Master schedule building and the flexibly scheduled school

Journal ArticleThis paper contains a model of a technique for increasing the quality of educational and instructional opportunity for all students. This model is developed around the flexible or modularly scheduled secondary school. Also included is a procedure containing a computer program, with which the administrator can develop the master schedule of the school

Middle school innovation: Interpretation and assessment

The purposes of this study were to present a historical interpretation and explanation of the middle school innovation and to examine the characteristics of model middle schools. In light of the available body of knowledge is the middle school a reasonable innovation to sustain and implement? A subsidiary purpose was to determine if there were any consensually agreed upon characteristics. The main research question is:;A comprehensive review of the literature was completed to provide the history of middle level education. Beginning with an explanation of the work of the Committee of Ten in 1893, the study provided a report on the current status of the middle school movement and established the rationality and reasonableness of the program in meeting the intent established by the Committee of Ten. The educational, social, and political issues that affected the development of the middle school movement were also examined.;The second part of the study included an examination of the literature on middle level education for the past quarter of a century to determine the essential characteristics of good middle schools. The rationale for implementing teacher training, flexible scheduling, and a core and exploratory curriculum was also examined as they relate to the middle school program.;It was concluded that the middle school is a reasonable innovation to sustain and implement in light of the available body of knowledge. The middle school itself is now being presented as a distinct unit in the educational system that provides a transitional program between the elementary school and high school. The literature and research of middle level education also indicated that highly successful middle schools have very similar programs.;Further study is needed to determine what types of teaming arrangements are most appropriate for the various middle grades, the strengths and weaknesses of various middle school daily schedules, and the effects of the interdisciplinary approach used in the middle school

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Conference on NASA/University Advanced Space Design Program

Topics discussed include: lunar transportation system, Mars rover, lunar fiberglass production, geosynchronous space stations, regenerative system for growing plants, lunar mining devices, lunar oxygen transporation system, mobile remote manipulator system, Mars exploration, launch/landing facility for a lunar base, and multi-megawatt nuclear power system

Implementing Technological Change: Effects on Student Learning Through Implementation of a Learning Management System for Enhanced Two-Way Communication between School, Students and Parents

The purpose of this project was to determine whether or not a blended learning environment that focuses mainly on incorporating core-subject standards into a current 7th grade Fundamentals of Information Technology (FIT) course can help to increase 7th grade student core-subject, academic performance. If such performance is distinguishable, the curriculum materials used to develop this project may then be used for curriculum development within the Bethel School District, 7th grade FIT program. The product or end result of this project is an online curriculum guide titled: Fundamentals of Information Technology Project: An Online Curriculum Guide for Bethel School District Middle School Technology Teachers. The curriculum guide is categorized into six teachable units and contains all original work produced from this project. The end result of the FIT Project is published online and contains: an overview of the results of the two project studies, lesson plans, instructional materials, materials for measuring student learning, materials for connecting teachers with parents and materials for connecting students with the community

Choral Educators’ Perspectives on Block Scheduling in Middle Schools

The purpose of this study is to identify how common the practice of block scheduling is currently among American public middle schools. This study also determines the perspectives of choral music educators working in public middle schools with existing block schedules. More extant literature is needed to examine block scheduling practices at the middle school level and the possible effects of block scheduling on middle school choral programs. Such an examination is essential for ascertaining curriculum needs, staffing issues, scheduling challenges, and choral music education advocacy initiatives. A qualitative design and case study approach are utilized to infer connections between block scheduling challenges and staffing needs. Data is collected through an electronic survey instrument disseminated to choral music educators who are National Association for Music Education (NAfME) members. The online survey consists of ten questions designed to examine individual perspectives on block scheduling and its effects on choral music programs. The survey includes a request for ten volunteers with experience with middle school block schedules to participate in a telephone interview to further explore strategies and perceived challenges. Results determine that block scheduling potentially has a positive effect on programs served by full-time educators and a negative effect on programs administered by itinerant educators. The implications of these results indicate a need for further study in scheduling practices and proactive advocacy initiatives

Cool Schools

The Western Sydney University Cool Schools Initiative (CSI) was launched in 2018 to develop interdisciplinary research programs for heat-resilient primary and secondary school environments and design of heat-resilient curriculum. This report summarises current research in health and environmental sciences, planning policy, legislation and standards, sustainability education, and innovative design trends. Its purpose is to inform future research into student thermal comfort and cooling solutions for schools in Western Sydney and NSW

