Language Arts / Social Studies

EDC/CCT developed Web-based tools to support students and teachers as historical thinkers. With an interdisciplinary team of humanities scholars and teachers, we created several kinds of online inquiry guides around primary historical materials related to the building of modern America from 1880 to 1920.

EDC is collaborating with three universities to study how classroom teachers in grades four through eight can provide access to a rigorous, standards-based curriculum to students with disabilities. Over five years, REACH is developing and studying instructional approaches that support all students as they engage in challenging content learning in language arts (EDC), mathematics (University of Puget Sound), science (University of Michigan), and social studies (University of Delaware). The project has a special focus on the discourse practices that students use in learning rigorous content.

This project creates informal learning opportunities in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, using the ancient African civilization of Nubia as the context. Components include an exhibit, educational materials (hands-on kits, videos, and discussion guides), a Web site, a CD-ROM, community outreach, and professional development programs for educators in museums, community groups, schools, and libraries.

This project field-tested an innovative software tool, Draft:Builder, designed to help students with disabilities develop information-gathering and analysis skills within the middle grades curriculum. The project incorporated key principles of universal design to ensure accessibility to students with cognitive, sensory, and physical disabilities. Draft:Builder, designed as a prototype in a previous project, is published by Don Johnston, Inc., in collaboration with EDC.

This project built on speech recognition work from a previous project. We worked with a software publisher and speech recognition companies to produce a speech recognition product that meets the needs of individuals with disabilities. This product maintains desirable features of existing products and takes advantage of advances in speech recognition technology, while also integrating other critical adaptive technologies.

Literacy Matters is a comprehensive online professional development environment focusing on what matters most in adolescent literacy development (e.g., making the most of adolescent literacy, improving reading and writing in the content areas, and enhancing literacy and supporting mastery of technology).

Young people in grades five through eight face increasing literacy needs and heightened pressures to engage in high-risk behaviors. Read for Health was a curriculum development and dissemination effort that integrated adolescent literacy with healthy development skills. Project staff created student materials and a facilitator’s guide for use in classroom and community settings, an interactive student game for use in the classroom and at home, and a video for parents and teachers to help them facilitate discussions of sensitive issues with early adolescents.

In collaboration with EDC’s Center for Educational Resources and Outreach, EEC promotes and supports the Ford PAS program. Ford PAS includes an interdisciplinary high school curriculum that challenges students academically and develops their problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. We provide ongoing technical assistance for all schools and partners implementing Ford PAS by hosting an interactive Web site and toll-free hotline, designing and conducting an annual national networking and training conference, and offering professional development activities.

In collaboration with EDC’s Center for Educational Resources and Outreach, EEC has developed the Ford PAS program. Ford PAS includes an interdisciplinary high school curriculum that challenges students academically and develops their problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. The program links classroom learning to future opportunities in business, engineering, and technology, and motivates young people to succeed in college and careers. These links are forged through innovative partnerships with business, higher education, and the community.

CC&F/EDC is collaborating with EDC’s Center for Online Professional Education to develop online reading and language arts professional development modules for PBS. The modules will improve teacher practices so that all children receive high-quality, effective literacy instruction. Topics include how students become readers and writers, reading/language arts content, and effective instructional strategies that are grounded in scientifically-based reading research.