7 research outputs found
Teacher Evaluation and Professional Growth Systems: A National Review of Models, Approaches, and Challenges
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Reframing Engagement Methods for Climate Change Adaptation
Climate change poses known and unknown risks for coastal communities and also challenges for university faculty and local government staff who communicate about climate sciences. Conceived as a way to move beyond traditional models of science communication, this project involved public and private decision makers in specific at-risk communities in Oregon (U.S. Pacific coast) and Maine (Atlantic coast). Both state projects sought to move behavior toward decisive action that results in coastal communities that are more resilient to climate variability at all scales. To promote engagement between project staffs and publics, a dialogic model of communication was advanced, beginning with interviews and focus groups which in turn shaped further engagement through workshops and targeted video products. This means of communication led to a deeper understanding of participants’ knowledge, beliefs, perceptions, values, and barriers to action related to climate change and its effects. Coinciding with this, project participant evaluations in both Oregon and Maine indicate that the workshops and videos were successful at informing them on this complex issue; and in both states, project participation led to action outcomes. We believe that applied elsewhere our multi-faceted and adaptive approach will garner similar results, provided sufficient dedicated staffing and attention to methods
Brian Edward Doore's Quick Files
The Quick Files feature was discontinued and it’s files were migrated into this Project on March 11, 2022. The file URL’s will still resolve properly, and the Quick Files logs are available in the Project’s Recent Activity
Preschool Teacher Judgments of Students\u27 Alphabetic Knowledge
This study examined the accuracy with which preschool teachers judge their students\u27 alphabetic knowledge. It also explored the types of information teachers used to inform their judgments. Thirteen teachers participating in an Early Reading First project judged whether preschool students in their classrooms would respond correctly or incorrectly to items on a norm-referenced test of alphabetic knowledge. These judgments were then compared to students\u27 actual performance on the same items and the percent agreement was calculated. Teachers correctly judged their students\u27 item-by-item achievement with 70.1% accuracy, a level that is comparable to that of K-12 teachers in previous research. Their judgment accuracy was greater for higher and lower performing students than for average students, and for easier than more difficult items. Teachers were also interviewed about the sources of information they used to formulate their judgments. Results indicated that teachers tended to rely on knowledge of the taught curriculum and on task analysis most frequently, less often on direct observation or assessment of students, and rarely on the non-literacy characteristics of students (e.g., general ability, behavior); however, teachers\u27 use of specific sources of data was not related to their overall judgment accuracy. The present study represents the first examination of preschool teachers\u27 item-by-item judgments, and is the first attempt to account for the types of data that inform those judgments. Future research should extend these findings to teacher judgments of other indicators of early reading and mathematics
Program Planning with Problem Mapping to Better Understand Need
This article describes two methods for use in program development and refinement. Problem mapping and forcefield analysis are explained with a real-world example about parenting education. Both methods are visual and consider multiple causes and effects of a problem. The methods are effective for clearly thinking through a problem, identifying opportunities, partners, and programming possibilities. These methods can be used with groups to help identify problems and resulting needs, to select possible solutions, and then to use the information to design and refine programs