Gaming as Teaching Tool

Va. tests video games as teaching tool from eSchool News Online. Using Tabula Digita's DimensionM video games, some Virginia schools are piloting a program to improve math scores. “According to a study conducted in 2008 by scholars at the University of Central Florida, DimensionM's immersive educational video games can improve students' understanding and raise scores significantly on district-wide math benchmark exams.” And Tabula Digita has announced Students in Texas, New York and Florida to compete in MegaBowl 2009 Educational Video Game competitions in May.

Another Sign of the End of Textbooks and other Recession Fun

Digital lessons could soon replace books in W. Va. according to the Charleston Daily Mail. “Textbooks could be replaced with digital instructional material created or customized by the state Department of Education, business partners and a Wikipedia-style portal for educators. The new material would be distributed to students on laptops or handheld electronic devices,” according to education officials. And this could save the state a great deal of money. There are, of course, problems to be resolved.

The statistics on new teacher retention aren’t very good according to studies. But the Washington Post reports For new teachers, early support can sustain careers. Schools in Maryland and Virginia are working with mentoring and induction programs to try to retain young teachers.

The economic downturn is impacting every facet of society. Even teens have responded, according to Advertising Age (Teens, too, are tightening budgets). “According to research from Piper Jaffray, teens are becoming more attuned to the pinch on household budgets from the economy, which is having a "dramatic impact" on the $125 billion the demographic spends each year. Teens generally have about $5,000 a year burning a hole in their pockets, but they are spending about 14% less this spring than in spring '08.”

This Week’s Reports

The Census Bureau has released Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008 http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/education/cps2008.html. It’s not really a report, but a series of tables with data broken down by characteristics from age to ethnic origin. One of the findings: “Workers with a high school degree earned an average of $31,286 in 2007, while those with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $57,181.” For more information, read the press release.

The Education Department has released NAEP 2008: Trends in Academic Progress (PDF). There were highlights: “Nine-year-olds posted the highest scores ever in reading and math in 2008. Black and Hispanic students of that age also reached record reading scores, though they continued to trail white peers.” And there were lowlights: “Seventeen-year-olds gained some ground in reading since 2004, but their average performance in math and reading has not budged since the early 1970s.” (Washington Post, ‘Nation’s report card’ sees gains in elementary, middle schools)

Media Use & Academic Achievement among African-American Elementary Children (PDF) is a study from the Media Education Lab at Temple University. One of the authors of the study noted, "Children who use active reasoning may or may not be critical viewers, but they are able to articulate ideas about why they like media messages and what they find valuable in them. Using reasoning processes in everyday life builds important skills that support children's academic success." Read the press release.