Schools continue to face a wide array of issues as they seek to improve student achievement and strengthen the community. While community schools have been identified as an important model for addressing these issues, the challenges to creating and sustaining them cannot be overlooked. They are complex systems that must be established carefully…

This study explored individual differences in educational disadvantage-- deficits in formal and informal education in the school, home, and elsewhere--in the SAT test-taking population. Factor analysis identified six educational disadvantage factors--four concerning the students' schools and two the students' nativity and parenting--and one family…

Describes the first administration of the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) to fifth-grade students. Discusses the history of CLAS, types of questions employed, content coverage, methods of scoring, and reporting on tests results. Presents sample questions, student responses, and commentary on student performance. (CFR)

Describes the development of a one-semester integrated mathematics and science methods course to introduce preservice elementary teachers to innovative mathematics and science teaching methods called for in current reform movements. Follows the evolution of the course in the areas of content and pedagogical knowledge; teachers as problem solvers;…

Open-ended questions and semistructured interviews were used to investigate the psychosocial learning environment among (n=35) grade-nine mathematics students in Hong Kong. The Mathematics Classroom Environment Scale has eight dimensions: enjoyability; order; involvement; achievement orientation; teacher led; teacher support; teacher involvement;…

Internships provide the opportunity to apply classroom theory into practical, hands-on experience while simultaneously developing skills that improve course performance (Daugherty, 2000). In addition, the experiential opportunity increases the probability for securing a full-time position upon graduation. The purposes of this study are to examine…

I use a quasi-experiment and follow-up questionnaire to ascertain the effects of PowerPoint multimedia presentations and a Blackboard course website on the course grades and perceptions of teaching effectiveness of introductory sociology students. Results of t-tests showed no statistically significant difference in course grades between…

The authors examined the effects of an intensive onsite technical assistance (IOTA) model on the inclusive practices of special educators. Three special educators received technical assistance that included performance assessments, workshops on inclusive practices, and intensive onsite follow-up support. Inclusive practices were measured using…

These proceedings contain the papers of the International Conference e-Learning 2013, which was organised by the International Association for Development of the Information Society and is part of the Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems (Prague, Czech Republic, July 23-26, 2013). The e-Learning 2013 conference aims to…

This study investigated one school district's transition from a junior model to a middle school philosophy. Numerous documents were examined and individual interviews and focus group discussions were analyzed to reconstruct the process and strategies used to facilitate the institutionalization of this complex change effort. Participant voices…

The Student Evaluation of Instruction (SEOI) was administered to all full-time and part-time faculty. Approximately 95,390 surveys were sent out in 4,841 envelopes; 54,203 surveys were returned to the Office of Institutional Research. The return rate for the paper surveys was 57% including late submissions. Instructors' reports were provided to…

The Student Evaluation of Instruction (SEOI) was administered to all full-time and part-time faculty. Approximately 95,279 surveys were sent out in 4,831 envelopes; 57,373 surveys were returned to the Office of Institutional Research. The return rate for the paper surveys was 60% including late submissions. Instructors' reports were provided to…

In an earlier article, we considered the pedagogy and assessment practices enacted by physical education (PE) teachers when attempting to translate a centrally prescribed rationale into meaningful performance-led teaching within an integrated curriculum--Higher Still Physical Education (HSPE) in Scotland. Through further research this article…

This collection of 13 essays focuses on the many challenges that adults with learning disabilities face in educational, work, and social settings. The essays are: (1) "Adults with Learning Disabilities: An Emerging Area of Professional Interest and Public Attention" (James R. Patton and Edward A. Polloway); (2) "Adult Development Theories: An…

This paper provides a very brief summary of the first three years of study of the court-ordered desegregation effort in St. Louis (Missouri). It examines differences in the reading and mathematics scores from the Stanford Achievement Test along with a performance-based writing assessment for four groups of African-American students. These groups…