McREL Researchers at AERA to Focus on What’s New and Useful
April 3, 2007
Denver
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McREL researchers Andrea Beesley and Lynn Waldorf will present on the following current topics at the upcoming 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) April 9–13 in Chicago. Ill.:
Benefits and Pitfalls of Attempts to Quantitatively Measure Academic Learning Through Arts-Integration (Presentation by Lynn Waldorf) Monday, April 9, 2:15–2:55 p.m.
Dr. Waldorf will review how current trends in assessment are working, describe relevant and practical ways to measure arts, and demonstrate art connections to subject areas. She will use a sampling of quantitative tools used in arts-integrated assessment to present the pros and cons of the various approaches, discuss the validity of the analyses, and report on intentional and unintentional uses of the findings.
Waldorf notes, "Arts assessment is an important aspect of the evolution of the arts education field that is still developing primarily through trial and error. Given the high-stakes environment that educators work in today, it is timely to discuss both the processes and possible ramifications of these experiments for students and teachers, as well as for broader policy development."
Motivation for Learning in Developing Experts: Profiles of Multiple Goals (Poster Session by Andrea Beesley) Tuesday, April 10, 2:15–3:45 p.m.
Dr. Beesley will present the results of a new study of motivational characteristics of experienced IT workers who were users of online technology discussion groups. This study, which relied on survey responses about perceived competence, achievement goals, and rewards, links expertise development to motivation. Beesley will share her conclusion that people developing expertise can have different patterns of goals, which are expected to affect how well and how quickly they develop expertise.
"This study is unique in that it examines specific types of goals and traits—learning/mastery goals, performance-approach goals, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards—and individuals' perceptions of how useful these types of goals and traits might be in their future success," said Beesley.
Rural School Success: What Can We Learn? (Presentation by Andrea Beesley) Thursday, April 12, 10:35–12:05 p.m.
Dr. Beesley will describe an exploratory study by McREL researchers in which principals from 21 high-performing high-needs rural schools reported on factors they associate with success, such as high expectations, structural supports for learning, use of data, and individualization of instruction. She also will present factors, such as the close community-school relationship, that were revealed during site visits and describe how these factors might help schools enact high expectations.
This year's meeting theme, "The World of Educational Quality," underscores the importance of looking beyond U.S. borders to efforts around the globe to improve educational systems, equity of access and opportunity, and student learning. The theme also encourages researchers to go beyond the traditional boundaries of the field to apply novel methods to educational problems or find useful ways to integrate the methods and perspectives of other disciplines.
Meeting attendees will be able to select from more than 2,400 sessions, lectures, special invited speakers, and symposia, including a large number of international education researchers who will share scientific and scholarly perspectives from their regions.
Attendees are invited to visit the McREL Exhibit Booth (#715) for free McREL research publications, to ask questions of McREL presenters, or to speak with us about working at McREL.
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McREL is a nationally recognized, private, nonprofit organization located in Denver, Colo., dedicated to improving education for all students through applied research, product development and service. In 2005, McREL provided research-based guidance to educators and policymakers in 45 states in the U.S. and three foreign countries.
