| Reprinted here with the permission of the University
of Delaware. No further republication or redistribution is
permitted without the written permission of the editor.
Source:
Messenger, 2002 - Volume 11 - Number 2 (page 47)
|
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New study is one for the books
When the American Association for the Advancement of Science completed
its comprehensive, national evaluation of middle-school math textbooks,
researchers were able to rate various texts according to the effectiveness
of their presentation.
What the analysis couldn't determine, however, was how those texts were
being used by real teachers in real schools.
To extend the study into actual classrooms, the association turned to a
CHEP research center that already had experience with model math instruction,
through the National Science Foundation's ongoing Delaware 6-12 Exemplary
Mathematics Implementation project, known as DEMCI.
"As a result of our involvement with the DEMCI project, a large number
of middle schools and high schools in Delaware are using the top-rated
math texts and curriculum materials," says Jon Manon, assistant professor
of education and a researcher in CHEP's Mathematics and Science Education
Resource Center (MSERC). "But, the questions remain: Are they being
used to their full potential? Are they being implemented in a way that
benefits students most effectively?"
Researchers at MSERC and at Texas A&M University are attempting to
answer those questions by undertaking a five-year project to observe and
analyze middle school math teachers as they work with selected series
of textbooks and curriculum materials. Beginning in September, teachers
in Delaware and Texas will be videotaped presenting certain lessons and
then interviewed about their instructional methods. Their students also
will be interviewed and tested.
Under discussion at UD are plans to teach education students how to videotape
some of the lessons, as a way for them to both assist the research and
also observe classrooms in action.
The project is funded by the Interagency Education Research Initiative
Research Study, a partnership of the National Science Foundation, the
U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development. It represents a collaboration of the two universities
and Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
About two years ago, researchers with Project 2061 evaluated math textbooks
nationwide, comparing various series with what research had determined
was the ideal way to learn mathematical principles and concepts. That
evaluation found that the best texts get students involved in figuring
out for themselves how to solve math problems.
Because the top-rated texts require a change in methods, many teachers
initially may find them difficult to use, Manon says.
"It's one thing to say that these materials look as if they support
excellent instruction," he says. "It's another thing to see
if they actually do it--if they actually work in the classroom."
This type of research, which looks beyond theory to examine and improve
implementation, is unusual and exciting, according to Kathleen Morris,
senior program associate with Project 2061, who is coordinating the study.
"I think we're going to see a wide spread in instructional methods
this first year of the study, and then, as we work with teachers on the
best instructional strategies, we'll see more fidelity of implementation,"
Morris says.
In Delaware, Manon says, MSERC spent the summer recruiting teachers to
participate. This school year, 40 sixth- and seventh-grade teachers, using
two of the highest-rated math textbook series, will be observed in their
classrooms.
One of the first to volunteer was Karen Madden, CHEP '99, a seventh-grade
math teacher in New Castle, Del.
"I was very happy to see that they were going to go into classrooms
and observe the theory in practice, and I wanted to be part of that if
I could," she says. "Also, I love the Math in Context curriculum
that I use, because I see how well my students respond to it."
Based on the classroom observations and analysis, the researchers will
design professional development programs to help teachers use the best
materials most effectively.
On The Web:
Univeristy of Delaware
http://www.udel. edu
University of Delaware, Office of Public Relations
http://www.udel. edu/PR
University of Delaware Messenger
http://www.udel. edu/PR/Messenger
Related Articles:
Solving the Equation, from the Project 2061
newsletter
Manser, A. 2002. New study is one for the books. Messenger, 11 (2).
