FastERCurriculum Research & Development Group

The FASTer DVD provides video, audio, narrated animations, and text about how to use FAST in the classroom.

 

FAST Community Partners
National Science Foundation

Sonoma State University

CRDG

Professional Development | pg.16
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National Science Foundation Project
Studies FAST
2006 marked the final year of a National Science Foundation-funded project to develop an alternative to the traditional two-week professional development institute that is required of teachers who teach CRDG’s Foundational Approaches in Science Teaching (FAST) program. Laboratory School teachers and classes provided CRDG’s Learning Technology and Science sections with the setting to prepare a DVD that provides video, audio, narrated animations, and text showing the use of FAST in the classroom. Five data collection instruments, including a classroom observation protocol, teacher log, teacher questionnaire, and, in a collaboration with Sonoma State University, a student questionnaire and a student assessment were used to collect the data needed to evaluate the DVD as a professional development tool. CRDG is seeking funding to finish the alternative version of FAST professional development and eventually will compare the two versions.

University Laboratory School Evaluation and Research Studies
Each year the University Laboratory School is the focus for some of the work of the CRDG Program Research and Evaluation (PRE) Section. PRE conducts annual evaluations of the school and, using existing data, conducts small ad hoc research projects. The evaluations are designed to show the extent to which the school is achieving its overall purpose of having all students be prepared for college, work, and citizenship. The evaluation reports have presented descriptive and evaluative information about the school, with a focus on student characteristics and educational outcomes. Among other topics, research projects have focused on the extent to which gender and socio-economic status affect achievement in a school with a homogeneous curriculum serving a representative population of the state, and the relationship of college acceptance test scores and high grades with the rank of colleges that former Laboratory School students attend. A database of student records has been established and is regularly maintained. Additional studies using the database are part of PRE’s future plans.

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