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What role do teachers play in America's educational crisis?

Research published by SAGE explores the impact of teachers on education quality and equity, focusing on issues like teacher certification, recruitment practices, and salary effects. The study reveals complex challenges facing disadvantaged districts, including high teacher turnover rates.

SourceSAGE·JournalPublic Finance Review·DateJan 23, 2008

Evolution education is a 'must' says coalition of scientific and teaching organizations

A coalition of 17 scientific organizations emphasizes the importance of teaching evolution in schools, citing a national survey that shows public support for evolution over creationism. The organizations argue that science education is fundamental to understanding natural phenomena and promoting critical thinking.

Teaching adolescents about condoms

A new systematic review found that 'abstinence-plus' programs, which present safer sex as an option when abstinence fails, can increase abstinence, condom use, and reduce unprotected sex among North American youth. The study also suggests limited evidence of reduced pregnancy rates among teenage girls.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 17, 2007

Study examines performance-based pay for teachers

A recent study by economists at the University of Missouri-Columbia and Vanderbilt University found that linking teacher pay to student achievement results in improved student outcomes. The researchers advocate for school districts to explore performance-based systems as a potential solution to increase teacher effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Policy Analysis and Management·DateSep 4, 2007

Learning a sense of community online

Researchers found that online learning communities like Think.com can promote children's learning by encouraging active engagement, digital literacy, and social skills. The teams assess how such systems support students in creating knowledge products and building a sense of identity and audience within the community.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Web Based Communities·DateJun 19, 2007

Study finds school environment can moderate student aggression

A large-scale study found that school environment plays a significant role in modulating student aggression. Supportive decision-making and cultural sensitivity training have been shown to reduce aggressive behavior, suggesting that schools can impact students' aggressive tendencies. The study's findings highlight the importance of cre...

Early child care linked to increases in vocabulary, some problem behaviors in 5th and 6th grades

A long-term study found that children with higher quality early child care had better vocabulary scores in 5th grade, while those with more time in center-based care were more likely to exhibit problem behaviors in 6th grade. Parenting quality was a stronger predictor of child development than type or quality of child care.

Cornell robot discovers itself and adapts to injury

A Cornell-built robot learns its own model of itself and can revise the model to adapt to injury, a process resembling human and animal babies discovering their bodies. The underlying algorithm could be applied to build more complex robots and allow them to adapt to changes in environment and repair themselves.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateDec 8, 2006