively changed the master narrative of the PARCC to grow their movement, and their refusal letters were key in promoting a new counter narrative.     

The key role of representativeness in evidence-based education

ABSTRACT

Within evidence-based education, results from randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and meta-analyses of them, are taken as reliable evidence for effectiveness – they speak to “what works”. Extending RCT results requires establishing that study samples and settings are representative of the intended target. Although widely recognised as important for drawing causal inferences from RCTs, claims regarding representativeness tend to be poorly evidenced. Strategies for demonstrating it typically involve comparing observable characteristics (e.g., race, gender, location) of study samples to those in the population of interest to decision makers. This paper argues that these strategies provide insufficient evidence for establishing representativeness. Characteristics typically used for comparison are unlikely to be causally relevant to all educational interventions. Treating them as evidence that supports extending RCT results without providing evidence demonstrating their relevance undermines the inference. Determining what factors are causally relevant requires studying the causal mechanisms underlying the interventions in question.     

Development and validation of the environmental literacy instrument for adolescents

Environmental education (EE) practitioners struggle to consistently and rigorously evaluate their programs, particularly when little time is available for evaluation. Since environmental literacy (EL) is the goal of environmental education, a very short EL instrument – amenable to use when longer tests are not practical for practitioners – would address an important EE need. We describe the development and validation of the Environmental Literacy Instrument for Adolescents (ELI-A) that is short enough for use in field applications (i.e. 5–15 min) and measures four domains of environmental literacy (ecological knowledge, hope, cognitive skills, behaviour). Factor analysis, item response theory, and concurrent validity tests were used in the validation process. Structural equation modelling supported the fit between the ELI-A and prevailing EL frameworks. The results support a valid and reliable instrument that is short enough for practical use but comprehensive in measuring four primary components of EL. This instrument could help fulfil the call to evaluate EE programming in both formal and informal settings.     

What makes a vibble a vibble? A developmental study of category generalization

Young children appear to know when a novel label for a novel object is a common noun. The present study was concerned with the properties of a named object that children assume to be true of other members of the category that is specified by such a noun. Preschoolers, second graders, and college students were shown drawings of objects and given nonsense labels for those objects. They then viewed other objects that varied from the labeled ones along 4 particular attributes and were asked to decide if those other objects should also receive the same label. Preschoolers focused mostly on single attributes in making category decisions, and their choices of attributes were evenly distributed among the 4 types. Older individuals primarily exhibited multiple attribute rules. The results are discussed in terms of developmental differences in the modes of processing that are used and in the types of knowledge that are brought to bear on the word learning situation.     

Prediction of child abuse: A prospective study of feasibility

Feasibility of identifying risk for child abuse prospectively was determined by interviewing 1400 expectant mothers and predicting that 273 were high risk. Nonaccidental child injuries were subsequently reported to authorities for 6% of these versus 1% of the remaining 1127 families. Prediction was only effective for 24 months following interview. Thus prenatal prediction was feasible although the rate of false positive high risk assignment would limit practical application of the interview we used. As a first step to improve prediction accuracy, a group of the 20 strongest predictors was selected from the interview by regression analysis. The correlation of these with abuse was .44 compared to .15 for the original interview. Important predictors included subjective impressions of interviewers, residency transience, untruthfulness, disturbed childhood nurture, unwanted pregnancy, and perhaps conditions that increased parent-child exposure.     

Joining the Ranks: Opportunities and Obstacles in Obtaining Principal Positions

This study examines the application and acquisition process of individuals completing a principal licensure program to obtain school administrative positions over a period of five years. While relatively low compensation and high-pressure accountability demands were viewed as deterrents by those deciding not to seek principalships, the majority of the study participants actively sought and obtained schoool administrative positions. Gender differences were examined in the areas ofapplying for positions, interviewing, and number of job offers. Reasons for not applying for principal and assistant principal positions were also examined.