This Week's Education Research Report 5-25-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Education Research Report

THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT

Students Perform Well Regardless of Reading Print or Digital Books

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 hour ago

Research by an Indiana State University doctoral student found that students did equally well on a test whether reading from a digital book or a printed one. Jim Johnson, who also is director of instructional and information technology services in the Bayh College of Education, surveyed more than 200 students. Half of the students used an iPad2 to read a textbook chapter while the other half of the students read from a printed textbook chapter. The students then took an open-book quiz with eight easy and eight moderate questions on the chapter. "Few people have done a lot of resea... more »

When it comes to behavior and self-control boys lag in U.S., but not in Asia

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago

A new study shows there is a gender gap when it comes to behavior and self-control in American young children – one that does not appear to exist in children in Asia. In the United States, girls had higher levels of self-regulation than boys. Self-regulation is defined as children’s ability to control their behavior and impulses, follow directions, and persist on a task. It has been linked to academic performance and college completion, in past studies by Oregon State University researchers. In three Asian countries, the gender gap in the United States was not found when researche... more »

Schools should provide students with daily physical activity

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago

A new report from the Institute of Medicine, Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School, says schools should be responsible for helping pupils engage in at least 60 minutes of vigorous or moderate intensity activity during each school day. No more than half of American youth meet current evidence-based guidelines of at least an hour of vigorous or moderate intensity physical activity daily, according to the report, which was released today. “Because children are in school for nearly half of their waking hours, the committee recommends a Wh... more »

The Condition of Education 2013

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 days ago

The National Center for Education Statistics has released The Condition of Education 2013. The 42 indicators presented in The Condition of Education 2013 provide a progress report on education in America and include findings on the demographics of American schools, U.S. resources for schooling, and outcomes associated with education. Report findings include: - As of 2012, about 90 percent of young adults ages 25 to 29 had a high school diploma or its equivalent and 33 percent had a bachelor’s or higher degree. Annual median earnings in 2011 were higher for those with higher leve... more »

Parent and teacher support protects teens from sleep problems and depression

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 days ago

A new study suggests that disturbed sleep in adolescents is associated with more symptoms of depression and greater uncertainly about future success. However, perceived support and acceptance from parents and teachers appears to have a protective effect. Results show that disturbed sleep was significantly associated with depressed mood and greater uncertainty about future success. Higher levels of perceived support from parents and from teachers were associated with significantly fewer sleep disruptions and subsequently with fewer symptoms of depression and greater optimism about ...more »

Postsecondary Institutions and Price of Attendance in 2012-13; Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2011-12; and 12-Month Enrollment: 2011-12

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 days ago

This First Look presents preliminary data findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2012 collection, which included three survey components: Institutional Characteristics for the 2012-13 academic year, Completions covering the period July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, and data on 12-Month Enrollment for the 2011-12 academic year. Selected Findings • - In 2012-13, of the 7,416 Title IV institutions in the United States and other U.S. jurisdictions, 3,110 were classified as 4-year institutions, 2,263 were 2-year institutions, and the remaining 2... more »

Privacy and Security of Student Data Critical to Advancing K-12 Education

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 days ago

School reform and improvement efforts require an information technology infrastructure in service of learning and student success. Yet, digital learning tools and services can frustrate educators. Consider that: * Teachers may have to remember multiple logins and passwords to access classroom resources or compile data on student activities, since each tool employs its own authentication process; * Online and digital learning resources abound, but it can be difficult for teachers and students to sort through them to find the ones that are high-quality and standards-aligned; and, * Ed... more »

Per Student Public Education Spending Decreases in 2011 for First Time in Nearly Four Decades

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 3 days ago

Fiscal year 2011 marked the first decrease in per student public education spending since the U.S. Census Bureau began collecting data on an annual basis in 1977, according to new statistics released today (dollars not adjusted for inflation). The 50 states and the District of Columbia spent $10,560 per student in 2011, down 0.4 percent from 2010. The top spenders were New York ($19,076), the District of Columbia ($18,475), Alaska ($16,674), New Jersey ($15,968) and Vermont ($15,925). Total expenditures by public elementary and secondary school systems totaled $595.1 billion in 20... more »

Asthma Symptoms Impair Sleep Quality and School Performance in Children

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 3 days ago

The negative effects of poorly controlled asthma symptoms on sleep quality and academic performance in urban schoolchildren has been confirmed in a new study. “While it has been recognized that missed sleep and school absences are important indicators of asthma morbidity in children, our study is the first to explore the associations between asthma, sleep quality, and academic performance in real time, prospectively, using both objective and subjective measures,” said principal investigator Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior (Research) ...more »

Teens exposed to schoolmate's death by suicide much more likely to consider or attempt suicide

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 3 days ago

* Study supports idea of 'suicide contagion,' especially in 12 and 13 year olds* Youth who had a schoolmate die by suicide are significantly more likely to consider or attempt suicide, according to a study in published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). This effect can last 2 years or more, which has implications for strategies following schoolmate suicides. "We found that exposure to suicide predicts suicidality," writes senior author Dr. Ian Colman, Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Epidemiology and Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa, with lead author Son... more »

Beginning Teachers in California Face a Bumpy Path to a Teaching Career

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 3 days ago

A new study conducted by SRI International, J. Koppich & Associates, and Inverness Research finds that the majority of beginning teachers in California face a bumpy path to a teaching career. The study found that state policies designed to promote and enhance the effectiveness of beginning teachers fail to match employment realities. Most significantly, beginning teachers often do not get the support they critically need to be effective in the classroom. State policies assume that teachers complete teacher preparation and earn a preliminary credential, take a probationary teaching ... more »

