Technology

CCT will collaborate with colleagues at EDC’s Center for Science Education and game developers Electric Funstuff to develop and pilot-test a series of game modules that infuse inquiry-based game activities into traditional classroom practice for grade 7 science. Known as “Super Sleuths,”the modules will offer teachers and students in-depth explorations of scientific problems, countering students’ scientific misconceptions, reading difficulties, and lack of motivation that often complicate science teaching.

The Living Room Candidate is an online exhibition developed by the Museum of the Moving Image that presents more than 250 television commercials from every U.S. presidential election since 1952. The site includes a searchable database and features commentary, historical background, election results, and navigation organized by both year and theme.

By seamlessly integrating technology into learning, Cisco and its 21S program supporters hope to deliver a richer education experience to tens of thousands of students and teachers in Mississippi and Louisiana. Based on the lessons learned and successes in these schools, 21S will also be used as a blueprint for transforming other schools into 21st century models. As the program’s evaluation partner, CCT is constructing a research plan to help improve implementation within individual schools, school communities, and the Cisco 21S team.

The Connecticut Pre-K Assessment Pilot is a grant-funded project from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation that will test the efficacy of a technology-based early childhood assessment platform. The pilot program will evaluate the usefulness of a handheld assessment device to generate data that is instructionally beneficial to pre-K teachers and can be aggregated for different stakeholders to examine the overall effectiveness of literacy based programmatic investments.

CCT is developing and testing a series of indicators that monitor change in how educational systems prepare administrators, teachers, and students for the 21st century. In addition, CCT will also determine the most efficient way to implement them. This research builds on our ongoing evaluation of the Cisco 21S Initiative, a large-scale reform effort bringing technology and professional development to schools in Mississippi and Louisiana. This new project extends our investigations into defining and assessing 21st century skills.

Supported Literacy for Adolescents is a research-based literacy program developed over 10 years by EDC, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education (Office of Special education Programs and Institute of Educational Sciences), Annenberg Foundation, and MetLife Foundation. Its goal is to improve reading, writing, and comprehension among both high risk and typically achieving populations. It is deeply rooted in standards-based curriculum design, and all components of the program are aligned with national reading and writing standards, as well as selected content standards.

Teachers’ Domain: Engaging Alaska Natives with the Geosciences collection aims to increase Alaska Natives’ exposure to and involvement with geoscience-related issues that are directly relevant to their lives. CCT will conduct the evaluation of the collection to examine the ways in which teachers are accessing and using the media materials and the impact on both native and non-native Alaskan high school students.

CSE is working with the Robert Goddard Council and the STEM Pipeline Fund staff and committee to define STEM strategies for the Council, and to outline the major STEM priorities to be addressed by Commonwealth stakeholders.

Developed by Breakthrough Games, ICED (“I Can End Deportation”) is a single-player, downloadable video game that explores immigration challenges facing an immigrant teen living in an urban setting. As they traverse the city, players confront a series of ethical dilemmas that reflect the tenuous position immigrants occupy in American society. These dilemmas require players to decide between “civic-minded choices” and “remaining quiet” in order to avoid engagement with the law. Through the game, players learn facts about U.S.

The User-Centered Digital Library project will implement IMS/ISO Access specifications in the Teachers’ Domain online digital library to enable users (teachers and students with disabilities) to conduct searches for accessible content that is formatted to meet specific students’ needs. As part of the project, an evaluation will be conducted to both inform project activities in adapting the Teachers’ Domain digital library and to document the impact of the resources to be adapted on teachers and students with disabilities.