The worldwide use of computers : a description of main trends

This paper examines some of the main findings from the IEA Computers in Education survey. The results show that with respect to the future of computers in education there is reason for optimism as well as for pessimism. The optimistic part of the story is that new technologies in the form of computers are nowadays available for many schools in most so-called developed countries, and that despite the complexity of this innovation educational practitioners and students are still very enthusiastic about this technology. The pessimistic part is that there is still much inequity of access to computers. Once computers are available they tend to be used most frequently as an add-on to the existing curriculum. It is probably this lack of integration of computers in existing curricula which is most challenging in determining our agenda for the future

Independent Evaluation of the Jim Joseph Foundation's Education Initiative Year 4 Report

Research indicates that well-prepared educators help produce strong learning outcomes for students. For the continued health of Jewish education, higher education institutions should have the capacity to prepare sufficient numbers of highly qualified educators and education leaders for careers in Jewish education. Teachers, division heads, and school heads represent a substantial segment of the educator population in Jewish day schools. More than 5,000 educators enter new positions in Jewish day schools every year and are in need of adequate preparation. The most frequent obstacle to instructional quality in Jewish day schools is the difficulty in recruiting qualified teachers (Ben-Avie & Kress, 2006; Jewish Education Service of North America, 2008; Kidron et al., in press; Krakowski, 2011; Sales, 2007).A similar problem has been observed in supplementary schools in congregational or communal settings. These schools enroll the majority of Jewish children and adolescents receiving a Jewish education in the United States (Wertheimer, 2008). In recent years, congregations have begun to replace traditional educational programs with new approaches that aim to raise the quality of instruction and the level of parent and student satisfaction relative to their programs. These new approaches may include greater integration of experiential Jewish education and community service, family learning, and the integration of all aspects of congregational learning under the leadership of one director (Rechtschaffen, 2011; Sales, Samuel, Koren, & Shain, 2010). High-quality programs that are updated or reconstructed across time to meet the needs of the Jewish community require well-prepared directors and educators. However, many directors and educators in congregational schools have not participated in teacher preparation programs, and the depth of Jewish content knowledge among these teachers is highly variable (Stodolsky, Dorph, & Rosov, 2008)

The Case for Improving U.S. Computer Science Education

Despite the growing use of computers and software in every facet of our economy, not until recently has computer science education begun to gain traction in American school systems. The current focus on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the U.S. school system has disregarded differences within STEM fields. Indeed, the most important STEM field for a modern economy is not only one that is not represented by its own initial in "STEM" but also the field with the fewest number of high school students taking its classes and by far has the most room for improvement—computer science

The Effects of Incorporating Coding on Student Experience and Understanding of Middle School Mathematical Concepts

The purpose of this action research project was to study the effects of incorporating coding into a middle school math classroom on student experience with and understanding of mathematical concepts. The project used five data sources to examine these effects. Two of the data sources were used to examine the effects on student experience; 1) a survey to gauge student perception and 2) a chart to measure student engagement by tracking their time on task. Three of the data sources were used to examine the effects on student understanding; 1) a pre-assessment given before the coding project, 2) a post-assessment given after the coding project, these two data sources were used to determine if students grew in their understanding of the math concepts. Finally 3) a rubric was used to assess key learner outcomes, accuracy, application, coding efficiency, presentation, and creativity. After analyzing the data, it was found that incorporating coding into the middle school math classroom could have a positive impact on student math experiences and their understanding of math concepts

Management as a system: creating value

Boston University School of Management publication from the 1990s about the MBA programs at BU, aimed at prospective MBA students

The Impact of Technology on Primary Education

Using technology and computer science to facilitate learning as well as its role within education is important to understand as technology plays a dominant role in daily life. The availability, affordability, and efficiency of technological devices and tools have benefited both students and educators. Technology usage has increased as students with learning disabilities use different technological devices to support their needs, as well as teachers using assistive devices to directly identify students’ needs. Additionally, with the integration of technology and educational applications with lessons or texts, teachers provide students the opportunity to expand their learning through different forms of media, and engages students who learn through various cognitive learning styles the opportunity to connect with information in their own way. What technology in the classroom ultimately provides students is the opportunity to explore autonomy within themselves, while still receiving the academic support and structure needed to succeed within education and prepare them for real-world experiences

The opinions of science and mathematics teachers about beliefs, practices, and implementation of meaningful learning in Israel. A case study of Arab middle school(s)

