News from WCER

Benefits of Embedded Learning Opportunities for Teachers

July 17, 2013

Programs that create teacher leadership positions and those that encourage structured teacher collaboration are positively and strongly associated with reflective practice.


Using Digital Avatars in Mathematics Instruction

July 10, 2013

Computer avatars may soon be used to help mathematics teachers communicate more effectively.


VARC Early Warning Indicator Helps Milwaukee Address High School Dropout Rates

July 8, 2013

A collaborative effort on early warning systems by researchers at VARC seeks to give the Milwaukee Public Schools a better tool to reduce its high school dropout rate.


Engaging, Educating, and Assessing Undergraduate Engineers

July 1, 2013

New research suggests that participating in a virtual internship increases students’ interest in engineering and their desire to pursue an engineering degree. This effect is especially pronounced among women.


Research Informs New State Evaluation System

July 1, 2013

WCER Researcher Steve Kimball and colleagues are providing technical assistance to the State of Wisconsin that will soon affect every teacher and principal in the state.


Understanding Students’ Entry and Persistence in STEM Subjects

June 24, 2013

Although the American higher education system serves as a model throughout the world, it struggles to meet the U.S. demand for workers in STEM fields.


Viable STEM Pathways from Community Colleges to Four-year Institutions

June 17, 2013

Xueli Wang and colleagues are working to help more community college students succeed in STEM courses.


Supporting Scientific Practices in Elementary and Middle School Classrooms

June 10, 2013

Meaningful science learning in middle schools requires teachers not just to 'stand and deliver,' but to listen and respond to students' ideas.


From South India to Madison, and Back

June 6, 2013

Five years ago a doctoral student arrived on the UW-Madison campus ready to begin work toward a degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. This past weekend she donned her gown and mortarboard and received her diploma.


Measuring the Impact of Advanced Placement and IB Programs

June 5, 2013

The Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN) is collaborating with partners nationwide to increase the number of students of color taking AP/IB/Honors courses.


Preparing Future Research Faculty to Teach

May 28, 2013

Graduate and postdoctoral students at research universities will shape the future of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in the United States


Increasing the Number of African Americans in Computing Careers

May 28, 2013

The Wisconsin Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei Lab) and its colleagues have received a $5 million boost to continue its work to increase the number of African-American students training for careers in the computing sciences.


Bringing the Learning Sciences to Research on Teaching

May 20, 2013

As a professor of the Learning Sciences, Mitchell Nathan works to improve student learning outcomes for concepts and skills in mathematics.


New Lab Designed to Make Education Fun And Games

May 16, 2013

The décor in the headquarters of the Games+Learning+Society project bears a much closer resemblance to a Silicon Valley start-up than a university-affiliated laboratory.


Formative Evaluation for Leadership

May 13, 2013

The No Child Left Behind initiative focused research attention on schools that succeeded in closing achievement gaps and raising achievement for all students.