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New REL Pacific Study Focuses on Native Hawaiian Student Achievement
Researchers have documented achievement gaps between Native Hawaiian and non-Native Hawaiian students for almost 30 years, and despite initiatives aimed at reducing these gaps, disparities in test scores persist.
A new study released by the Pacific Regional Educational Laboratory (REL Pacific), Comparing the Achievement Patterns of Native Hawaiian and Non-Native Hawaiian Grade 8 Students in Reading and Math, explores some of the details underlying this continuing challenge.
To assess reading and math proficiency, the Hawai‘i Department of Education administers the standards-based Hawai‘i State Assessment (HSA) each spring to public school students in grades 3–8 and 10. Performance on the HSA is reported at four levels: well below proficiency, approaches proficiency, meets proficiency, and exceeds proficiency.
The REL Pacific study found that in each year from 2003/04–2008/09, grade 8 Native Hawaiian students had lower proficiency rates than other students in both reading and math. All students (both Native Hawaiian and non-Native Hawaiian) had higher overall proficiency rates in reading than in math each year.
On a positive note, both groups increased in proficiency in reading and in math across the six years of the study. Additionally, the achievement gap in reading between Native Hawaiians and non-Native Hawaiians decreased from 19.5 percentage points to 15.6 in 2004/05–2008/09. The achievement gap in math, however, fluctuated during that same period (from a high of 20.7 percentage points to a low of 14.4).
Native Hawaiian proficiency rates in reading rose 31.3 percentage points compared to 28.4 for non-Native Hawaiian students, while the Native Hawaiian proficiency rates in math rose 16.7 percentage points compared to 19.9 for non-Native Hawaiian students.
The researchers acknowledge the following limitations to the study: (1) the definition of Native Hawaiian is inclusive, including part-Native Hawaiians with multiple ancestries; (2) proficiency was measured with just one instrument, the HSA, and only in math and reading; (3) the study was descriptive and does not consider other possible mediating factors, such as socioeconomic status.
Future research is needed to determine why changes in achievement test scores have been greater at some proficiency levels than others, and whether educational interventions for Native Hawaiian students are affecting the achievement gap.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Ormond Hammond, PhD, Director, REL Pacific
hammondo@prel.org
(Posted December 13, 2011)
REL Pacific Study Looks at the Role of Schools in Preventing Obesity
Obesity is a rising epidemic among school-aged children in the Pacific region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Seven of the ten most overweight countries in the world are Pacific island nations, and children in these nation-states are at increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.
A recent study published by the Regional Educational Laboratory Pacific (REL Pacific) evaluated health education programs in seven jurisdictions: (1) Hawai‘i, (2) American Samoa, (3) Guam, (4) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, (5) the Republic of the Marshall Islands, (6) the Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk, and Yap), and (7) the Republic of Palau.
The study, Nutrition and Physical Education Policy and Practice in Pacific Region Secondary Schools, identifies the percentage of secondary schools that are taking measures to prevent childhood obesity in these regions by promoting student wellness, physical education, food service, and nutrition education.
The study addresses the need for more data on this growing epidemic, collecting statistics from state education agency websites and published reports; legislative documents; and country reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office.
Childhood obesity is often attributed to decreases in physical activity, increases in food portion sizes, and the availability of drinks and foods with high levels of saturated fats and sugar. The study discovered that important strides are being made throughout the Pacific region to promote student wellness, physical education, and nutrition education.
Many secondary schools have limited student access to snacks with high sugar or salt content, and provided courses covering nutrition, dietary behavior, and physical education in their curricula. Six out of seven jurisdictions have physical education standards, while five jurisdictions have student wellness and food policies.
There are areas for improvement. Hawai‘i is the only jurisdiction with a health advisory council, and fewer than half the jurisdictions provide nutrient content for school meals, or require physical education in every grade.
The study suggests state education agencies can do more by: (a) establishing school health councils; (b) increasing prohibitions on advertising of candy, fast food, and soda in schools; (c) including more nutrition and food service staff on school health councils; (d) increasing principals’ access to student wellness policies; (e) and integrating families and communities.
Federal and state health education programs are one of the primary means of reaching children about fitness and nutrition. Reducing childhood obesity levels through physical education and nutrition programs in secondary schools will promote healthier children and healthier communities throughout the Pacific.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Melly Wilson, PhD
(808) 441-1363
wilsonm@prel.org
(Posted December 13, 2011)
The Fall 2011 Issue of Pacific Educator Magazine is Now Available Online
The fall issue of PREL’s Pacific Educator magazine is now available for download, just click here or on the image.