Wydział Studiów EdukacyjnychWiele badań pokazuje, że przekonania nauczycieli dotyczące nauczania i uczenia się silnie oddziałują na ich praktykę zawodową. Celem tej pracy było zbadanie przekonań i praktyk nauczycieli przedmiotów ścisłych i matematyki w arabskich szkołach średnich w Izraelu w obliczy wdrażania nowej reformy edukacyjnej w tym kraju, silnie osadzonej na koncepcji meaningful learning. Zgodnie z tą koncepcją, uczniowie powinni być aktywni i zaangażowani w proces rozwiązywania problemów, którego rdzeniem jest szeroko ujmowany dialog pomiędzy uczestnikami procesu uczenia się. W badaniach wykorzystano strategię badań jakościowych. Prowadzono obserwacje w klasie, częściowo ustrukturyzowane wywiady oraz analizy dokumentów (m.in. planów lekcji, testów, arkuszy roboczych) i notatek terenowych. Uczestnikami badania było dwudziestu nauczycieli z trzech szkół średnich w społeczeństwie arabskim. Uzyskane dane pozwoliły zarysować obraz przekonań tych nauczycieli na temat meaningful learning oraz zidentyfikować sytuacje, które nauczyciele postrzegają jako realizację tej koncepcji. Praca kończy się rekomendacjami dotyczącymi dalszych etapów wdrażania reformy edukacji w Izraelu.The introduction of a new reform potentially challenges teachers’ beliefs and practices about teaching. This case study explores these challenges in the context of a new reform in Israel, where major educational reform has been undertaken. A considerable body of research, alternatively, advocates that teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning affect their teaching practices and many aspects of their professional work. These beliefs and practices influence many factors on the contextual and teacher levels. Thus, this study aimed to investigate and understand Arab middle school science and mathematics teachers’ beliefs, practices, and implementation of meaningful learning in Israel. The resulting data served to construct a background picture regarding teachers’ beliefs on meaningful learning, classroom practices, and identifying situations that teachers perceived as the implementation of meaningful learning. The study found also that curricular demands, teacher perceptions of their students, pressures of time, assessment, crowded classrooms, lack of resources, workload, and inadequate teacher understanding of the components of meaningful learning inhibited student- centered instruction. Thus, along with the reformation of teachers, there should also be a reformation in the context of the learning atmosphere and infrastructures in tune with the new reform’s intentions

The gap between intention and attainment in policy implementation : a syndrome revisited : the case of the reform in technological studies in Israel

This study analyses the syndrome inherent in the gap between policy setting and policy implementation, as exemplified by the case of the reform in the high-school system initiated by the Israeli Ministry of Education's Technological Division. The reform policy in the Technological trend prompted by the great advances in this field in recent years is explored, and the degree of its expected versus de facto implementation is analysed. The measurement tool for degree of implementation is the comparative requirements of the final matriculation exams before and after the beginning of the reform. The analysis focuses on the electronics and electricity trends. It challenges the validity of the proposed reform implementation and disputes the· validity of the matriculation exams as a tool meant to assess reform implementation. The gap between the initial intention of the policy makers and actual policy implementation will be analysed and discussed.peer-reviewe

Achievements during the 90's of Chile's ICT in Education Program: an International Perspective

This paper presents the main results of a national survey of the Chilean educational ICT infrastructure and its implementation in schools, and it puts these results in an international perspective. The survey was carried out in 1999 and its design followed the guidelines of the international SITES M1 study, sponsored by the IEA. In general terms, the results presented in this report place Chile in quite a good position in the international ranking with respect to several indicators related to ICT in education, especially in teacher training. Moreover, on many indicators Chile's results are similar or even better than the ones shown by developed countries such as Japan, Italy and France. Also, they show some challenges related to the provision of infrastructure (hardware) and ICT resources (software), particularly in primary education. Finally, they show opportunities for deepening further the instructional use of ICT in schools.This paper presents the main results of a national survey of the Chilean educational ICT infrastructure and its implementation in schools, and it puts these results in an international perspective. The survey was carried out in 1999 and its design followed the guidelines of the international SITES M1 study, sponsored by the IEA. In general terms, the results presented in this report place Chile in quite a good position in the international ranking with respect to several indicators related to ICT in education, especially in teacher training. Moreover, on many indicators Chile's results are similar or even better than the ones shown by developed countries such as Japan, Italy and France. Also, they show some challenges related to the provision of infrastructure (hardware) and ICT resources (software), particularly in primary education. Finally, they show opportunities for deepening further the instructional use of ICT in schools