An Analysis of the Variables in Implementation of the Marzano Causal Teacher Evaluation System in the State of Florida

This was a non-experimental, mixed methods study to research the different ways in which the Marzano casual teacher evaluation system was implemented in 25 school districts in the state of Florida during the 2012-2013 school year. Based on seven implementation variables, the teacher evaluation systems were compared to the implementation model and research-based best practice. The researcher then sought to determine what relationships may or may not exist in teacher performance ratings between districts that followed the research-based implementation model and districts that did not. Two stated purposes of the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system were to improve the accuracy of teacher performance ratings and to improve the accuracy of feedback provided to teachers. Variation in implementation may possibly occur among school districts. To date no research has been conducted to analyze how variations in implementation may relate to teacher performance ratings. The purpose of this study was to provide data to support best-practice in the implementation of the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system and to guide instructional leaders on the implementation of this evaluation system. The researcher also sought to ensure the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system provides both accurate teacher feedback and accurate teacher evaluations. Data was collected from the Florida Department of Education published reports and information. School district implementation plans were gathered from state submitted documentation. Implementation plans were analyzed and read. Data was collected on a data collection sheet and then analyzed in SPSS using a crosstab Chi square test to determine if a statistically significant relationships existed between districts that followed the research-based implementation model and districts that did not. It was determined that implementation of the Marzano causal evaluation system varies widely. In six out of the seven implementation variables, it was determined that there were statistically significant relationships in teacher evaluation scores between districts that followed the research-based implementation variables and districts that did not. Further research should include validity and reliability studies on the Marzano causal evaluation system. Research should continue to analyze different ways in which the Marzano causal evaluation system is implemented, and what relationship there is between implementation and teacher performance ratings. Research should be conducted to analyze the effectiveness of feedback provided to teachers through the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system. This research indicates that the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system should be used following research based best-practice and how it is intended to be used. The research in this study shows that when implementation variables are altered in the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system, teacher performance ratings may become inaccurate. Based on misunderstandings of the Marzano causal evaluation system, it is recommended school leaders receive additional training on the understanding and implementation of the Marzano casual teacher evaluation system

Exploring evidence of higher order thinking skills in the writing of first year undergraduates

Research indicates that concern is often expressed about the language and discourse skills new students bring with them when they first enrol at university, which leads to assumptions being made about their academic abilities. In this paper, an argument is developed through detailed analysis of student writing, that many new first year students have nascent Higher Order Thinking Skills and the potential to be successful in their studies. The work of Robert Marzano and his associates (Marzano, 2001; Marzano & Kendall, 2007, 2008) is applied to student writing

IMPLEMENTASI TAKSONOMI BARU MARZANO UNTUK PEMBERDAYAAN MAHASISWA ASISTEN PRAKTIKUM FISIOLOGI TUMBUHAN DALAM PROGRAM PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL)

Sifat praktikum Fisiologi Tumbuhan yang sarat dengan eksperimen, menuntut para mahasiswa asisten praktikum agar mampu mengelolanya dengan baik, termasuk menyiapkan alat evaluasi yang berragam, yang terrangkum dalam program Peer Assisted Learning (PAL). Untuk itu para asisten praktikum Fisiologi Tumbuhan perlu dibekali keterampilan terkait taksonomi baru Marzano sebagai bentuk pemberdayaan asisten praktikum dalam rangka penyempurnaan program PAL yang telah dilakukan sebelumnya. Metode yang digunakan adalah bagian dari Research & Development (R & D), terutama pada tahap perbaikan pengembangan program PAL dan implementasinya. Penelitian dimulai dengan mengelompokkan soal dan hasil seleksi penerimaan asisten ke dalam matriks taksonomi baru Marzano sampai asisten dapat menyusun soal/pertanyaan takson baru tersebut bagi para praktikan serta memeriksa hasilnya. Data dihitung rata-ratanya dan dipersentasikan. Instrumen yang digunakan meliputi soal seleksi asisten, lembar observasi, soal/pertanyaan praktikum yang bermuatan taksonomi baru Marzano. Hasil studi pemberdayaan asisten untuk menyiapkan alat evaluasi praktikum Fisiologi Tumbuhan (sebagai bentuk pengembangan program PAL), menunjukkan bahwa kemampuan para asisten praktikum Fisiologi Tumbuhan dapat dikembangkan dengan sangat baik pada berbagai level pemrosesan, domain pengetahuan informasi dan prosedur mental. Secara keseluruhan jawaban praktikan terhadap pertanyaan/soal yang telah disusun asisten tenta ng hampir semua muatan takson baru Marzano cukup baik, meski beberapa hal perlu dibelajarkan terlebih dahulu seperti perhitungan dalam pembuatan larutan dengan satuan ppm dan cara memprediksi data dari suatu grafik. Kata Kunci : Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), Fisiologi Tumbuhan, asisten praktikum, Taksonomi Baru Marzano

