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A Critical Analysis of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars and Their Impact on Current Trends
Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance, Professor of Science Education, University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Vance has over 20 years of experience researching assessment practices and their impact on curriculum and instruction, with a specific focus on standardized testing in science.
Publisher: ACT, Inc. – a leading provider of educational assessment and information services, known for its rigorous test development and psychometric expertise.
Editor: Dr. David Miller, Senior Research Scientist at ACT, Inc. Dr. Miller possesses extensive experience in test development and analysis, including significant contributions to the ACT Aspire Science assessment.
Keywords: ACT Aspire Science exemplars, ACT Aspire science test, science assessment, standardized testing, science education, curriculum alignment, formative assessment, summative assessment, test preparation, student performance, data-driven instruction.
Summary: This analysis examines the impact of ACT Aspire Science exemplars on current trends in science education. It explores how these exemplars influence curriculum development, teacher instruction, and student learning, analyzing both their strengths and limitations. The analysis considers the alignment of exemplars with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and other relevant frameworks, evaluating their effectiveness in promoting deeper learning and fostering scientific literacy. Furthermore, it addresses potential biases and limitations within the exemplars and suggests strategies for maximizing their utility.
1. Introduction: Understanding the Role of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars
The ACT Aspire Science test is a widely used standardized assessment designed to measure students' science knowledge and skills. Central to the test's design and interpretation are the ACT Aspire Science exemplars. These exemplars provide concrete examples of student responses at different performance levels, showcasing the quality of reasoning, evidence use, and overall scientific understanding expected at each level. Understanding these exemplars is crucial for educators, students, and policymakers alike, as they fundamentally shape expectations regarding science achievement and inform instructional practices. The increasing emphasis on data-driven instruction highlights the importance of fully comprehending how ACT Aspire Science exemplars can guide effective teaching strategies.
2. Alignment with Current Trends in Science Education
The ACT Aspire Science exemplars aim to align with current trends in science education, particularly the emphasis on scientific practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These exemplars demonstrate how students should integrate these aspects within their responses, moving beyond simple recall of facts towards deeper understanding and application of scientific concepts. The exemplars' effectiveness in reflecting this shift from traditional, content-heavy assessments to more inquiry-based, skills-focused assessments is a key aspect of this analysis. Examining the specific examples within the ACT Aspire Science exemplars reveals the extent to which they successfully promote this approach. For instance, a high-scoring exemplar might showcase a student's ability to design an experiment, analyze data, and draw evidence-based conclusions, thereby aligning with the NGSS emphasis on scientific practices.
3. Impact on Curriculum Development and Instruction
The availability of ACT Aspire Science exemplars has a significant impact on curriculum development and instructional practices. Educators can use these exemplars to align their teaching with the assessment standards, ensuring that students are adequately prepared for the test. Furthermore, the exemplars can serve as valuable tools for formative assessment, allowing teachers to gauge student understanding and adjust their instruction accordingly. By analyzing student work against the ACT Aspire Science exemplars, teachers can identify areas where students excel and areas requiring further support. This data-driven approach enables more effective and targeted instruction, ultimately leading to improved student outcomes.
4. Strengths of the ACT Aspire Science Exemplars
The ACT Aspire Science exemplars offer several key strengths:
Clarity and Specificity: The exemplars provide clear examples of student responses at various performance levels, leaving little room for ambiguity in scoring.
Alignment with Standards: As mentioned, they generally align with current standards, including the NGSS, ensuring consistency across assessment and instruction.
Formative Assessment Tool: They serve as an excellent tool for formative assessment, enabling teachers to identify strengths and weaknesses in student understanding.
Improved Test Preparation: Access to these exemplars allows students to familiarize themselves with the expectations of the test, reducing test anxiety and improving performance.
5. Limitations and Potential Biases within ACT Aspire Science Exemplars
Despite their strengths, the ACT Aspire Science exemplars also present some limitations:
Limited Representation: The exemplars may not fully represent the diversity of student learning styles and backgrounds, potentially leading to bias in assessment.
Overemphasis on Specific Skills: The focus on specific skills showcased in the exemplars might lead to a narrow curriculum, neglecting other important aspects of science education.
Potential for Teaching to the Test: Overreliance on the exemplars might encourage "teaching to the test," sacrificing deeper conceptual understanding for test-specific skills.
Lack of Contextualization: Some argue that the exemplars lack sufficient real-world context, hindering the development of students' scientific literacy beyond the test setting.
6. Maximizing the Utility of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars
To maximize the positive impact of ACT Aspire Science exemplars, educators should:
Use them for formative assessment: Regularly analyze student work against the exemplars to guide instruction.
Supplement with broader activities: Use the exemplars as a starting point, but incorporate more open-ended and inquiry-based activities to foster deeper understanding.
Promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Emphasize skills beyond those explicitly shown in the exemplars.
Advocate for equitable access to resources: Ensure that all students have equal opportunities to access resources and support needed to succeed on the test.
7. The Role of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars in Promoting Scientific Literacy
The ultimate goal of science education is to foster scientific literacy – the ability to understand and apply scientific concepts to everyday life. While ACT Aspire Science exemplars can contribute to this goal, their effectiveness depends on how they are used within a broader instructional context. Focusing solely on the skills demonstrated in the exemplars might neglect the crucial aspects of scientific literacy such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills within a societal context. Therefore, it's crucial to use the exemplars as a tool, not the sole determinant of teaching and learning.
8. Conclusion
The ACT Aspire Science exemplars are a significant component of the ACT Aspire Science assessment, influencing curriculum development, instructional practices, and student learning. While they offer valuable guidance and resources for educators, it is crucial to acknowledge their limitations and actively mitigate potential biases. By using the exemplars strategically and supplementing them with diverse instructional approaches, educators can leverage their potential to promote a more comprehensive and equitable science education that fosters genuine scientific literacy. The continuous evaluation and refinement of these exemplars are essential to ensure their alignment with evolving trends in science education and their contribution to preparing students for success in the 21st century.
