Horizon Research, Inc

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Courtney L. Plumley

Report of the 2018 NSSME+

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Authors: Eric R. Banilower, P. Sean Smith, Kristen A. Malzahn, Courtney L. Plumley, Evelyn M. Gordon, Meredith L. Hayes

Date: December 2018

The Report of 2018 NSSME+ details the results of a survey of 7,600 science, mathematics, and computer science teachers in schools across the United States. Areas addressed include: teacher backgrounds and beliefs; science, mathematics, and computer science professional development; science, mathematics, and computer science courses; instructional objectives and activities; instructional resources; and factors affecting instruction.

Report of the 2018 NSSME+

Copyright and Usage: Horizon Research, Inc. (HRI) holds the copyright on this report. HRI grants permission for unlimited use, whether the entire report or excerpts, for non-commercial purposes. The report should be cited as follows:

Banilower, E. R., Smith, P. S., Malzahn, K. A., Plumley, C. L., Gordon, E. M., & Hayes, M. L. (2018). Report of the 2018 NSSME+. Chapel Hill, NC: Horizon Research, Inc.

A Review of Practice-Based Literature on Teaching about Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems to Elementary Students

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This report summarizes the findings of a systematic review of practice-based literature on teaching about interdependent relationships in ecosystems to upper elementary students.  The report is a product of the Knowledge Assets to Support the Science Instruction of Elementary Teachers (ASSET)  project.  ASSET is exploring a method for collecting and synthesizing pedagogical content knowledge (PCK).  Literature reviews and discussions with experts will help determine what is known in the field about teaching and learning of each of the key ideas, including common patterns of student thinking and successful instructional strategies.

A Review of Practice-Based Literature on Teaching about Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems to Elementary Students (PDF, 1M)

Copyright and Usage: Horizon Research, Inc. (HRI) holds the copyright on this report. HRI grants permission for unlimited use, whether the entire report or excerpts, for non-commercial purposes. HRI requires that proper attribution be given if any products or materials, in whole or part, are used. 

Hayes, M. L., Plumley, C. L., Smith, P. S., & Esch, R. K. (2018). A Review of Practice-Based Literature on Teaching about Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems to Elementary Students. Chapel Hill, NC: Horizon Research, Inc.

Collaborative Research: An impact study to examine the efficacy of a mathematics professional development program for elementary teachers

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National Science Foundation

Project AIM-ED is a collaborative project involving Horizon Research, Inc. and the Department of Elementary Education at North Carolina State University. The project builds on the NSF-funded project “All Included in Mathematics (AIM)” to develop and research the impact of an expanded model for mathematics professional development (PD) for first and second grade teachers using web-based courseware and facilitator support.  The PD is designed for elementary teachers to learn and use mathematics discussion strategies shown to support student learning.  AIM-ED research will investigate the impact of the new PD model on teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and mathematics teaching.  The study also examines the impact on students’ participation in mathematics discussions and content learning, with particular attention to English learning students.

PEARL: Peers Engaged As Resources for Learning

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National Science Foundation

Horizon Research, Inc. is collaborating with the Center for Developmental Science at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on the PEARL project to create an interdisciplinary team to: (1) study small group work in mathematics classrooms; (2) understand the challenges involved in promoting successful small groups; and (3) determine ways to help teachers deliver on the promise of group work. The team will integrate three conceptual frameworks—Mathematics Task, Mathematics Discourse Matrix, and Peer Cultures of Effort and Achievement—to understand the challenges involved in promoting successful small group learning environments.  The PEARL study involves a carefully sequenced set of research phases to develop and test both a framework for understanding small group learning environments and strategies to help teachers support successful group work.  Results of the study will inform teacher preparation and ongoing education, mathematics teaching practice, and educational research.

Northwest Earth and Space Science Pipeline

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University of Washington

The Northwest Earth and Space Science Pipeline (NESSP) project is a collaboration among organizations from Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The overarching goal of this NASA-funded project is to create a regional network that provides learning opportunities integrating NASA-related content and materials for middle and high school students and teachers in order to increase the number and diversity of students entering and staying in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pipeline.

Horizon Research, Inc. serves as the external evaluator for the project.

Knowledge Assets to Support the Science Instruction of Elementary Teachers (ASSET)

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National Science Foundation

Knowledge Assets to Support the Science Instruction of Elementary Teachers (ASSET) is exploring a method for generating collective pedagogical content knowledge (C-PCK).  This method will be tested through the creation of a web-based repository for elementary grades science teachers in two content areas:  (1) properties and structure of matter and (2) ecosystems.  To begin, the two content areas will be unpacked into key ideas.  Literature reviews and discussions with experts will help determine what is known in the field about teaching and learning of each of the key ideas, including common patterns of student thinking and successful instructional strategies.  Once the repository is complete, local teachers will test its functionality and use its resources to plan for and teach lessons related to the two areas of content.  Data collected about the teachers’ understanding and use of the repository will inform revisions to the C-PCK collection and synthesis method.