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A Researcher's Toolkit

Using Different Methods to Shed Light on Critical Questions

  • Turning to the Evidence

    The last decade has seen a boom in the use of “manipulatives” in K–8 mathematics classrooms. Teachers around the country are using cubes, pattern blocks, tiles, and other hands-on tools to make mathematical concepts more engaging and concrete for students. The trend has spread even without much research that demonstrates why, how, or if manipulatives work.

  • Using Classroom Artifacts in Teacher Professional Development

    A dozen middle and high school teachers seated around a U-shaped table are scrutinizing stacks of papers spread out before them. The papers include a math problem that one of the teachers’ classes worked on the previous week, copies of student work on the problem, and a transcript of the classroom conversation among one group of students. EDC’s Mark Driscoll stands at the center of the U, leading the teachers through a careful analysis of the “artifacts” before them.

  • Listening to Local Relevance

    Throughout its 25-year history, EDC’s Center for Children and Technology (CCT) has worked to strike a balance between promoting the potential of new technologies to significantly improve public education and respecting the traditional knowledge and culture of public schools and classroom teachers. This attention to local relevance is not limited to CCT, however—it’s a vital part of EDC’s work in the education and health fields. EDC staff approach every research project as a genuine collaboration between staff researchers and school personnel.

  • China Study Shows Health Improvements

    Hunger and undernutrition, as well as obesity, plague schoolchildren around the world. Along with vitamin and mineral deficiencies, nutritional problems can obstruct a child’s ability to enroll, attend, and thrive in school. While the inextricable link between health and learning has long been recognized, the most effective way to improve health for students has been less apparent.

  • Exploring Interconnections Among Risky Behaviors

    Violence, substance abuse, unprotected sex, and related risky behaviors take a tragic toll on the lives of individuals and their communities. To prevent these risks, we must first understand the factors and circumstances that contribute to risk-taking. EDC’s Center for Research on High Risk Behaviors (RHRB) conducts a variety of research projects that develop, evaluate, and disseminate effective interventions for reducing health risks.

  • Online Professional Development

    Online professional education for teachers and administrators has been a rapidly expanding industry over the past several years. Educators and districts across the country have been drawn to the convenience provided by online courses and workshops. But how effective are these courses, and what features determine the success of an online offering?