FAQs
1. What are ACT Aspire Science exemplars? ACT Aspire Science exemplars are examples of student responses at different performance levels on the ACT Aspire Science test, illustrating the quality of reasoning, evidence use, and scientific understanding expected.
2. How can teachers use ACT Aspire Science exemplars? Teachers can use them for formative assessment, aligning instruction with assessment standards, identifying student strengths and weaknesses, and improving test preparation.
3. Are ACT Aspire Science exemplars aligned with NGSS? The exemplars aim to align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), but the extent of alignment should be critically evaluated.
4. What are the limitations of ACT Aspire Science exemplars? Limitations include potential biases, overemphasis on specific skills, potential for "teaching to the test," and a lack of sufficient real-world context in some instances.
5. How can I access ACT Aspire Science exemplars? Access to the exemplars is typically provided through the ACT website or through the student's school.
6. How do ACT Aspire Science exemplars impact student performance? Effective use can improve student performance by providing clear expectations and guiding instruction, but overreliance can lead to narrow learning.
7. What is the role of ACT Aspire Science exemplars in promoting scientific literacy? While they contribute, their effectiveness depends on their integration within a broader instructional context that promotes critical thinking and real-world application.
8. How are ACT Aspire Science exemplars updated? ACT regularly reviews and updates its assessments, including the exemplars, to reflect advancements in science education.
9. Can ACT Aspire Science exemplars be used for other purposes beyond test preparation? Yes, they can be adapted for formative assessment and curriculum development.
Related Articles:
1. "Analyzing Student Performance on ACT Aspire Science: A Case Study": This article presents a detailed analysis of student performance data on the ACT Aspire Science test, identifying areas of strength and weakness.
2. "The Impact of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars on Teacher Instruction": This article investigates the influence of ACT Aspire Science exemplars on teacher instructional strategies and their effectiveness in improving student learning.
3. "Alignment of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars with Next Generation Science Standards": This research paper thoroughly evaluates the alignment of ACT Aspire Science exemplars with the NGSS framework.
4. "Addressing Bias and Equity Issues in ACT Aspire Science Exemplars": This article examines potential biases within the exemplars and proposes strategies to improve equity and fairness in assessment.
5. "Best Practices for Using ACT Aspire Science Exemplars in Formative Assessment": This article provides practical guidance on how teachers can effectively utilize ACT Aspire Science exemplars for formative assessment purposes.
6. "Developing a Comprehensive Science Curriculum Aligned with ACT Aspire Science Exemplars": This article outlines a process for creating a science curriculum that is effectively aligned with the ACT Aspire Science assessment standards.
7. "The Role of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars in Improving Test Preparation Strategies": This article examines effective test preparation strategies that utilize the exemplars to enhance student outcomes.
8. "ACT Aspire Science Exemplars: A Comparative Analysis with Other State Assessments": This article compares ACT Aspire Science exemplars with those used in other state assessments, highlighting similarities and differences.
9. "The Influence of ACT Aspire Science Exemplars on Student Motivation and Engagement": This article investigates the impact of the exemplars on student motivation and engagement in science learning.
act aspire science exemplars: Statistical Rethinking Richard McElreath, 2018-01-03 Statistical Rethinking: A Bayesian Course with Examples in R and Stan builds readers’ knowledge of and confidence in statistical modeling. Reflecting the need for even minor programming in today’s model-based statistics, the book pushes readers to perform step-by-step calculations that are usually automated. This unique computational approach ensures that readers understand enough of the details to make reasonable choices and interpretations in their own modeling work. The text presents generalized linear multilevel models from a Bayesian perspective, relying on a simple logical interpretation of Bayesian probability and maximum entropy. It covers from the basics of regression to multilevel models. The author also discusses measurement error, missing data, and Gaussian process models for spatial and network autocorrelation. By using complete R code examples throughout, this book provides a practical foundation for performing statistical inference. Designed for both PhD students and seasoned professionals in the natural and social sciences, it prepares them for more advanced or specialized statistical modeling. Web Resource The book is accompanied by an R package (rethinking) that is available on the author’s website and GitHub. The two core functions (map and map2stan) of this package allow a variety of statistical models to be constructed from standard model formulas. |
act aspire science exemplars: Nature of Science in Science Instruction William McComas, 2020-08-24 This book offers a comprehensive introduction to Nature of Science (NOS), one of the most important aspects of science teaching and learning, and includes tested strategies for teaching aspects of the NOS in a variety of instructional settings. In line with the recommendations in the field to include NOS in all plans for science instruction, the book provides an accessible resource of background information on NOS, rationales for teaching these targeted NOS aspects, and – most importantly – how to teach about the nature of science in specific instructional contexts. The first section examines the why and what of NOS, its nature, and what research says about how to teach NOS in science settings. The second section focuses on extending knowledge about NOS to question of scientific method, theory-laden observation, the role of experiments and observations and distinctions between science, engineering and technology. The dominant theme of the remainder of the book is a focus on teaching aspects of NOS applicable to a wide variety of instructional environments. |
