Faculty/Staff Detail

Timothy Conner, School of Arts and Sciences, along with adolescence education: earth science majors and SUNY Cortland Noyce Scholars Brendan Creegan and Eric Reisweber, presented “De-Criminalizing High Stakes Exams through Effective Teaching:  Using Project-Based Learning Modules to Meet and Exceed Standards” at the Noyce NE Conference held in March in Philadelphia, Pa. Fearing the results of high stakes exams, teachers often resort to “teaching to the test” or trying to force feed standardized curriculum to resistant students.  As a teacher in New York, a state with a long history of high stakes, end of the year assessments, Conner has found that project-based modules focused on issues relevant to students were much more effective than teaching to the test.  Project-based learning helps to engage students in relevant science experiences and provides a context to support the learning of content required for success on state exams.  Presenters demonstrated how project-based modules can be used in the classroom to meet and exceed understandings required for high stakes assessments.