Effectiveness of modular training at Farmers’ Training Center: The case of Fogera District, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Subsistence farming, climatic change, environmental degradation and low adult literacy ratio are problems of livelihoods. To increase productivity and alleviate poverty in rural areas, farmers need to have training to improve knowledge, attitudes and skills on better farming practices. Attending modular training might lead farmers to produce market oriented commodities. Such trainings are offered in the Farmers’ Training Centers, which are being functional at Peasant Association level throughout Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to analyze whether modular training addresses the knowledge gap of the farmers and enable them to use the acquired knowledge; institutional linkages and positive deviances of FTCs in performance and their contributions. A total of 120 respondents were selected. Interview schedules, focused group discussions, key informant interviews, personal observations and case studies were conducted for quantitative and qualitative data collection. RAAKS tools, SWOT analysis, Likert scale and teacher-made-test tools were also employed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools like, percentage, frequencies, chi-square and t-test. The result of the study revealed that, in the study area, Fogera, 7 PAs had delivered modular trainings. Even though, the training time and season was sufficient and convenient, less participation of females and being more theoretical and lecture type of methodology of the training were the major deficiencies. But trained farmers acquired better knowledge, skill, and attitude significantly than untrained farmers. Actors have been identified with different intensity of linkages. Many development actors assessed as strong, medium, weak and no linkage among and between them. The study indicated that, it requires enhancing the linkage of actors and their roles involved in training system. There are actors missed to support and integrate FTCs such as, Fogera Wet-land project, GTZ, CARE, private investors, research centers and ORDA. Positive deviances of FTCs were assessed, and found that there were no as such significant deviations documented at FTC level. Case studies and key informants revealed that, there are individual smallholder farmers who could perform and emerge better than the others as positive deviants and raised their level of living that could be scaled-up

The effects of 3-dimensional CADD modeling software on the development of the spatial ability of ninth grade technology discovery students

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there is a difference in the development of spatial abilities of ninth grade Technology Discovery students in Mississippi as measured by the Purdue Visualization of Rotations Test. Students experienced one of three differing instructional methods utilizing Pro/Desktop® 3-D CADD solid modeling software. Participants were students in Mississippi schools operating on a 4 x 4 block schedule during either fall or spring semesters during the 2005-2006 school year, and a control group of students whose schools did not offer CADD. Instructional material designed by the researcher was used for two instructional treatment methods, with existing instructional materials available for the software were used in the third instructional method. Demographic information was collected for students from 14 schools in the study. The primary research question asked if differences existed by instructional treatment method when spatial ability pretest scores, gender, ethnicity, co-registration in art, and co-registration in geometry were controlled. Analysis of Covariance was conducted to analyze the data for this research question, using the pretest as the covariate and instructional method as the fixed factor. The dependent variable was the posttest score. The other independent variables of gender, ethnicity, and co-enrollment in art and/or geometry were included in analysis. No affects concerning these additional variables was found. A statistically significant difference existed concerning the method used to instruct students on the use of 3-D CADD modeling software. The instructional consisting of method of teacher-lead instruction using the software in a design lesson, followed by student-directed modular instruction, was found to be effective. These lessons included 3-D physical models manipulated by the teacher and students. The group of students taught using this method had higher mean posttest scores than students instructed with other methods. The other instructional methods did not significantly affect student achievement on the test of spatial ability

The Impact of Block Scheduling on Student Achievement, Graduation Rate, and Attendance at the High School Level

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of block scheduling on student achievement, graduation rate, and attendance at the high school level. The study was a mixed methods study that compared existing data from three high schools from the same school district in a southern state which all moved from a traditional schedule to a block schedule and back to a traditional schedule over the same period of time. The study results included the comparison of composite ACT scores and attendance rates from the years pre-block implementation, the years of block implementation, and the years post-block implementation. The comparison of graduation rate data was limited to the years of block implementation and post-block implementation. An Analysis of Variance, ANOVA, was utilized to assess the impact of block scheduling on composite ACT scores, graduation rates, and attendance rates. For the qualitative portion of the study, administrators who served at the schools during the three time periods were interviewed. Their responses were recorded and analyzed and common themes and differences were noted. The results of the analysis of the quantitative data indicated that there was no statistical difference in the composite ACT scores and attendance rates between students on a block schedule and those on a traditional schedule. The results of the analysis of graduation rates indicated that there was a statistical difference between students on a block schedule and those on a traditional schedule, with students on a traditional schedule performing better