The Effects of the Marzano Observation System Training on the Self-Efficacy of Teacher Observers

This research analyzed the effects of the Marzano Teacher Observation training on the self-efficacy of teacher observers. In this study, seventy-four teacher observers reported their self-efficacy in the areas of evaluating student engagement, evaluating classroom management, and evaluating instructional strategies in pre and post surveys. The results of the surveys were analyzed with a paired samples t-test. This study found that the Marzano Teacher Observation system increases the self-efficacy of teacher observers. This study was delimited to participants of a Marzano Teacher Observation training conducted in the fall of 2014. The findings of this study will inform executive school leaders of the impact Marzano Teacher Observation training has on the self-efficacy of teacher observers

The spatiotemporal pattern of the human electroencephalogram at sleep onset after a period of prolonged wakefulness

During the sleep onset (SO) process, the human electroencephalogram (EEG) is characterized by an orchestrated pattern of spatiotemporal changes. Sleep deprivation (SD) strongly affects both wake and sleep EEG, but a description of the topographical EEG power spectra and oscillatory activity during the wake-sleep transition after a period of prolonged wakefulness is still missing. The increased homeostatic sleep pressure should induce an earlier onset of sleep-related EEG oscillations. The aim of the present study was to assess the spatiotemporal EEG pattern at SO following SD. A dataset of a previous study was analyzed. We assessed the spatiotemporal EEG changes (19 cortical derivations) during the SO (5 min before vs. 5 min after the first epoch of Stage 2) of a recovery night after 40 h of SD in 39 healthy subjects, analyzing the EEG power spectra (fast Fourier transform) and the oscillatory activity [better oscillation (BOSC) detection method]. The spatiotemporal pattern of the EEG power spectra mostly confirmed the changes previously observed during the wake-sleep transition at baseline. The comparison between baseline and recovery showed a wide increase of the post- vs. pre-SO ratio during the recovery night in the frequency bins 10 Hz. We found a predominant alpha oscillatory rhythm in the pre-SO period, while after SO the theta oscillatory activity was prevalent. The oscillatory peaks showed a generalized increase in all frequency bands from delta to sigma with different predominance, while beta activity increased only in the fronto-central midline derivations. Overall, the analysis of the EEG power replicated the topographical pattern observed during a baseline night of sleep but with a stronger intensity of the SO-induced changes in the frequencies 10 Hz, and the detection of the rhythmic activity showed the rise of several oscillations at SO after SD that was not observed during the wake-sleep transition at baseline (e.g., alpha and frontal theta in correspondence of their frequency peaks). Beyond confirming the local nature of the EEG pattern at SO, our results show that SD has an impact on the spatiotemporal modulation of cortical activity during the falling-asleep process, inducing the earlier emergence of sleep-related EEG oscillations

State- or trait-like individual differences in dream recall. Preliminary findings from a within-subjects study of multiple nap REM sleep awakenings

We examined the question whether the role of EEG oscillations in predicting presence/absence of dream recall (DR) is explained by "state-" or "trait-like" factors. Six healthy subjects were awakened from REM sleep in a within-subjects design with multiple naps, until a recall and a non-recall condition were obtained. Naps were scheduled in the early afternoon and were separated by 1 week. Topographical EEG data of the 5-min of REM sleep preceding each awakening were analyzed by power spectral analysis [Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)] and by a method to detect oscillatory activity [Better OSCillations (BOSC)]. Both analyses show that REC is associated to higher frontal theta activity (5-7 Hz) and theta oscillations (6.06 Hz) compared to NREC condition, but only the second comparison reached significance. Our pilot study provides support to the notion that sleep and wakefulness share similar EEG correlates of encoding in episodic memories, and supports the "state-like hypothesis": DR may depend on the physiological state related to the sleep stage from which the subject is awakened rather than on a stable individual EEG pattern