act aspire science exemplars: Knowing What Students Know National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Center for Education, Board on Testing and Assessment, Committee on the Foundations of Assessment, 2001-10-27 Education is a hot topic. From the stage of presidential debates to tonight's dinner table, it is an issue that most Americans are deeply concerned about. While there are many strategies for improving the educational process, we need a way to find out what works and what doesn't work as well. Educational assessment seeks to determine just how well students are learning and is an integral part of our quest for improved education. The nation is pinning greater expectations on educational assessment than ever before. We look to these assessment tools when documenting whether students and institutions are truly meeting education goals. But we must stop and ask a crucial question: What kind of assessment is most effective? At a time when traditional testing is subject to increasing criticism, research suggests that new, exciting approaches to assessment may be on the horizon. Advances in the sciences of how people learn and how to measure such learning offer the hope of developing new kinds of assessments-assessments that help students succeed in school by making as clear as possible the nature of their accomplishments and the progress of their learning. Knowing What Students Know essentially explains how expanding knowledge in the scientific fields of human learning and educational measurement can form the foundations of an improved approach to assessment. These advances suggest ways that the targets of assessment-what students know and how well they know it-as well as the methods used to make inferences about student learning can be made more valid and instructionally useful. Principles for designing and using these new kinds of assessments are presented, and examples are used to illustrate the principles. Implications for policy, practice, and research are also explored. With the promise of a productive research-based approach to assessment of student learning, Knowing What Students Know will be important to education administrators, assessment designers, teachers and teacher educators, and education advocates. |
act aspire science exemplars: Fashionable Nonsense Alan Sokal, Jean Bricmont, 2014-01-14 In 1996 physicist Alan Sokal published an essay in Social Text--an influential academic journal of cultural studies--touting the deep similarities between quantum gravitational theory and postmodern philosophy. Soon thereafter, the essay was revealed as a brilliant parody, a catalog of nonsense written in the cutting-edge but impenetrable lingo of postmodern theorists. The event sparked a furious debate in academic circles and made the headlines of newspapers in the U.S. and abroad. In Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals' Abuse of Science, Sokal and his fellow physicist Jean Bricmont expand from where the hoax left off. In a delightfully witty and clear voice, the two thoughtfully and thoroughly dismantle the pseudo-scientific writings of some of the most fashionable French and American intellectuals. More generally, they challenge the widespread notion that scientific theories are mere narrations or social constructions. |
act aspire science exemplars: The Art and Science of Heroism and Heroic Leadership Scott T. Allison, James K. Beggan, Olivia Efthimiou, 2019-06-21 Heroism is a rich, elusive phenomenon. Any adequate understanding of heroic behavior requires a new type of scholarly imagination, one that taps into human artistic sensibilities as much as it does the rigors of scientific inquiry. In an important sense, we invoke a meta-version of the call to heroic imagination by Franco, Blau, and Zimbardo (2011), who describe such imagination “as a mind-set” and “a collection of attitudes” (p. 13) that can steer everyday people toward heroic achievement. This eBook also merges our understanding of heroism with heroic leadership, demonstrating that heroic leadership applies the principles of heroism in moving groups toward noble collective goals. This eBook represents an effort by a distinguished group of authors to unleash their own creative mindsets, attitudes, and imaginations in their scholarship on heroism and heroic leadership. |
act aspire science exemplars: Exemplarist Moral Theory Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski, 2017 In Exemplarist Moral Theory of Linda Zagzebski presents an original moral theory based on direct reference to exemplars of goodness, whom we identify through the emotion of admiration. Using examples of heroes, saints, and sages, she shows how narratives of exemplars and empirical work on the most admirable persons can be incorporated into the theory to serve both theoretical and practical purposes. |
act aspire science exemplars: Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Committee on the Science of Children Birth to Age 8: Deepening and Broadening the Foundation for Success, 2015-07-23 Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children. |
act aspire science exemplars: Taking Science to School National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Center for Education, Board on Science Education, Committee on Science Learning, Kindergarten Through Eighth Grade, 2007-04-16 What is science for a child? How do children learn about science and how to do science? Drawing on a vast array of work from neuroscience to classroom observation, Taking Science to School provides a comprehensive picture of what we know about teaching and learning science from kindergarten through eighth grade. By looking at a broad range of questions, this book provides a basic foundation for guiding science teaching and supporting students in their learning. Taking Science to School answers such questions as: When do children begin to learn about science? Are there critical stages in a child's development of such scientific concepts as mass or animate objects? What role does nonschool learning play in children's knowledge of science? How can science education capitalize on children's natural curiosity? What are the best tasks for books, lectures, and hands-on learning? How can teachers be taught to teach science? The book also provides a detailed examination of how we know what we know about children's learning of scienceâ€about the role of research and evidence. This book will be an essential resource for everyone involved in K-8 science educationâ€teachers, principals, boards of education, teacher education providers and accreditors, education researchers, federal education agencies, and state and federal policy makers. It will also be a useful guide for parents and others interested in how children learn. |
act aspire science exemplars: Heroic Humility Everett L. Worthington, Scott T. Allison, 2018 This book synthesizes both research and theory relevant to humility and heroism, articulating a vision of heroic humility---humility of such great depth that it inspires others. |
act aspire science exemplars: Point Made Ross Guberman, 2014-04 In Point Made, Ross Guberman uses the work of great advocates as the basis of a valuable, step-by-step brief-writing and motion-writing strategy for practitioners. The author takes an empirical approach, drawing heavily on the writings of the nation's 50 most influential lawyers. |
act aspire science exemplars: On Christian Teaching David I. Smith, 2018-05-28 Christian teachers have long been thinking about what content to teach, but little scholarship has been devoted to how faith forms the actual process of teaching. Is there a way to go beyond Christian perspectives on the subject matter and think about the teaching itself as Christian? In this book David I. Smith shows how faith can and should play a critical role in shaping pedagogy and the learning experience. |
act aspire science exemplars: Testing in American Schools , 1992 |
act aspire science exemplars: Communicating Science Toss Gascoigne, Bernard Schiele, Joan Leach, Michelle Riedlinger, Luisa Massarani, Bruce V. Lewenstein, Peter Broks, 2020-09-14 Modern science communication has emerged in the twentieth century as a field of study, a body of practice and a profession—and it is a practice with deep historical roots. We have seen the birth of interactive science centres, the first university actions in teaching and conducting research, and a sharp growth in employment of science communicators. This collection charts the emergence of modern science communication across the world. This is the first volume to map investment around the globe in science centres, university courses and research, publications and conferences as well as tell the national stories of science communication. How did it all begin? How has development varied from one country to another? What motivated governments, institutions and people to see science communication as an answer to questions of the social place of science? Communicating Science describes the pathways followed by 39 different countries. All continents and many cultures are represented. For some countries, this is the first time that their science communication story has been told. |
