A School Connectedness Scale for Use with Adolescents

Instruments

Evaluators are frequently asked to assess the effectiveness of school programs implemented to improve academic achievement. School connectedness has been shown to be directly related to academic achievement and is therefore of interest to evaluators. The construct of school connectedness has been shown to consist of 3 elements: connectedness to adults in schools, connectedness to peers, and connectedness to the school. This paper reports the psychometric properties and factor analyses findings from a School Connectedness Scale (SCS) given to adolescents in 2 very different high schools in the

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URI’s Inner Space Center sponsoring marine technology, ocean sciences program for teachers in R.I., Mass., Conn.

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Teachers from Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts are participating in a year-long program in marine technology and ocean sciences at the University of Rhode Island’s Inner Space Center. The Marine Technology for Teachers and Students Project—funded by a $1.2 million National Science Foundation award—focuses on providing opportunities for teachers and students to explore new technologies in ocean sciences. Teachers are also studying at

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CHS teacher selected for marine technology program at URI

News

Romano, along with other educators from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, are participating in the program at URI’s Inner Space Center. The project, funded by a $1.2 million National Science Foundation award, will allow opportunities for students and educators to explore new technology in ocean sciences.

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Teaching math with computer programming can help narrow achievement gap

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My colleagues and I at UC Davis have been conducting extensive research for more than 10 years on how to use computing – solving a problem by designing and writing a computer program – to engage students and help them learn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Teaching math with computer programming – either as part of a standard math course or as an elective – can give mathematical concepts context and relevance while still

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Designing and Implementing an Elementary Science After School Field Experience

Publication

Field experiences provide an important opportunity for preservice teachers to observe and practice science instruction. Too often, insufficient time is allotted for elementary science instruction in the formal classroom. This paper outlines the opportunities and lessons learned from an after school field experience where preservice elementary teachers worked in two-person teams with a classroom mentor teacher at local elementary schools and community centers to deliver two science lessons per week during an elementary science methods course. Multiple evidences of success are presented at the

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Educational Leadership and Planning for Digital Manufacturing in Schools

Publication

Desktop manufacturing systems such as 3D printers and computer-controlled die cutters have recently become affordable in schools. Because this technology is evolving rapidly, considerable experimentation is occurring as teachers explore opportunities to enhance learning across a range of content areas. Central coordination and planning can facilitate effective use of digital manufacturing technologies in schools. Factors that should be considered include acquisition of technology, placement, and support of the technology, safety, alignment with educational standards and learning objectives

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Technologies to Support Engineering Education

Publication

This entry describes technologies that support engineering education, such as 3D printing, computer-assisted design, electromechanical systems and instrumentation, and control systems. Engineering education is one of four disciplines within STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. While science and mathematics are commonly regarded as core subjects in schools, engineering has had a less prominent role in K–12 education. However, engineering is increasingly used to teach science in context. This can increase students’ depth of understanding, allowing them to apply

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Computing with a Community Focus: Outcomes from an App Inventor Summer Camp for Middle School Students

Publication

This paper describes the design and evaluation of a one-week App Inventor summer camp for middle school students with an explicit focus on addressing local community needs. The community focus of the camp was designed to appeal to a broad range of students. We conducted an in-depth interview study to examine its impact on students' attitudes and perceptions, and supplemented this with results from project evaluation. Our results indicate that students had positive experiences in learning and creating real apps for solving community problems. Focusing on local community needs can also help to

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Validation of the Teaching Engineering Self-Efficacy Scale for K-12 Teachers: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Instruments

Background: Teacher self-efficacy has received attention because of its direct relationship with teachers’ classroom behaviors. Since engineering has been increasingly introduced in K-12 (precollege) education, development of an instrument to measure teachers’ self-efficacy in the context of teaching engineering has been needed. Purpose (Hypothesis): This study reports the development and validation of the Teaching Engineering Self-Efficacy Scale (TESS) for K-12 teachers. Design/Method: The items for the TESS were constructed through a comprehensive review of the literature regarding K-12

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