photo of professor in lab
 

Improving Science for Students

The National Research and Development Center on Cognition and Science is a five-year national grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences to further the goal of fostering science literacy in young people so they are able to compete in a 21st Century global economy. The Center's work focuses on applying the lens of cognitive science to existing middle school science curricula (Foss and Holt) in an effort to improve student learning of science.

The new adapted curricula is being scientifically tested in a study involving over 180 schools in Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson) and Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). Professional development on these cognitive principles and their application within the selected science materials has been delivered to teachers in participating schools. These methods for improving student learning are being evaluated through rigorously designed scientific studies. One of the measures of the effectiveness of the modifications will be student performance on statewide science asssessments because preparing students to meet the cognitive demand of those instruments is also a focus of the work.

 

Welcome

 

How will the research design be constructed?

The study will focus in grade 7 and 8. The researchers will randomly assign participating schools to one of three groups:

  • Group #1: A control group receiving no intervention from the Center.
  • Group #2: A limited treatment group receiving professional development from the Center focused only on science content knowledge.
  • Group #3: A full treatment group receiving professional development focused upon principles of cognitive science as applied to science content knowledge in the context of the enhanced curricular units.

All control and limited treatment groups will have the opportunity to receive training in the treatment showing the greatest impact on student learning at the end of the study.

In Year 1, (Jul 2008-Jun 2009), a team of cognitive scientists will begin enhancing and field testing the first of three units for schools using the Holt science text.  The same will be done for schools using FOSS materials.  Baseline data will be collected and will continue to be collected throughout the study.  In the summer of 2009, teacher professional development will begin and continue for the next three years.  Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year, 7th grade teachers will begin using the enhanced units.  The following year, 8th grade teachers will begin teaching their enhanced units.