act aspire science exemplars: Literacy for Science National Research Council, Board on Science Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, 2014 Because the CCSS literacy in science standards predated the NGSS, developers of the NGSS worked directly with the CCSS team to identify the connections between the two sets of standards. However, questions about how the two sets of standards can complement each other and can be used in concert to improve students' reading and writing, as well as listening and speaking, in science to learn science continue to exist. Literacy for Science is the summary of a workshop convened by the National Research Council Board on Science Education in December 2013 to address the need to coordinate the literacy for science aspect of CCSS and the practices in NGSS. The workshop featured presentations about the complementary roles of English/language arts teachers and science teachers as well as the unique challenges and approaches for different grade levels. |
act aspire science exemplars: After Virtue Alasdair MacIntyre, 2013-10-21 Highly controversial when it was first published in 1981, Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue has since established itself as a landmark work in contemporary moral philosophy. In this book, MacIntyre sought to address a crisis in moral language that he traced back to a European Enlightenment that had made the formulation of moral principles increasingly difficult. In the search for a way out of this impasse, MacIntyre returns to an earlier strand of ethical thinking, that of Aristotle, who emphasised the importance of 'virtue' to the ethical life. More than thirty years after its original publication, After Virtue remains a work that is impossible to ignore for anyone interested in our understanding of ethics and morality today. |
act aspire science exemplars: Classroom Assessment and the National Science Education Standards National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Center for Education, Committee on Classroom Assessment and the National Science Education Standards, 2001-08-12 The National Science Education Standards address not only what students should learn about science but also how their learning should be assessed. How do we know what they know? This accompanying volume to the Standards focuses on a key kind of assessment: the evaluation that occurs regularly in the classroom, by the teacher and his or her students as interacting participants. As students conduct experiments, for example, the teacher circulates around the room and asks individuals about their findings, using the feedback to adjust lessons plans and take other actions to boost learning. Focusing on the teacher as the primary player in assessment, the book offers assessment guidelines and explores how they can be adapted to the individual classroom. It features examples, definitions, illustrative vignettes, and practical suggestions to help teachers obtain the greatest benefit from this daily evaluation and tailoring process. The volume discusses how classroom assessment differs from conventional testing and grading-and how it fits into the larger, comprehensive assessment system. |
act aspire science exemplars: The Cambridge Handbook of Instructional Feedback Anastasiya A. Lipnevich, Jeffrey K. Smith, 2018-11-15 This book brings together leading scholars from around the world to provide their most influential thinking on instructional feedback. The chapters range from academic, in-depth reviews of the research on instructional feedback to a case study on how feedback altered the life-course of one author. Furthermore, it features critical subject areas - including mathematics, science, music, and even animal training - and focuses on working at various developmental levels of learners. The affective, non-cognitive aspects of feedback are also targeted; such as how learners react emotionally to receiving feedback. The exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of how feedback changes the course of instruction leads to practical advice on how to give such feedback effectively in a variety of diverse contexts. Anyone interested in researching instructional feedback, or providing it in their class or course, will discover why, when, and where instructional feedback is effective and how best to provide it. |
act aspire science exemplars: Teaching at Its Best Linda B. Nilson, 2010-04-20 Teaching at Its Best This third edition of the best-selling handbook offers faculty at all levels an essential toolbox of hundreds of practical teaching techniques, formats, classroom activities, and exercises, all of which can be implemented immediately. This thoroughly revised edition includes the newest portrait of the Millennial student; current research from cognitive psychology; a focus on outcomes maps; the latest legal options on copyright issues; and how to best use new technology including wikis, blogs, podcasts, vodcasts, and clickers. Entirely new chapters include subjects such as matching teaching methods with learning outcomes, inquiry-guided learning, and using visuals to teach, and new sections address Felder and Silverman's Index of Learning Styles, SCALE-UP classrooms, multiple true-false test items, and much more. Praise for the Third Edition of Teaching at Its BestEveryone veterans as well as novices will profit from reading Teaching at Its Best, for it provides both theory and practical suggestions for handling all of the problems one encounters in teaching classes varying in size, ability, and motivation. Wilbert McKeachie, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, and coauthor, McKeachie's Teaching TipsThis new edition of Dr. Nilson's book, with its completely updated material and several new topics, is an even more powerful collection of ideas and tools than the last. What a great resource, especially for beginning teachers but also for us veterans! L. Dee Fink, author, Creating Significant Learning ExperiencesThis third edition of Teaching at Its Best is successful at weaving the latest research on teaching and learning into what was already a thorough exploration of each topic. New information on how we learn, how students develop, and innovations in instructional strategies complement the solid foundation established in the first two editions. Marilla D. Svinicki, Department of Psychology, The University of Texas, Austin, and coauthor, McKeachie's Teaching Tips |
