National Science Foundation awards $2.4 million grant to study outcomes-based assessment and mathematics teaching and learning

The EASl Institute will partner with the 21st Century Partnership for Stem Education (21PStem) in a four-year research project studying attitudes and student success in learning mathematics when supported by outcomes-based assessment.  The project, called Proficiency-based Assessment and Reassessment of Learning Outcomes (PARLO), will incorporate EASE software as a crucial component of the project.  21PStem is based in the greater Philadelphia area and will engage 9th grade Algebra teachers from more than 40 schools around the area.

As part of the grant, the EASL Institute will further develop our EASE software to provide greater convenience for teachers, additional reporting, and more extensive data interchange with school data systems.  The Institute will also provide consulting to develop and deliver training for the teachers participating in the study and for administrators at their schools.  Peggy Baker, Executive Director of the EASL Institute, worked closely with the grant's authors to develop the proposal.  Villanova University assistant professor of mathematics Michael Posner will collaborate with senior 21PStem research Dr. Nancy Lawrence and colleagues as co-principal investigators.  Dr. Posner has already authored an analysis of student performance in 2 years of his statistics classes using the approach Peggy originally presented to the Math and Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia several years ago.

For more information on the grant, please see the press release or contact us.