Harnessing Research in the SunBay and Cornerstones Programs: Putting Results to Use in Real Schools

• In Event: Changing Mathematics Education With Technology Through Research in Schools

Abstract

One result of SimCalc-based investigations into scaling up across a large number of schools is the Curriculum Activity System framework. This framework is premised on the idea that educational systems are composed of multiple, related, and interlocking components. A key implication that arises from the application of this framework is that one cannot productively change one component of the system (e.g. classroom technology) without accounting for related components (e.g. accountability standards, professional development, district priorities). In this presentation we describe how this framework has influenced our scale-up work in Pinellas County, Florida and London, England. In particular, we discuss how our focus on accountability standards, teacher professional development, district instructional priorities, classroom resources, and technology support has allowed us to bring high-quality, research-based mathematics education to thousands of middle school students.

Author

• Philip J. Vahey, SRI International