act aspire science exemplars: The Science of Learning and Development Pamela Cantor, David Osher, 2021-06-21 This essential text unpacks major transformations in the study of learning and human development and provides evidence for how science can inform innovation in the design of settings, policies, practice, and research to enhance the life path, opportunity and prosperity of every child. The ideas presented provide researchers and educators with a rationale for focusing on the specific pathways and developmental patterns that may lead a specific child, with a specific family, school, and community, to prosper in school and in life. Expanding key published articles and expert commentary, the book explores a profound evolution in thinking that integrates findings from psychology with biology through sociology, education, law, and history with an emphasis on institutionalized inequities and disparate outcomes and how to address them. It points toward possible solutions through an understanding of and addressing the dynamic relations between a child and the contexts within which he or she lives, offering all researchers of human development and education a new way to understand and promote healthy development and learning for diverse, specific youth regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or history of adversity, challenge, or trauma. The book brings together scholars and practitioners from the biological/medical sciences, the social and behavioral sciences, educational science, and fields of law and social and educational policy. It provides an invaluable and unique resource for understanding the bases and status of the new science, and presents a roadmap for progress that will frame progress for at least the next decade and perhaps beyond. |
act aspire science exemplars: Genre in a Changing World Charles Bazerman, Adair Bonini, 2009-09-16 Genre studies and genre approaches to literacy instruction continue to develop in many regions and from a widening variety of approaches. Genre has provided a key to understanding the varying literacy cultures of regions, disciplines, professions, and educational settings. GENRE IN A CHANGING WORLD provides a wide-ranging sampler of the remarkable variety of current work. The twenty-four chapters in this volume, reflecting the work of scholars in Europe, Australasia, and North and South America, were selected from the over 400 presentations at SIGET IV (the Fourth International Symposium on Genre Studies) held on the campus of UNISUL in Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil in August 2007—the largest gathering on genre to that date. The chapters also represent a wide variety of approaches, including rhetoric, Systemic Functional Linguistics, media and critical cultural studies, sociology, phenomenology, enunciation theory, the Geneva school of educational sequences, cognitive psychology, relevance theory, sociocultural psychology, activity theory, Gestalt psychology, and schema theory. Sections are devoted to theoretical issues, studies of genres in the professions, studies of genre and media, teaching and learning genre, and writing across the curriculum. The broad selection of material in this volume displays the full range of contemporary genre studies and sets the ground for a next generation of work. |
act aspire science exemplars: Guide to Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Science Education, Committee on Guidance on Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards, 2015-03-27 A Framework for K-12 Science Education and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) describe a new vision for science learning and teaching that is catalyzing improvements in science classrooms across the United States. Achieving this new vision will require time, resources, and ongoing commitment from state, district, and school leaders, as well as classroom teachers. Successful implementation of the NGSS will ensure that all K-12 students have high-quality opportunities to learn science. Guide to Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards provides guidance to district and school leaders and teachers charged with developing a plan and implementing the NGSS as they change their curriculum, instruction, professional learning, policies, and assessment to align with the new standards. For each of these elements, this report lays out recommendations for action around key issues and cautions about potential pitfalls. Coordinating changes in these aspects of the education system is challenging. As a foundation for that process, Guide to Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards identifies some overarching principles that should guide the planning and implementation process. The new standards present a vision of science and engineering learning designed to bring these subjects alive for all students, emphasizing the satisfaction of pursuing compelling questions and the joy of discovery and invention. Achieving this vision in all science classrooms will be a major undertaking and will require changes to many aspects of science education. Guide to Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards will be a valuable resource for states, districts, and schools charged with planning and implementing changes, to help them achieve the goal of teaching science for the 21st century. |
act aspire science exemplars: Improvement Science in Education Brandi Nicole Hinnant-Crawford, 2020-07-10 Improvement Science in Education: A Primer provides a comprehensive overview of improvement science as a framework to guide continuous improvement and reconceptualizes improvement by centering equity and justice as the purpose of improvement. This Primer is designed to introduce improvement science, a methodology with origins in manufacturing, engineering and healthcare, to educational audiences. The book first explores the philosophical and methodological foundations of improvement science, juxtaposing it with traditional forms of research so that clear distinctions can be drawn. Chapters in the latter half of the book introduce the principles of improvement, give guidance and tools for operationalizing the principles in practice, and conclude with questions to ensure you are improving with equity in mind. Constantly reminding readers to think about who is involved and impacted, the Primer makes improvement science accessible to novices and adds critical dimensions for experienced practitioners to consider. Perfect for courses such as: Educational Research, School Improvement, and Program Evaluation |
act aspire science exemplars: Class Paul Fussell, 1992 This book describes the living-room artifacts, clothing styles, and intellectual proclivities of American classes from top to bottom. |
act aspire science exemplars: Making Sense of Test-Based Accountability in Education Laura S. Hamilton, Brian M. Stecher, Stephen P. Klein, 2002-07-31 Test-based accountability systems that attach high stakes to standardized test results have raised a number of issues on educational assessment and accountability. Do these high-stakes tests measure student achievement accurately? How can policymakers and educators attach the right consequences to the results of these tests? And what kinds of tradeoffs do these testing policies introduce? This book responds to the growing emphasis on high-stakes testing and offers recommendations for more-effective test-based accountability systems. |
act aspire science exemplars: Teaching for Wisdom Michel Ferrari, Georges Potworowski, 2008-10-14 This book examines if it is possible to teach wisdom. It considers how people at different times and places have engaged the age-old question of how (or whether) we can learn to live a good life, and what that life is like. Offering a range of perspectives, coverage considers Greek and Confucian philosophy; Christian, Islamic and Buddhist religion; African tradition, as well as contemporary scientific approaches to the study of wisdom. |
act aspire science exemplars: The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art , 1880 |
