Middle Grades

CSE joins colleagues at TERC on a three-year research project to study the extent to which middle school science and special educators engaged in lesson study (LS) increase their knowledge of science content and learning disabilities, and apply new knowledge to improve teaching practice in inclusive science classrooms.

The New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) is one of 16 regional comprehensive centers that are federally funded to implement the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In doing so, NYCC engages the New York State Education Department in using research-based findings and rigorous evidence. The Center provides technical assistance services to meet the Department’s priority needs and further the key initiatives of the US Department of Education. Additionally, the NYCC works with the State on emerging needs based on new statutes and policy mandates.

EDC is working with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) to develop an investigation using the MicroObservatory online telescopes. Controlling the telescopes from their classroom, students will join a community of scientists in the search for solar systems beyond our own, including a search for a twin of Earth that may harbor life.

This project is developing a series of online professional development modules for school counselors—middle grades, high school, and postsecondary student service professionals—that focus on career counseling and college preparation. The modules use a learning community approach where school counselors will participate in the project as a cohort and engage in structured online discussions with their colleagues and the instructor during each of the module sessions.

In 2008 New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) developed a strategic vision for the improvement of its middle schools, known as The Campaign for Middle School Success. This is a multi-year, strategic approach to closing achievement gaps and increasing student academic achievement with frameworks for schools to apply with flexibility. It provided 70 middle schools, chosen through a competitive grant application process, with grants that would finance their improvement planning.

Our Courts is a free, interactive, Web-based program designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. It includes a complete curriculum that exceeds many states’ standards and can be used independently or as a supplement to other civics programs. Complementing the classroom materials is an immersive game environment designed for use in afterschool settings or at home. EDC is contributing instructional design expertise to this project.

CSE, through a cooperative agreement with the NSF, is establishing and maintaining the Discovery Research K–12 learning resource network, known as CADRE. The goals are to advance the state of research and evaluation in STEM education and to move forward the goals of the DR-K12 program. CADRE provides support services to grantees from the DR-K12 program, which enhances student and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines through the development, implementation, and study of resources, models, and technologies.

This project is developing an online course for K-8 mathematics instructional coaches in rural areas and small schools who do not have access to regular district-wide professional development. The course builds participants’ coaching skills through the use of classroom artifacts—including student work, videotapes, and transcripts drawn from the classroom. Additionally, the project exams how online learning and instructional coaching change teachers’ instructional practices and increase student achievement.

CSE is developing activity materials for informal science educators who work with middle school youth in extended investigations of living phenomena. This three-year project involves both the development of activities and controlled applied research, studying the role of different modes of visual representations, as well as the impact of the units themselves on the preparation for future learning and attitudes of participating youth. CSE is collaborating on this project with PERG, Boston Nature Center, and University of New Hampshire 4-H.