One in ten teens using “study drugs,” but parents aren't paying attention

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 4 days ago

As high schoolers prepare for final exams, teens nationwide may be tempted to use a “study drug” – a prescription stimulant or amphetamine – to gain an academic edge. But a new University of Michigan poll shows only one in 100 parents of teens 13-17 years old believes that their teen has used a study drug. Study drugs refer to stimulant medications typically prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); commonly prescribed medicines in this category include Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. Among parents of teens who have not been prescri... more »

Gym class reduces probability of obesity

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 4 days ago

Little is known about the effect of physical education (PE) on child weight, but a new study from Cornell University finds that increasing the amount of time that elementary schoolchildren spent in gym class reduces the probability of obesity. The study represents some of the first evidence of a causal effect of PE on youth obesity, and is forthcoming in the *Journal of Health Economics*. An early, online version of the study can be viewed at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167629613000556 The research offers support for the recommendations of organizations such... more »

States' Test Security Policies and Procedures: GAO Report

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 4 days ago

According to a GAO nationwide survey of state testing directors, all states reported that their policies and procedures included 50 percent or more of the leading practices to prevent test irregularities in the following five areas—security plans, security training, security breaches, test administration and protecting secure materials. Additionally, of the 28 states that administered computer-based assessments, the majority reported including half or more of the leading practices in computer-based testing. However, states varied in the extent to which they incorporated elements of... more »

Home Computers Don't Affect Academic Achievement

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 5 days ago

Computers are an important part of modern education, yet many schoolchildren lack access to a computer at home. This study, Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Home Computers on Academic Achievement among Schoolchildren tested whether this lack of access impedes educational achievement. The approach used was to provides free home computers to randomly chosen students. Although computer ownership and use increased substantially, the authors found no effects on any educational outcomes, including grades, test scores, credits earned, attendance and disciplinary actions. The estim...more »

The Current State of Assessment Education

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 6 days ago

*Aligning Policy, Standards, and Teacher Education Curriculum* In response to the existing accountability movement in the United States, a plethora of educational policies and standards have emerged at various levels to promote teacher assessment competency, with a focus on preservice assessment education. However, despite these policies and standards, research has shown that beginning teachers continue to maintain low competency levels in assessment. Limited assessment education that is potentially misaligned to assessment standards and classroom practices has been identified as o... more »

Investigating the Effects of Teacher Characteristics and Student Teaching

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 week ago

Some believe the solution to improving instructional quality in K-12 schools lies in identifying and recruiting certain kinds of individuals to the profession (e.g., academically talented, stronger commitment). Others believe that talented or committed individuals cannot become effective or enduring teachers without adequate preparation. Most prior literature examines either recruitment or preparation, rather than weighing evidence for both simultaneously. In addition, most prior research investigates the effects of either approach on only a single outcome, rather than considering... more »

CDC issues first comprehensive report on children’s mental health in the United States

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 week ago

R Children’s mental disorders affect boys and girls of all ages, ethnic/racial backgrounds, and regions of the United States. Previous studies estimate up to 1 in 5 children have mental disorder and a new CDC MMWR Supplement finds that millions of American children live with depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, Tourette syndrome or a host of other mental health issues. The MMWR Supplement titled, “Mental Health Surveillance Among Children in the United States, 2005-2011,” is the first-ever report to describe federal efforts on monitoring mental disorders, and prese... more »

Colleges Using Financial Aid to Woo Wealthy Students Rather Than Help Low-Income Students Afford Tuition

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 week ago

In their relentless pursuit of prestige and revenue, American private and public four-year colleges and universities are increasingly using financial aid to attract the best and most affluent students rather than to help low-income and working-class families pay for college, according to a *new report* released by the New America Foundation’s Education Policy Program. The report presents a brand new analysis of little-examined U.S. Department of Education data showing the “net price” the lowest-income students pay after all grant aid has been exhausted. *The analysis shows that hund... more »

Pre-K Assessments Fall Short on Teacher Performance

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 week ago

Student achievement is playing an increasing role in teacher evaluations, even in the earliest years of school when children do not participate in state standardized testing. As a result, states and school districts are struggling to find sound methods to measure young students’ achievement and rushing to implement evaluation systems without thinking through the risks, according to a *new report* released today by the New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative. As of 2012, 20 states and D.C. require student learning to play a significant role in evaluating all teachers' pe... more »

Most Math Being Taught in Kindergarten Is Old News to Students

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 week ago

Kindergarten teachers report spending much of their math instructional time teaching students basic counting skills and how to recognize geometric shapes—skills the students have already mastered before ever setting foot in the kindergarten classroom, new research finds. The findings reveal a misalignment between what the students are being taught and what they already know. “This study is one of the first to raise the question: Is the content that teachers report teaching in kindergarten meeting the needs of the majority of their students?” Mimi Engel, assistant professor of publi... more »

Playworks recess program reduced bullying, enhanced feelings of safety at school, increased vigorous physical activity during recess, and provided more time for classroom teaching

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 week ago

A new study from Mathematica Policy Research and the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities at Stanford University suggests that there may be more to recess than just a break in the school day. The randomized controlled trial of Playworks, a nonprofit organization that delivers a safe, healthy recess in low-income elementary schools in 22 U.S. cities, found that the program reduced bullying, enhanced feelings of safety at school, increased vigorous physical activity during recess, and provided more time for classroom teaching. The research raises the possibility tha...more »