In conjunction with the North Central Regional Educational
Laboratory, The Center has developed a series of professional
development Web and audio segments. The centerpiece of the audio is the audio webcasts listed below. These audio webcasts, also known as podcasts, and the accompanying
audio clips and
Web text, focus on developing a better understanding of the scientific
movement in education to improve learning. Entitled "Harnessing the
Scientific Spirit to Improve Learning," the series discusses using
scientifically based research and assessments to increase student
achievement.
(Please note: Each "program" includes
an introductory audio segment, web-based text, and accompanying audio segments
that expand on the topic under discussion.)
Program #1 An introduction to basing our practice on better evidence and Additional Audio
Introduction to the "Scientific Revolution to Improve
Learning," an idea that education is becoming more scientific. Today,
the use of rigorous scientific methods to establish a body of credible
knowledge about how children learn, how teachers might best teach
different kinds of children, and how schools might best be organized is
emerging. This program begins to look at the emerging movement to put
education on a more credible scientific footing – to harness
objectivity in the service of learning.
Program #2 Changing the nature of the education conversation and Additional Audio
This program looks at changing the nature of the education
conversation. The panel discusses what we mean by "scientific," and how
the spirit of science can help educators become better professionals.
Also discussed, what would the educational equivalent of the FDA be
like?
Program #3 Trends in using measurement to improve learning and
Additional Audio
This chapter looks at trends in using
measurement to improve learning and the emergence of a growing approach
to assessment. The standards movement is an important piece of the
history of assessment and continues the discussion on the value of
basing decisions on evidence rather than personal opinion in education.
Program #4 Monitoring what gets taught: insuring an adequate opportunity to learn
and Additional Audio
This program continues the assessment
discussion and focuses on monitoring what gets taught: insuring an
adequate opportunity to learn. At the heart of No Child Left Behind is
the demand that every child be given a meaningful chance to graduate
high school with more than a piece of paper of sometimes dubious value.
Giving students an adequate opportunity to learn what they will need to
graduate with a good start in life is within our control and this
program discusses how good tests will play an increasingly important
role.
Program #5 Making science usable – engineering evidence-based knowledge into lessons and learning and Additional Audio
This chapter moves back into the realm of
considering the role of scientifically based research in education.
"Making science usable – engineering evidence-based knowledge into
lessons and learning" focuses on professionalism and how different
types of educational professionals are responsible for different parts
of the scientifically based research movement. Today's challenge for
teachers: to become creative and scientific.
Program #6 Comparing ourselves – honestly – with the best and Additional Audio
This program looks at the movement to develop
fair comparisons among schools. These so called "matched comparison
groups" help educators judge whether their own efforts are as
successful as those of their peers. Once educators see that others with
similar students can perform better, it is hoped that they will learn
from these better practices and improve their own classrooms as a
result.
Program #7 Using shared assessments to unpack standards and compare instruction and Additional Audio
This webcast deals with the sometimes daunting task of unpacking state
standards of learning and translating them into something that can be
measured. Once we can accurately measure the standards in meaningful
ways, teachers can begin to use the information to inform the
day-to-day instruction of students in the classroom.
Program #8 Making Mistakes and Moving Beyond Them is in the Scientific Spirit and Additional Audio
In nearly every field of endeavor today, professionals are attempting
to step back from their work so they can view it from a more neutral
point of view. This is the scientist spirit. This practice of
neutrality enshrines failure as the first step towards success. Using
assessments to help students accept failure as a necessary step towards
mastery is now seen as critical to using testing as formative
instructional practice.
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