Coaching My Staff

Amount of data refers to the total quantity (number, size or value) of something (people, objects, species, etc.) that is being studied. The greater the amount of data, the more reliable the results.

Studying a thing or idea closely and carefully in order to reveal relationships and conclusions.

When everyday citizens help scientists collect and analyze data for their research projects.

Understanding what one is reading, the ultimate goal of all reading activity. It is a complex process of simultaneously extracting and constructing meaning while reading text.

Official, ongoing assessments that measure cumulative or overall achievement, and may compare students’ achievement to their own past achievement or to that of others in their grade.  Some familiar forms of formal assessments are quizzes and the pre-test/post-test approach to check how much knowledge students gained during an experience.

Activities that engage students’ physical as well as mental skills to solve problems.

Relaxed, ongoing assessments that check for understanding and progress instead of achievement. They give youth meaningful feedback about their progress, and help them reflect on their experiences. Examples of informal assessments are checklists, observation rubrics, and lab notebooks.

Science that occurs in out-of-school contexts.

A guided instructional approach in which learners ask questions, conduct investigations, make discoveries and apply their new understandings

Previewing a book before reading it in order to activate prior knowledge, introduce new vocabulary, and create excitement about the text. Elements of a picture walk include looking at the front cover; pointing out the title, author, illustrator; paging through the book without reading; discussing the illustrations; and making predictions about the story.

Range of data refers to the number of different locations you use to complete your research. In order for a scientist to draw a reliable conclusion, there need to be a wide range in the data.

Ensuring students are fully engaged in the learning by guiding each student to monitor individual progress, construct meaning from the content learned and from the process of learning it, and apply the learnings to other contexts and settings.

Careful and organized study or gathering of information about a specific topic.

Process in which individuals take the initiative with or without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning needs.

Provides youth an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned, and it provides closure and time to reflect on their experience.