News from WCER

Why Do College Students Leave Science and Math?

October 8, 2012

Undergraduates are switching from STEM majors at a rate largely unchanged despite efforts over the past 15 years to improve college science teaching.


Support for the Wisconsin DPI’s Educator Effectiveness System

October 2, 2012

WCER researchers are helping the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction design model teacher and principal evaluation systems for the State.


Students Share Their Work Across Continents

October 2, 2012

Thanks to technology, students can produce videos to share with other youth globally, and view and comment on videos produced by youth in sites far away.


Enhancing Science Literacy with Multiple Resources

September 25, 2012

Since 2007, middle school students in Waunakee, Wisconsin have made strong gains in science achievement as a result of using a technology-enriched learning environment.


New Release of Video Analysis Software

September 17, 2012

Transana 2.51, a bug-fix release, is available


Cultural Brokering Stresses Students, Families

September 15, 2012

When moving to a new country, families often need help navigating the culture and language. Through their experiences in school and making new friends, children usually learn the language and adjust to the culture more quickly than their parents.


Preparing African American Students for Computing Careers

September 10, 2012

The U.S. produces record numbers of PhDs in computing, but the number of African Americans receiving advanced degrees in computing lags behind those of other ethnic and racial groups.


Virtual Internships in Engineering Education

September 4, 2012

First-year engineering students stand to gain a more complete and accurate understanding of the engineering profession, specifically mechanical engineering, thanks to a novel computer simulation.


Discussing Privatization in Peru

August 31, 2012

Over recent decades Peru’s education system has expanded significantly. In spite of that, secondary education is not universal and higher education even less so.


Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education

August 27, 2012

Rich Halverson and colleagues are beginning to open the “black box” of instructional practice and administrative decision-making in undergraduate STEM courses.


Improving Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

August 20, 2012

Exposure to poverty during childhood and adolescence predicts lower student achievement and higher dropout rates.


When Teaching Decisions Collide with Organizational Norms

August 15, 2012

Professionals in social marketing, public health, and applied anthropology frequently base behavior-change initiatives in a solid understanding of local practice.


Social Justice in Positive Behavioral Interventions

August 13, 2012

A new project directed by Aydin Bal is working to (a) form socially positive, academically rich, and inclusive school cultures in Wisconsin schools and to (b) transform the state-level policy and practices that exclude or marginalize students from non-majority families.


Implementing Interventions in Schools

August 6, 2012

About 6% of school-aged children exhibit disruptive behaviors that cause problems in the classroom


Building Capacity for Special Education in Turkey

August 6, 2012

Special education students in Turkey are benefiting from a collaboration between Kimber Wilkerson and two former graduate students in the department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.