This edition focuses on the 27th Pacific Educational Conference (PEC) hosted last July by the Pohnpei Department of Education. The exceptional educators who attended the conference offered a variety of workshops, spanning more than 25 content areas. As always, participants had ample opportunity to share their experiences with each other and to build networks for collaboration and understanding.
Inside you will find useful classroom strategies, practical teaching tools, and other highlights from the 2011 conference: Pacific climate change education, Short Assessments for Literacy (SAL), and Hawaiian stories in Pohnpei. Additional topics include: wikis in the Pacific classroom, institutional review boards, and online educational gaming.
Enjoy!
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Sincerely, |
(Posted November 08, 2011)
E Ho‘omau! The Menehune and the Birds to be Shown at the 2011 Hawai‘i International Film Festival on October 16, 22, and 29
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| The Menehune Chief summons his brave warriors. |
The Menehune and the Birds is a film developed by PREL’s E Ho‘omau! program that tells about serious environmental consequences through the classic Hawaiian story of the Menehune:
Kēhau, a young Menehune boy, and his best friend, a little ‘elepaio bird, discover that a group of men has been killing the birds of the Kauai rainforest in order to harvest their feathers faster. Kēhau and ‘Elepaio seek out the Menehune Chief and his warriors to help save their friends and find a way to change the habits of these men or risk losing the beautiful birds forever.
The film features singer and actress Marlene Sai, who voices Auntie the storyteller; Brandon Pave as the voice of Kēhau the Menehune boy; Analei Turnbull as the voice of the little ‘Elepaio bird; and Carlson Kamaka Kukona III as the voice of the Menehune Chief. The film also stars Jolei Akima Mayo, Tumanako Te‘i, Duke Kenney, Wil Kahele, Bryson Luke, and Kalae Kauhi Maunakea-Forth. The screenplay was written by Lee Cataluna, and the story was written by Michael Q. Ceballos and Keikio‘ewa Ka‘opua.
The Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is a renowned international film showcase that has won the praise of governments, filmmakers, scholars, educators, programmers, and film industry leaders around the globe. The festival is committed to exhibiting innovative, creative content from the Asian Pacific Rim. The Menehune and the Birds will be shown at the 31st HIFF. The animation will screen as part of the Pacific Showcase Shorts at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 and IMAX Theatres, Honolulu, on October 16, at 6:30 p.m. and on October 22, at 1:00 p.m.; and at the Palace Theatre, Hilo, on October 29, at 1:00 p.m. For tickets, schedules, and general information on the film festival, visit the HIFF Website.
The E Ho‘omau! project is funded by the Native Hawaiian Education Act. The program supplements 4th-grade science and literacy curriculum through an engaging cultural context based on three classic Hawaiian stories: Why Māui Snared the Sun, The Menehune and the Birds, and Pele Searches for a Home. For more information on E Ho‘omau! or Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL), visit the program Webpage.
(Posted October 13, 2011)
Jane Barnwell, Director of Library and Information Literacy Initiatives, Joins Library of Congress' First Corps of Trainers in Digital Preservation
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WASHINGTON, D.C.—On September 23rd, 2011, Jane Barnwell, of Honolulu, Director of Library and Information Literacy Initiatives at PREL, graduated from the Library of Congress' first-ever workshop on teaching digital preservation. Ms. Barnwell was in the inaugural class of 24 professionals selected from around the nation and provided with a scholarship, accommodations, and transportation to Washington, D.C., for the four-day event.
The workshop was sponsored by the Library of Congress' Digital Preservation Outreach and Education Program (DPOE), whose mission includes fostering national outreach and education to encourage individuals and organizations to actively preserve their digital content. Examples of materials that commonly need this specialized form of preservation include Web sites; emails; digital photos, music, and videos; and electronic records.
Many people mistakenly believe that digital resources will last forever, when, in fact, they have a shorter lifespan and are more fragile than paper-based resources. The September workshop was designed to produce a corps of trainers equipped to teach others in their home regions, in turn, how to preserve digital materials. Thus, in the upcoming months, Ms. Barnwell will be holding one or more events locally to teach digital preservation.