act aspire science exemplars: Get Better Faster Paul Bambrick-Santoyo, 2016-07-25 Effective and practical coaching strategies for new educators plus valuable online coaching tools Many teachers are only observed one or two times per year on average—and, even among those who are observed, scarcely any are given feedback as to how they could improve. The bottom line is clear: teachers do not need to be evaluated so much as they need to be developed and coached. In Get Better Faster: A 90-Day Plan for Coaching New Teachers, Paul Bambrick-Santoyo shares instructive tools of how school leaders can effectively guide new teachers to success. Over the course of the book, he breaks down the most critical actions leaders and teachers must take to achieve exemplary results. Designed for coaches as well as beginning teachers, Get Better Faster is an integral coaching tool for any school leader eager to help their teachers succeed. Get Better Faster focuses on what's practical and actionable which makes the book's approach to coaching so effective. By practicing the concrete actions and micro-skills listed in Get Better Faster, teachers will markedly improve their ability to lead a class, producing a steady chain reaction of future teaching success. Though focused heavily on the first 90 days of teacher development, it's possible to implement this work at any time. Junior and experienced teachers alike can benefit from the guidance of Get Better Faster while at the same time closing existing instructional gaps. Featuring valuable and practical online training tools available at http://www.wiley.com/go/getbetterfaster, Get Better Faster provides agendas, presentation slides, a coach's guide, handouts, planning templates, and 35 video clips of real teachers at work to help other educators apply the lessons learned in their own classrooms. Get Better Faster will teach you: The core principles of coaching: Go Granular; Plan, Practice, Follow Up, Repeat; Make Feedback More Frequent Top action steps to launch a teacher’s development in an easy-to-read scope and sequence guide It also walks you through the four phases of skill building: Phase 1 (Pre-Teaching): Dress Rehearsal Phase 2: Instant Immersion Phase 3: Getting into Gear Phase 4: The Power of Discourse Perfect for new educators and those who supervise them, Get Better Faster will also earn a place in the libraries of veteran teachers and school administrators seeking a one-stop coaching resource. |
act aspire science exemplars: The Life of Plants Emanuele Coccia, 2019-01-16 We barely talk about them and seldom know their names. Philosophy has always overlooked them; even biology considers them as mere decoration on the tree of life. And yet plants give life to the Earth: they produce the atmosphere that surrounds us, they are the origin of the oxygen that animates us. Plants embody the most direct, elementary connection that life can establish with the world. In this highly original book, Emanuele Coccia argues that, as the very creator of atmosphere, plants occupy the fundamental position from which we should analyze all elements of life. From this standpoint, we can no longer perceive the world as a simple collection of objects or as a universal space containing all things, but as the site of a veritable metaphysical mixture. Since our atmosphere is rendered possible through plants alone, life only perpetuates itself through the very circle of consumption undertaken by plants. In other words, life exists only insofar as it consumes other life, removing any moral or ethical considerations from the equation. In contrast to trends of thought that discuss nature and the cosmos in general terms, Coccia’s account brings the infinitely small together with the infinitely big, offering a radical redefinition of the place of humanity within the realm of life. |
act aspire science exemplars: The Book of the High Romance Michael Williams, 1918 |
act aspire science exemplars: Autonomous Horizons Greg Zacharias, 2019-04-05 Dr. Greg Zacharias, former Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force (2015-18), explores next steps in autonomous systems (AS) development, fielding, and training. Rapid advances in AS development and artificial intelligence (AI) research will change how we think about machines, whether they are individual vehicle platforms or networked enterprises. The payoff will be considerable, affording the US military significant protection for aviators, greater effectiveness in employment, and unlimited opportunities for novel and disruptive concepts of operations. Autonomous Horizons: The Way Forward identifies issues and makes recommendations for the Air Force to take full advantage of this transformational technology. |
act aspire science exemplars: An Introduction to Fully Integrated Mixed Methods Research Elizabeth G. Creamer, 2017-02-09 An Introduction to Fully Integrated Mixed Methods Research by Elizabeth G. Creamer provides the tools needed to design, execute, and evaluate fully integrated mixed methods research studies. A uniting metaphor of the architectural arch helps students understand the benefits of a mixed methods approach as they consider ways to integrate the qualitative and quantitative strands at all stages of design and execution. With use of examples from popular media and published research, this text also includes a detailed discussion of ways to accomplish mixing methods during data collection and analysis and a separate chapter on designing and executing a realistic mixed methods dissertation. |
act aspire science exemplars: Teaching and Christian Practices David Smith, James K. A. Smith, 2011-10-10 In Teaching and Christian Practices several university professors describe and reflect on their efforts to allow historic Christian practices to reshape and redirect their pedagogical strategies. Whether allowing spiritually formative reading to enhance a literature course, employing table fellowship and shared meals to reinforce concepts in a pre-nursing nutrition course, or using Christian hermeneutical practices to interpret data in an economics course, these teacher-authors envision ways of teaching and learning that are rooted in the rich tradition of Christian practices, as together they reconceive classrooms and laboratories as vital arenas for faith and spiritual growth. |
act aspire science exemplars: Handbook of Organizational Behavior, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded Robert T. Golembiewski, 2000-10-24 Building upon the strengths of the first edition while continuing to extend the influence and reach of organizational behavior (OB), the Second Edition of this groundbreaking reference/ text analyzes OB from a business marketing perspective-offering a thorough treatment of central, soon-to-be central, contiguous, and emerging topics of OB to facilitate greater viability and demand of OB practice. New edition incorporates more comparative perspectives throughout! Contributing to the dynamic, interdisciplinary state of OB theory and practice, the Handbook of Organizational Behavior, Second Edition comprehensively covers strategic and critical issues of the OB field with descriptive analyses and full documentation details the essential principles defining core OB such as organizational design, structure, culture, leadership theory, and risk taking advances solutions to setting operational definitions throughout the field comparatively discusses numerous situations and variables to provide clarity to mixed or inconclusive research findings utilizes cross-cultural approaches to examine recent issues concerning race, ethnicity, and gender reevaluates value standards and paradigms of change in OB investigates cross-national examples of OB development, including case studies from the United States and India and much more! Written by 45 worldwide specialists and containing over 3500 references, tables, drawings, and equations, the Handbook of Organizational Behavior, Second Edition is a definitive reference for public administrators, consultants, organizational behavior specialists, behavioral psychologists, political scientists, and sociologists, as well as a necessary and worthwhile text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students taking organizational behavior courses in the departments of public administration, psychology, management, education, and sociology. |
