Folder: Student Engagement

The National Essential Skills Study asks participants to identify what they believe are the 20 to 30 most important topics in each of four subject areas:
English language arts
mathematics
science
social studies
The topics compiled for each content area were adapted from national standards as identified by the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Research Council, and the National Council for the Social Studies, and fr...Read more

Students will complete in depth research of the Hershey organization, including the amusement park, hotel, museum, and factory. Students will find the cost for the class to visit Hershey. Students will take a virtual tour of the factory, take a virtual ride on the rollercoasters, and gather information about the rollercoasters. Finally, students will reflect on their learning in writing.

Year: 2010

Brockton High School is a comprehensive grades 9–12 school located in an urban center 30 miles south of Boston. The school’s approximately 4,350 students represent a range in diversity and socioeconomic levels. The education program follows a six-day block schedule that offers core and elective courses in academic, vocational, fine arts, and performing arts programs. High expectations and high standards help motivate students enrolled in each of the academic programs and levels: Internati...Read more

High school students have taken their academic experience off "campus", and to a place where their \"classmates\" are 70 to 80 years their senior. Their school is the Orleans County Nursing Home. The alternative education program is a voluntary program that is available to students that have promise but have had some difficulty in the traditional school environment and structure.

Folder: Teacher Effectiveness

Over the last 6 months, the discussion about how to measure teacher effectiveness has dominated the news. This issue brief released by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gives an excellent synopsis of how this topic will go from a “discussion” to an implementation in 10 districts around the country. Undoubtedly, the results of this effort to focus on improving teaching and learning will drive many reform efforts. This easy to read brief is an excellent road map to get a glimpse of what...Read more

Students will work with a partner to construct and use a clinometer to determine the height of their school building. Students will use the Internet and materials provided by the teacher to assemble this instrument. Students will make accurate measurements, create diagrams, and use appropriate trigonomic ratios to solve the problem posed to them. Students will present their findings in a formal written Lab report.

Folder: Adult Education

Nearly a decade ago, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) presented states with a daunting mix of challenges that supported the creation of statewide standards and assessments and rigorous accountability requirements. Yet, as a nation, the United States still lags behind other countries in student academic achievement and in preparing its young people to succeed beyond the classroom. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Education expects the gap between American students and students from top performing co...Read more

Folder: Effective and Efficient

This research report written by Bill Daggett, SPN's Doug Silver, Dr. Jimmy Byrd, and Dr. Cindy WIlliams provides a model of how effective and efficient are not mutually exclusive. This paper describes the rationale and context for work in support of the El Paso ISD's effort to become more effective and efficient through a real time data analysis. The focus of this work is on efficient prevention rather than expensive intervention in assisting schools’ existing efforts and identifying poten...Read more

Physics and Algebra students will work cooperatively in groups of four to predict the theoretical flight path of a projectile (a "Flying Monkey") and compare the actual flight path to the predicted pattern. The flights will be video recorded against a background grid to aid in recording launch angle and elastic stretch length. The students will develop an oral presentation to compare the predicted and experimental outcomes, and explain similarities and differences.

Students will design and build a device that will capture a water balloon dropped from a predetermined height in a manner that allows the balloon to “survive” the fall with out breaking. Students will conduct Internet research on the physical forces involved in this process and document them in a lab journal. Students will also justify their design and choice of materials used to build their device. Finally, students will explain a real world application of a technology that applies an im...Read more