Allowing learners to move across learning contexts in novel ways, digital tools play an increasingly central role for the formation of learning trajectories and identities. They thus presumably also affect dynamics of social sorting in education. Against this background, this article introduces a conceptual framework for unravelling dynamics of…

The Q-matrix played a key role in implementations of diagnostic classification models (DCMs) or cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs) -- a family of psychometric models that are gaining attention in providing diagnostic information on students' mastery of cognitive attributes or skills. Using two Monte Carlo simulation studies, this dissertation…

Providing coaching to participants in inquiry-based online discussions contributes to developing cognitive presence (CP) and higher-order thinking. However, a primary issue limiting quality and timely coaching is instructors' lack of tools to efficiently identify CP phases in massive discussion transcripts and effectively assess learners'…

This mixed methods study investigated the change types and the underlying mechanisms of Chinese undergraduates' deep learning approach at a research-oriented university in eastern China. In Study 1, the deep learning approach of 273 freshmen was assessed using R-SPQ-2F at the beginning and end of a semester. The changes were categorized into three…

A new classification for semantic structures of one-step word problems is proposed in this paper. The classification is based on illustrations of word problem situations in Common Core State Standards (CCSSM, 2010) and related historical studies (e.g. Weaver, 1973, 1979, 1982), as well as conceptual elaborations of embodied and grounded nature in…

In this paper, we present the development of an investigation on the promotion of covariational reasoning in high school students (14-15 years old) in Mexico. The study consists of designing and applying a sequence of didactic activities that simulate a real situation virtually. The activities are organized through a Hypothetical Learning…

Nearly 20 percent of California school children are English Learners (ELs), and close to 40 percent of all transitional kindergarten through grade 12 (TK-12) students speak a language other than English at home. Federal law requires that these children receive supportive services so they can access academic content while becoming fluent in…

This brief provides findings from the full report, "Adapting to Changes in California's English Learner Population," which examines how the size and composition of the English Learner (EL) population has changed and whether services, program offerings, and learning trajectories have evolved in response to these changes. Key findings…

California's K-12 funding and instructional policies for English learners (ELs) have changed significantly over the past 2 decades, including new requirements for instructional materials specific to ELs statewide and a new school funding system that funds ELs at a higher rate. These major policy shifts held the potential to change student learning…

We investigated how high school mathematics course placement contributes to inequalities in college preparation for students categorized as "English Learners" (ELs), especially "long-term" English Learners (LTELs). We devised a base-2 enumeration approach that allowed us to process complex transcript data from one school…