act aspire science exemplars: Black Identities Mary C. WATERS, 2009-06-30 The story of West Indian immigrants to the United States is generally considered to be a great success. Mary Waters, however, tells a very different story. She finds that the values that gain first-generation immigrants initial success--a willingness to work hard, a lack of attention to racism, a desire for education, an incentive to save--are undermined by the realities of life and race relations in the United States. Contrary to long-held beliefs, Waters finds, those who resist Americanization are most likely to succeed economically, especially in the second generation. |
act aspire science exemplars: Assessment for Education Valentina Klenowski, Claire Wyatt-Smith, 2013-11-19 ′This is a very exciting book and should be read widely by anyone who wants a better understanding of the role of assessment in the diverse, globalised, digital societies of the 21st century.′ - Professor Mary James, University of Cambridge, President, British Educational Research Association ′Highly readable and thoroughly researched, this call for a new vision of education deserves to be ready by all those who share the concern to shape today′s assessment practices to meet the needs of tomorrow′s society.′ - Professor Patricia Broadfoot, CBE, University of Bristol Do you need a practical guide to assessment, curriculum and policy? Are you also looking for a book that is firmly grounded in theory and professional practice? This book makes assessment processes transparent for practitioners, and shows how assessment should align with curriculum and teaching for success in education. The book will show you how practitioner use of achievement standards can improve learning, equity, social justice and accountability. Inside this book, you will learn about: Quality assessment and judgement practice Relationships across curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning Front-ending assessment based on the learner′s needs Practitioner judgement approaches and standards The conditions under which teacher assessment can be valid Principles derived from research of social moderation practices Assessment for Education is the perfect guide for students, researchers, academics and teaches, and anyone working in curriculum and assessment policy. |
act aspire science exemplars: Handbook of Organizational Behavior, Revised and Expanded Robert T. Golembiewski, 2000-10-24 Building upon the strengths of the first edition while continuing to extend the influence and reach of organizational behavior (OB), the Second Edition of this groundbreaking reference/ text analyzes OB from a business marketing perspective-offering a thorough treatment of central, soon-to-be central, contiguous, and emerging topics of OB to facilitate greater viability and demand of OB practice. New edition incorporates more comparative perspectives throughout! Contributing to the dynamic, interdisciplinary state of OB theory and practice, the Handbook of Organizational Behavior, Second Edition comprehensively covers strategic and critical issues of the OB field with descriptive analyses and full documentation details the essential principles defining core OB such as organizational design, structure, culture, leadership theory, and risk taking advances solutions to setting operational definitions throughout the field comparatively discusses numerous situations and variables to provide clarity to mixed or inconclusive research findings utilizes cross-cultural approaches to examine recent issues concerning race, ethnicity, and gender reevaluates value standards and paradigms of change in OB investigates cross-national examples of OB development, including case studies from the United States and India and much more! Written by 45 worldwide specialists and containing over 3500 references, tables, drawings, and equations, the Handbook of Organizational Behavior, Second Edition is a definitive reference for public administrators, consultants, organizational behavior specialists, behavioral psychologists, political scientists, and sociologists, as well as a necessary and worthwhile text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students taking organizational behavior courses in the departments of public administration, psychology, management, education, and sociology. |
act aspire science exemplars: Engaging Minds Brent Davis, Dennis Sumara, Rebecca Luce-Kapler, 2015-05-01 Engaging Minds: Cultures of Education and Practices of Teaching explores the diverse beliefs and practices that define the current landscape of formal education. The 3rd edition of this introduction to interdisciplinary studies of teaching and learning to teach is restructured around four prominent historical moments in formal education: Standardized Education, Authentic Education, Democratic Citizenship Education, Systemic Sustainability Education. These moments serve as the foci of the four sections of the book, each with three chapters dealing respectively with history, epistemology, and pedagogy within the moment. This structure makes it possible to read the book in two ways – either horizontally through the four in-depth treatments of the moments or vertically through coherent threads of history, epistemology, and pedagogy. Pedagogical features include suggestions for delving deeper to get at subtleties that can’t be simply stated or appreciated through reading alone, several strategies to highlight and distinguish important vocabulary in the text, and more than 150 key theorists and researchers included among the search terms and in the Influences section rather than a formal reference list. |
act aspire science exemplars: Foucault’s Strata and Fields Maren Kusch, 2012-12-06 In recent years, a large number of books and articles on Foucault has been published. Almost all of the book-size studies are expository and introductory. Indeed, there seems to be no other modern philosopher with reference to whom a comparable numberofintroductionshavebeen produced in such a short period. Most ofthe articles too provide over views, rather than critical assessments or rational reconstructions, even though there existsby now a small numberoffine papers also inthe two latter genres. Moreover, more often than not, writers on Foucault approach his work as part and parcel of so-called postmodern philo sophy. They concentrate on topics like the death of the subject, the relation ofFoucault's work to. Derrida or Habermas, or its significance for postmodern art and culture. Without wanting to deny the merits, either of introductory exposi tions, or ofstudies that read Foucault as a postmodern thinker, it seems to me that these received perspectives have tended to leave central areas and aspects ofFoucault's work somewhat underexposed. As I see it, the most important of these areas are such as would suggest reading Fou cault from the vantage point of recent developments in the philosophy, sociology and history of science. |
