Einstein Project, Article Review Example

The Einstein Project. Retrieved from: http://www.carolinacurriculum.com/STC/STC+Educational+Effectiveness.asp

Summary

The Einstein Project presents a case for the use of a hands-on science curriculum in elementary classrooms, and offers new methodologies for academic achievement amongst underrepresented student populations in the sciences.

Analysis

Data derived from the school district partnered Einstein Project was interfaced with Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) data and made available through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) website (http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/). Serving as a network for information and knowledge sharing, the DPI offers a five year cumulative, electronic report card, and provides recommendation on best practices. In regard to the Einstein Project, relevant data included “the percentage of students in each district who were categorized as advanced or proficient in each academic year.” Referred to as the A+P score, schools are provided with an annual aggregate on performance and projection of school districts goals.  The following statistics represent the findings of the Einstein Districts; indicating a  higher A+P score than the State average:

Other reported findings include an 88.2% leap by individual Einstein Districts between 2002 to 2005, which had a higher A+P score than the State average for student’ achievement. Conclusively, nine out of ten Einstein Districts exceeded the State A+P score, which indicates that students from Einstein Districts outperformed the State average regardless of year or other circumstances.

Methodology

Based on hands-on science units and accompanying materials developed by the National Science Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Academy of Sciences, the methodological implementation of The Einstein Project consists of an eight-week unit exercise in Science. There are 34 unit kits available to grades K-6 and seven middle school units. The over 1100 stocked kits are leased by school districts for use by classes of 30 students, and are returned for assessment to the Einstein Project’s science resource center upon completion where they are restocked, and then refined by way of a teacher-student evaluation process. The evaluation of the Einstein Project is put into analysis with official performance measures, and the mentioned analysis includes reference to The Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) – a statewide standardized exam. Comprised of five (5) subject areas, reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies the Wisconsin measures offer a model academic standards assessment of subject matter according to advanced, proficient, basic, and minimal performance.

Recommendations for Implementation

If one of the presuppositions of alternative learning models is to provide female and minority students new tools toward advancement to or beyond long-term advantages offered to white male students generally, then the outcomes of the Einstein Project offer interesting data in this direction. The study looked at how underrepresented populations (e.g., female students) from Einstein Districts compared to their counterparts (e.g., other female students) in the State and from Non-Einstein Districts, statistically significant results in favor of underserved students.

Works Cited

Math Out of the Box: Fulfilling the mathematical promise that exists in every child: Gains in Achievement in South Carolina in 2007-2008. Clemensen University. Retrieved from: http://www.carolinacurriculum.com/math+out+of+the+box/math+out+of+the+box+Educational+Effectiveness.asp

Reading Recovery in the United States: 2007—2008 Executive Summary. National Data Evaluation Center (NDEC). Retrieved from: http://www.ndec.us

The Einstein Project. Retrieved from: http://www.carolinacurriculum.com/STC/STC+Educational+Effectiveness.asp