EDU 2300

Day 2

The Questions Continue…

How do we know what we know?How do we know what we know?

???

Sources of Knowledge

• Tradition/ tenacity

• Authority

• A priori or intuition

• Direct experiences

• ResearchResearch Validity

Reliability

Empirical Research

• Systematic, logical method of inquiry based on accepted methods

• Defines subjects/participants studied

• Employs checks and balances

• Develops claims (limited in scope)

Must know how to critically examine knowledge claims.

Joel Best, Damned Lies and Statistics (2001), “Most of the time, most people simply accept statistics without question” (p. 4).

Curious Skeptic:

1 eyebrow raised in interest

1 eyebrow squinted in skepticism

SAT’s

• What do you know?

• What is the purpose of the test?

• What do the scores mean?

• Are scores higher than, lower than, or the same as they were 30 years ago? Why?

A Nation at Risk

“Our Nation is at risk. Our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce, industry, science, and technological innovation is being overtaken by competitors throughout the world. This report is concerned with only one of the many causes and dimensions of the problem, but it is the one that undergirds American prosperity, security, and civility. We report to the American people that while we can take justifiable pride in what our schools and colleges have historically accomplished and contributed to the United States and the well-being of its people, the educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people. What was unimaginable a generation ago has begun to occur--others are matching and surpassing our educational attainments.”

A Nation at Risk

Indicators of the Risk• Average achievement of high school students on

most standardized tests is now lower than 26 years ago when Sputnik was launched.

• The College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) demonstrate a virtually unbroken decline from 1963 to 1980. Average verbal scores fell over 50 points and average mathematics scores dropped nearly 40 points.

A Nation at Risk

Indicators of the Risk

• College Board achievement tests also reveal consistent declines in recent years in such subjects as physics and English.

• Average tested achievement of students graduating from college is also lower.

Average SAT by year

Average SAT subset scores

Who Takes the SAT?

Verbal Scores

Percentage of students taking SAT by class rank

Average SAT Scores by High School Rank

Average SAT Scores by High School Rank

Simpson’s Paradox

The aggregate group shows one trend or pattern, but the subgroups show a different trend or pattern, usually the reverse.

Summary

• Numbers can be used to support different arguments.

• Knowledge claims cannot just be accepted at face value.

• As a curious skeptic, you must consider how to make the most informed decision.

Are we here?...

…or here?

What is Action Research?

• “A systematic process of solving educational problems and making improvements” (Tomal, 2003, p. 5)

• Context specific• Limited to participants/

subjects in your setting (classroom or school)

• Outcome-oriented

For next class

• Read Orcher – Chapter 1, 4

• Read article by Wells, Tobacy, Miller, Clanton – ask a question about it

• Email the class and bring in Developing a Research Focus responses