Oliari and the European Court of Human Rights: Where the Court Failed

The European Court of Human Rights revisited the issue of legal recognition for same-sex partnerships on July 21, 2015 when it decided Oliari and Others v. Italy. This Note explores the implications of that decision and what it may mean for same-sex couples within Italy and throughout the Council of Europe. Through a careful analysis of the decision, this Note concludes that Oliari provides slight yet important movement on the issue of a Contracting State’s obligation to afford legal recognition for same-sex partnerships, but a practical implementation of the Court’s holding likely will yield little additional movement in more conservative Contracting States, as the factors utilized to find a violation on the part of Italy remain highly unique to the Italian experience, rendering any perception of a victory as merely psychological in nature

The Impact of using Model of Marzano Gain Students the Ability to Configure an Integrated Conceptual Structure in Islamic Concepts

The study aimed  that The impact of using model of Marzano gain students the ability to configure an integrated conceptual structure in Islamic concepts the Sample included studious (120) student students the first year where of college of the educational sciences study in, two branches be organized in their choice was complete random among seven people at that the chapter, where one of the people counted experimental group and included (60) student and the random method chose in, as the group counted the other control group and included (60) student likewise. This hypothesis states that there is no statistically significant difference at the level (0.05 ? ?) in the conceptual structure of the Islamic concepts among students who learned using the Marzano model in learning and who have learned the usual way. to test this hypothesis has been calculating averages, the amount of the increase in average marks his experimental group was higher than the amount of increase in the average control group students ' marks and the study recommended to: 1. Adopting a Marzano in the teaching of religious concepts in the different grades. For being an important factor in the development of effective learning among students by having the students ability to apply knowledge in new situations and the ability to distinguish and to gain new knowledge and correcting misconceptions among students and admission basics of religion for understanding . 2. The need for training of students (teachers) in universities on how to use teaching strategies Marzano model for application in schools after graduation from University, to the importance of such strategies in teaching and the Reformation, as facilitating the process of gradual building concept, sequence in article submission and evaluation method in teaching the concepts of Islamic education. Key words : marzano , conceptual structure , Islamic concept

Changes in Principal Evaluation Standards: A Case Study of North Dakota Principals

In recent years, increased demands and political scrutiny have been placed upon schools to improve student achievement. With these demands, a principal\u27s role is paramount (Dufour & Marzano, 2011; Reeves, 2009). School principals are second only to classroom teachers in influencing student achievement (Grissom & Loeb 2011; Louis, Leithwood, Wahlstrom, & Anderson, 2010). Likewise, Fenton, Kelemen, et al., (2010) and Marzano, Waters, & McNulty (2005) conclude that principal quality accounts for nearly 25% of a school\u27s total impact on student achievement

EEG oscillations during sleep and dream recall. State- or trait-like individual differences?

Dreaming represents a peculiar form of cognitive activity during sleep. On the basis of the well-known relationship between sleep and memory, there has been a growing interest in the predictive role of human brain activity during sleep on dream recall. Neuroimaging studies indicate that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is characterized by limbic activation and prefrontal cortex deactivation. This pattern could explain the presence of emotional contents in dream reports. Furthermore, the morphoanatomical measures of amygdala and hippocampus predict some features of dream contents (bizarreness, vividness, and emotional load). More relevant for a general view of dreaming mechanisms, empirical data from neuropsychological and electroencephalographic (EEG) studies support the hypothesis that there is a sort of continuity between the neurophysiological mechanisms of encoding and retrieval of episodic memories across sleep and wakefulness. A notable overlap between the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying emotional memory formation and some peculiar EEG features of REM sleep has been suggested. In particular, theta (5–8 Hz) EEG oscillations on frontal regions in the pre-awakening sleep are predictive of dream recall, which parallels the predictive relation during wakefulness between theta activity and successful retrieval of episodic memory. Although some observations support an interpretation more in terms of an intraindividual than interindividual mechanism, the existing empirical evidence still precludes from definitely disentangling if this relation is explained by state- or trait-like differences