act aspire science exemplars: Architectural Research Methods Linda N. Groat, David Wang, 2013-04-03 A practical guide to research for architects and designers—now updated and expanded! From searching for the best glass to prevent glare to determining how clients might react to the color choice for restaurant walls, research is a crucial tool that architects must master in order to effectively address the technical, aesthetic, and behavioral issues that arise in their work. This book's unique coverage of research methods is specifically targeted to help professional designers and researchers better conduct and understand research. Part I explores basic research issues and concepts, and includes chapters on relating theory to method and design to research. Part II gives a comprehensive treatment of specific strategies for investigating built forms. In all, the book covers seven types of research, including historical, qualitative, correlational, experimental, simulation, logical argumentation, and case studies and mixed methods. Features new to this edition include: Strategies for investigation, practical examples, and resources for additional information A look at current trends and innovations in research Coverage of design studio–based research that shows how strategies described in the book can be employed in real life A discussion of digital media and online research New and updated examples of research studies A new chapter on the relationship between design and research Architectural Research Methods is an essential reference for architecture students and researchers as well as architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and building product manufacturers. |
act aspire science exemplars: Building Out into the Dark Robert Caper, 2013-12-16 In this book, Robert Caper provides the reader with an introduction to psychoanalysis focusing explicitly on whether psychoanalysis is part of the sciences, and if not, where it belongs. Many psychoanalysts, beginning with Freud, have considered their discipline a science. In this book, Caper examines this claim and investigates the relationship of theory to observation in both philosophy and the experimental sciences and explores how these observations differ from those made in psychoanalytic interpretation. Building Out into the Dark also explores topics including: the origins of psychoanalysis in the art of medicine the therapeutic effect of psychoanalysis the archaic superego psychoanalysis with the individual and groups what makes psychoanalytic work unique. Building Out into the Dark offers a thoughtful consideration of the nature of psychoanalytic knowledge and how it is gained. The book's accessible and concise style makes it a useful introductory resource for students studying psychoanalysis, for psychotherapists who are curious about the distinction between psychoanalysis and other forms of therapy as well as those interested in placing psychoanalysis in the context of current cultural and intellectual developments. |
Chronological Walkthrough Checklist for Act 2 (With Map)
Dec 12, 2023 · I was having some trouble with some quest timing in Act 2, and I've been trying to do every single sidequest so I made an organized checklist for Act 2 and I wanted to share. …
The forum for all things ACT - Reddit
The ACT is a standardized test used by millions of high schoolers for college admission. All 4-year colleges and universities accept the ACT. As opposed to the SAT, the ACT has more …
BG3 Honor Mode In-Depth Guide for Act I : r/BaldursGate3 - Reddit
(Gotta say, Bulette trick did wonders at Beholder, and it was so fun, hubby says he wants to “drive” it on next run). We still have the camp, the Hag, Spider Matriarch and Giths in act I and …
Act 3 Checklist Walkthrough (With Map) : r/BaldursGate3 - Reddit
I made and posted a checklist for Act 2, so if you want that one, go to my profile. This checklist helped me sooo much during Act 3 because it's so overwhelming. I hope it can help someone …
Anyone get unknowingly charged $99.95 by Active Network?
The charge is labeled as ACT*98602AADV-EndTrial, 800-6634991, TX This was particularly infuriating as when I looked in, I didn’t even have an account in active network. I had to sign up …
Act 3 Infernal Iron - What to do with it? : r/BaldursGate3 - Reddit
Cleared almost 100% of maps through both. Not sure what I'm missing in act 3, but i'm swimming in infernal & enriched infernal, with no real use for the materials. About to face Gorlach with …
Links to Free PDF Downloads of all 65 (and counting!) Official ACT ...
May 22, 2018 · After all, the yellow column on the right-hand side of r/ACT ("Prep Materials") currently has a link to the December 2015 test only, and this post currently includes 64 ACT …
All the Ways to Recruit Minthara and the Consequences : r/BG3
In Act 1, steal the idol while the ceremony is still being completed. This will cause the Druids to turn hostile and attack the Tieflings (this allegedly can still happen if you steal from the blue …
Genshin Impact Official - Reddit
This is the official community for Genshin Impact (原神), the latest open-world action RPG from HoYoverse. The game features a massive, gorgeous map, an elaborate elemental combat …
Curious about a room in Gauntlet of Shar I didn't figure out
Aug 6, 2023 · Late Act 2 spoilers obviously... In Gauntlet of Shar there was a room that is sorta weird to access without flying/Misty Stepping/etc. It was a room with a mirror outside and a big …
Chronological Walkthrough Checklist for Act 2 (With Map)
Dec 12, 2023 · I was having some trouble with some quest timing in Act 2, and I've been trying to do every single sidequest so I made an organized checklist for Act 2 and I wanted to share. …
The forum for all things ACT - Reddit
The ACT is a standardized test used by millions of high schoolers for college admission. All 4-year colleges and universities accept the ACT. As opposed to the SAT, the ACT has more …
BG3 Honor Mode In-Depth Guide for Act I : r/BaldursGate3 - Reddit
(Gotta say, Bulette trick did wonders at Beholder, and it was so fun, hubby says he wants to “drive” it on next run). We still have the camp, the Hag, Spider Matriarch and Giths in act I and …
Act 3 Checklist Walkthrough (With Map) : r/BaldursGate3 - Reddit
I made and posted a checklist for Act 2, so if you want that one, go to my profile. This checklist helped me sooo much during Act 3 because it's so overwhelming. I hope it can help someone …
Anyone get unknowingly charged $99.95 by Active Network?
The charge is labeled as ACT*98602AADV-EndTrial, 800-6634991, TX This was particularly infuriating as when I looked in, I didn’t even have an account in active network. I had to sign up …
Act 3 Infernal Iron - What to do with it? : r/BaldursGate3 - Reddit
Cleared almost 100% of maps through both. Not sure what I'm missing in act 3, but i'm swimming in infernal & enriched infernal, with no real use for the materials. About to face Gorlach with …
Links to Free PDF Downloads of all 65 (and counting!) Official ACT ...
May 22, 2018 · After all, the yellow column on the right-hand side of r/ACT ("Prep Materials") currently has a link to the December 2015 test only, and this post currently includes 64 ACT …
All the Ways to Recruit Minthara and the Consequences : r/BG3
In Act 1, steal the idol while the ceremony is still being completed. This will cause the Druids to turn hostile and attack the Tieflings (this allegedly can still happen if you steal from the blue …
Genshin Impact Official - Reddit
This is the official community for Genshin Impact (原神), the latest open-world action RPG from HoYoverse. The game features a massive, gorgeous map, an elaborate elemental combat …
Curious about a room in Gauntlet of Shar I didn't figure out
Aug 6, 2023 · Late Act 2 spoilers obviously... In Gauntlet of Shar there was a room that is sorta weird to access without flying/Misty Stepping/etc. It was a room with a mirror outside and a big …