Ms. Barnwell has worked in the field of Pacific library training and development for more than 25 years. In her current position, she directs PREL’s Pacific Digital Library (PDL) project, among other library and information literacy projects. Ms. Barnwell helped start the PDL in 2009 with the Leaders for Pacific Libraries team, a group of Pacific islander librarians. It is the first of its kind for the U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands and now contains thousands of digitally preserved locally-produced materials and publications. Please visit the library at www.pacificdigitallibrary.org.
DPOE is committed to sharing high-quality digital preservation training across the nation, eventually making it available and affordable to virtually any interested organization or individual. For more information on DPOE, including its work with corporate, academic, and other partners, visit digitalpreservation.gov/education/.
The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled collections and integrated resources to the Congress and the American people. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a personalized website at myLOC.gov.
(Posted October 06, 2011)
E Ho‘omau!'s Why Māui Snared the Sun Wins the GIFF Best Animation Award
Following the Guam Film Festival (GIFF), Michael Ceballos, the creative producer for PREL's E Ho‘omau! project, presented the project’s award-winning short animation feature, Why Māui Snared the Sun, to over 1000 elementary and high school students and 60 instructors at several public schools in Guam. To read more please visit the GIFF website for the full article.
E Ho‘omau!’s Why Māui Snared the Sun won the award for Best Animation at the GIFF! It was featured on Saturday, October 1, at the Stadium 5 at the Micronesia Mall Theatres in Guam. It is due to be released this month. Check in at the E Ho‘omau! webpage for more details about the project.
Recently, the GIFF interviewed our very own Michael Ceballos. To read the interview featured in the GIFF Filmmaker Spotlight, visit the GIFF website at http://www.guamfilmfestival.org/filmmaker-spotlight-e-hoomau-why-maui-snared-the-sun/
(Posted September 21, 2011)
Why Māui Snared the Sun, Nominee for Best Animation at the 2011 Guam International Film Festival, will be Featured on October 1, 2011
E Ho‘omau! Why Māui Snared the Sun has been nominated for Best Animation at the Guam International Film Festival (GIFF). The GIFF aims to unify, celebrate, and showcase international cinema with an abundance of creative talent and worldwide recognition emerging from Asia and the Western Pacific.
Why Māui Snared the Sun, the first animated film developed by PREL's E Ho‘omau! program, chronicles one of the early adventures of the famous Polynesian demigod:
Long ago, Kalā (the sun) raced across the sky as he pleased, leaving the land and its people with short days and long, dark nights. Among those suffering from the lack of daylight was the goddess Hina, mother of the demigod Māui. In order to make things pono (right), Māui summons all his courage and travels to the highest summit of Haleakalā, where he confronts the mighty Kalā.
The film features singer and actress Marlene Sai, who voices Auntie the storyteller; Chad Makoto Kaleo Takatsugi as the voice of Kalā; and newcomer Kalae Kauhi Maunakea-Forth as the voice of Māui.
The GIFF will screen at the Micronesia Mall Stadium Theatres on September 30th thru October 1, 2011. Why Māui Snared the Sun will be shown on Saturday, October 1, at 10:00 a.m. For tickets, schedules, and general information on the film festival, visit the GIFF website at www.guamfilmfestival.org.
The E Ho‘omau! project is funded by the Native Hawaiian Education Act. The program supplements 4th grade science and literacy curriculum through an engaging cultural context based on three classic Hawaiian stories: Why Māui Snared the Sun, Menehune and the Birds, and Pele Searches for a Home. For more information on E Ho‘omau! or PREL visit the E Ho‘omau! webpage.
(Posted September 14, 2011)
Why Māui Snared the Sun to be Shown at the ‘Ohina Short Film Showcase this September 3rd and 4th
Why Māui Snared the Sun is the first film developed by PREL’s E Ho‘omau! program and chronicles one of the early adventures of the famous Polynesian demigod:
Long ago, Kalā (the sun) raced across the sky as he pleased, leaving the land and its people with short days and long, dark nights. Among those suffering from the lack of daylight was the goddess Hina, mother of the demigod Māui. In order to make things pono (right), Māui summons all his courage and travels to the highest summit of Haleakalā where he confronts the mighty Kalā.
The film features singer and actress Marlene Sai, who voices Auntie the storyteller; Chad Makoto Kaleo Takatsugi as the voice of Kalā; and newcomer Kalae Kauhi Maunakea-Forth as the voice of Māui.
