This is how the project developed...
September 21st, 2014
Current thoughts on research question:
How does an inclusive, progressive/constructivist learning community integrate Common Core Math Standards?
I look at this as primarily a best practices research question. Possible avenues for research as follows:
Background information:
1. Gain familiarity with the standards.
2. Gain familiarity with the exams based on the standards (Smarter Balance, PARCC, SAT/ACT)
3. Review suggested "scope and sequence" materials already created by HTH.
4. Research other approaches.
5. Collect data regarding student performance.
Qualitative work:
1. Define "success" in the math discipline.
2. Observe teachers at work (at HTH and possible other locations). Look for the moments of "success" when pbl or at least real-world connections and standards combine while keeping HTH design principles as a guiding entity.
3. Discover how they happen. Interview teachers and students. Document them with videos or just written synopsis.
4. Record/document the challenges that teachers face trying to integrate standards and pbl.
5. Record/document the challenges that students/alumni face(d) trying to integrate standards and pbl.
6. Provide suggestions to lessen challenges based on above observations/documentation.
Quantitative work:
1. Do the classrooms where the above "successes" are observed translate to improved test scores?
2. Are there other practices at HTH that result in better test scores?
(I understand that getting better test scores does not necessarily translate to creating a better learner but they are performance measures and college entrance requirements)
Also there could be the overriding question as to how does a school leader create/support an environment that supports both teacher and student best practices.
Current thoughts on research question:
How does an inclusive, progressive/constructivist learning community integrate Common Core Math Standards?
I look at this as primarily a best practices research question. Possible avenues for research as follows:
Background information:
1. Gain familiarity with the standards.
2. Gain familiarity with the exams based on the standards (Smarter Balance, PARCC, SAT/ACT)
3. Review suggested "scope and sequence" materials already created by HTH.
4. Research other approaches.
5. Collect data regarding student performance.
Qualitative work:
1. Define "success" in the math discipline.
2. Observe teachers at work (at HTH and possible other locations). Look for the moments of "success" when pbl or at least real-world connections and standards combine while keeping HTH design principles as a guiding entity.
3. Discover how they happen. Interview teachers and students. Document them with videos or just written synopsis.
4. Record/document the challenges that teachers face trying to integrate standards and pbl.
5. Record/document the challenges that students/alumni face(d) trying to integrate standards and pbl.
6. Provide suggestions to lessen challenges based on above observations/documentation.
Quantitative work:
1. Do the classrooms where the above "successes" are observed translate to improved test scores?
2. Are there other practices at HTH that result in better test scores?
(I understand that getting better test scores does not necessarily translate to creating a better learner but they are performance measures and college entrance requirements)
Also there could be the overriding question as to how does a school leader create/support an environment that supports both teacher and student best practices.