THE PROGRESSIVE SCIENCE INITIATIVE (PSI) & PROGRESSIVE MATHEMATICS INITIATIVE (PMI):��AN EFFECTIVE NEW APPROACH TO STUDENT LEARNING AND TEACHER TRAINING���

Empowering Teachers …Leading Change

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www.njctl.org

Empowering Teachers …Leading Change

www.njctl.org

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New Jersey

Center for Teaching and Learning

New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning

Robert Goodman, Ed.D.

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NJ Center for Teaching and Learning

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Bergen County Technical HS - Teterboro

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bgoodman33@gmail.com

The US faces a serious challenge in math and science education

• US student achievement is considered internationally uncompetitive

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• The US percentage of the world’s scientists and engineers is shrinking

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• Two useful reports: Rising above the Gathering Storm and The Perfect Storm

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Progressive Science Initiative (PSI) & Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI)

• PSI initially developed for teaching HS science to students

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• PSI extended to creating new HS science teachers

• PMI developed using PSI Methods: For teaching K-12 mathematics to students

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The Progressive Science Initiative (PSI)

• Began 10 years ago by the teachers at Bergen Tech in Teterboro, NJ

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• Well documented results

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• Doctoral dissertation, peer reviewed journal article, ongoing evaluation

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AP Performance and International Competitiveness

1995 TIMSS Results - Physics

AP Exams as a Goal

• Provides a standard metric

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• Recognized by K-12, colleges & universities, students and parents

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• Correlated to international competitiveness

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• Gives students access to top colleges & universities plus scholarships

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AP Science Exams Taken� (2010 - School versus Normed State)

AP Science Exams Passed� (2010 - School versus Normed State)

Math SAT Scores�(School versus State)

PSI - PMI Methods

• Curriculum

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• Pedagogy

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• Assessment Strategies

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• Technology

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• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

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• Pacing

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Curriculum�PSI Course Sequence: Grades 9 – 12

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Curriculum�PSI Course Sequence: Minimal Version

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Curriculum�Traditional Course Sequence

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Pedagogy

Social Constructivism

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PLUS

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Direct Instruction

Pedagogy

Social Constructivism

• Round Tables
• Group Problem Solving
• Heterogeneous setting

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Pedagogy

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Direct Instruction

• SMART Notebook presentation
• SMART Response Formative Assessment
• Teacher as part of social group

Assessment Strategies

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• Grades based only on what students know and can do – Tests, quizzes and labs

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• Retakes for all assessments

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• Grades are not subjective

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• Correlated to End of Course Tests

(APs, EOC Algebra I, Common Core, etc.)

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Assessment Strategies

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SMART Responders

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Anonymous student polling during class to guide instruction

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Direct Instruction

Direct Instruction: Adding Decimals

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Direct Instruction

Example: Adding Decimals

SMART Response

SMART Response

Classroom Technology

• Computer and Printer

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• SMART board with Projector

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• SMART Responders

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• Round Tables and chairs

www.njctl.org

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• All PSI course materials are posted on this site

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• Teachers can freely access all of them

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• Students can freely access all but assessments

www.njctl.org

www.njctl.org

www.njctl.org

www.njctl.org

www.njctl.org

• All course materials are posted
• Open Source Approach - Free access to all
• 50,000+ hits per month
• 5000+ unique visitors per month, and growing (worldwide)

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Collaboration Through �Learning Communities

• Shared materials on www.njctl.org

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• Interschool communication

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• Teaching and Learning shared virtually

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Critical Shortage of Science Teachers

• PSI has shown “all students can learn science”.

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• We believe “all teachers can learn science”

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• PSI teaches science to skilled teachers.

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• The goal is to get the best teachers to become the best science teachers:

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“Teaching is hard; science is easy”

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Kean – CTL �Endorsement Program

• Teachers are taught the science content, and how to teach it

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• Teachers are provisionally authorized to teach a first level PSI course

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• Teachers take advanced courses while teaching the first course

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NJCTL Creates Science Teachers

Completing Soon

• 60 additional teachers – chemistry and physics

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• 6 school districts

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• 35 Schools: 21 current + 14 additional

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• Now teaching about 4000 students physics or chemistry

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Provides Access to �Rigorous Courses

New PSI Physics Teachers:

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• Taught physics to 1200 urban students last year who wouldn’t have had access otherwise

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• Are teaching more than 7000 students this year

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• 1/3 of students taught last year requested to take AP Physics B the next year, along with Chemistry

Newark Physics Teachers�(PSI began in 09-10)

AP Physics Participation�Technology High School – Newark, NJ� (School versus Normed State)

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Technology High School – Newark, NJ�Math SAT Scores

In the News

New Jersey teachers shift to physics to address shortage

By Jeanette M. Rundquist

NEWARK -- Emmanuel Ikheloa stood at the front of a Newark classroom, carefully measuring a glass marble and a metal spring. Then, with a "ready, set, go!" he flicked the trigger on a table-top marble launcher and sent the small ball flying across the room.

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Star Ledger - October 24, 2009

Teacher finds a solution to our science problem

BY Stephanie Akin

The Record

STAFF WRITER

A new way of teaching physics — developed by a Bergen County teacher — could offer a solution to American students' poor performance in math and science.

Bergen Record – March 6, 2010

N.J. educator develops new formula for teaching physics

An award-winning teacher in New Jersey's Bergen County has developed a way to teach physics that relies heavily on algebra, allowing physics to be taught before biology and chemistry. Robert Goodman's physics curriculum is being piloted in 21 New Jersey schools and is becoming a national model for science education.  March 11, 2010

The Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI)

Middle Schools Mathematics Program

• Began 4 years ago with three Middle Schools:

Deptford, Egg Harbor and Lawrence

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• Its goal was to increase the number of students completing Algebra I by the end of 8^th grade

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• Student performance on the Accuplacer was used to measure Algebra I achievement

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Egg Harbor City�Arithmetic Accuplacer Scores

Egg Harbor City�Algebra Accuplacer Scores

The Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI)

• PSI approaches were used to develop two courses: Pre-Algebra and Algebra

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• Combines content developed by six middle schools with the methods proven within PSI

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• Will measure results with NJ EOC Tests: ASK tests and EOC Algebra I test

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The Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI)

• PSI methods were first used to develop two courses: Pre-Algebra and Algebra

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• Being piloted now with positive anecdotal evidence

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• Will measure results with NJ EOC Tests: ASK tests and Achieve EOC Algebra I test

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The Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI)

• Algebra II and Pre-Calculus being piloted now

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• College Algebra being piloted at Kean University

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• Being extended to K-5 Mathematics by June 2011 - Common Core aligned

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• K-12 to be completed with AP Calculus and Geometry during Summer 2011

www.njctl.org

www.njctl.org

PSI and PMI are Solutions

• That the U.S. faces serious challenges in math and science education is well understood

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• There has been much concern, but fewer solutions

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• PSI and PMI represent those solutions

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Progressive Teaching Initiatives

• Interest has been expressed in using PSI and PMI Methods for other subjects: PTI
• Literacy
• History
• Global Studies
• Music
• Engineering

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• Extension of PTI to other subjects areas has broad potential

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• The only limits are time, money and imagination

New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning

Robert Goodman, Ed.D.

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NJ Center for Teaching and Learning

&

Bergen County Technical HS - Teterboro

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bgoodman33@gmail.com