The ‘Ohina Short Film Showcase was created to support Hawai‘i’s independent filmmakers, providing them with a chance to exhibit their films to the local community. This year’s annual showcase will screen at the Doris Duke Theatre on September 3rd at 7:30pm and on September 4th at 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. For tickets, schedules, and general information on the showcase, visit the ‘Ohina website at www.ohina.org.
The E Ho‘omau! project is funded by the Native Hawaiian Education Act. The program supplements 4th grade science and literacy curriculum through an engaging cultural context based on three classic Hawaiian stories: Why Māui Snared the Sun, Menehune and the Birds, and Pele Searches for a Home. For more information on E Ho‘omau! or Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) visit http://www.prel.org/programs/care/e_hoomau.aspx.
(Posted August 26, 2011)
Palau to Host the Pacific Heads of Education Systems (PHES)
Dr. Sharon Nelson-Barber and Paul Dumas, PREL’s President and Chief Programs Officer, respectively, will participate in the 18th Consultation of the Pacific Heads of Education Systems (PHES) to be held in Palau from August 23rd through 25th. With the support of PREL and other institutions, this regional educational body will meet for the first time in the northern Pacific.
The purpose of the 18th Consultation of the PHES is to provide these regional educational leaders with a technical forum where they can discuss and deliberate on challenges and emerging issues of common concerns and, at the same time, find ways and means by which to address them effectively and efficiently so as to achieve quality education for all in the context of national development.
Agenda items for the consultation meeting will include, among others:
- a proposed strategy for implementation of the Pacific Education Development Framework;
- monitoring and evaluation strategy for education in the Pacific;
- development and implementation of teacher and principal standards for the Pacific;
- training of untrained teachers in the Pacific region;
- regional integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) strategy into the curriculum;
- regional strategy on disabilities;
- progress on the Pacific Register for Qualifications and Standards;
- establishment of a regional institute for educational policy and planning; and
- a focus on next year's Forum Education Ministers’ Meeting.
(Posted August 05, 2011)
PEC 2011 Keynote Speakers’ Manuscripts Now Available
The PEC 2011 held in Pohnpei, FSM on July 19–21, had an extraordinary series of keynote speakers. Among the keynote speakers was internationally renowned Māori educationalist and advocate, Professor Graham Smith; the U.S. Ambassador to the FSM, His Excellency Peter A. Prahar; the highly educated and esteemed FSM Director for the Office of National Archives, Culture, and Historic Preservation, Dr. Rufino Mauricio; and the highly respected, Senator Tony A. de Brum of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; highly esteemed Pacific-island scholar, educator, and leader, Dr. John Haglelgam; and PREL's own highly esteemed President and CEO, Dr. Sharon Nelson-Barber. We’ve made the manuscripts of their speeches available on PREL’s website at www.prel.org/pec2011.aspx.
(Posted August 03, 2011)
PREL goes to the National CSSO Conference on Student Assessment
If you happen to be in Florida for the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Conference on Student Assessment please consider stopping by the Florida Ballroom A on June 20th at 4 p.m. where Dr. Don Burger from PREL will be addressing the subject of testing and accountability for the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands and their students.
Dr. Don Burger is the Director of the Pacific Assessment Systems and Services (PASS) program. With over 38 years of experience he oversees the development of standards-based assessments (SBAs) and accountability systems for school systems throughout the Pacific region. Dr. Burger and his team also develop assessments for English language proficiency and heritage languages, as well as provide professional development by employing local teachers and curriculum coordinators to write items and to use test analysis to revise items.
In his presentation, entitled Beyond Hawai‘i: Pacific Territories’ Next Generation Testing, Don addresses the circumstances of over 100,000 students spread across 4.9 squares miles of mostly ocean. With a wide range of cultural beliefs, languages, and school conditions, assessment might seem an insurmountable task that never the less takes place.
- PREL Contact: Dr. Don Burger, PASS Director, <A HREF="mailto: burgerd@prel.org">burgerd@prel.org</A>
(Posted June 17, 2011)
PEIR Program Now Accepting Applications for 2011–2012
The Pacific Educator in Residence (PEIR) program offers a one-year residency for educators and administrators from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap), Guam, Hawai'i, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. A collaborative effort of Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) and the departments of education and institutions of higher education in the Pacific region, the PEIR program enhances and develops the personal and professional skills of Pacific educators in the context of PREL's ongoing work. PEIRs focus on learning experiences that maximize professional development opportunities and benefit their schools and communities. In general, PEIRs remain employed in their home entities and return at the end of their one-year term.
Since its inception in 1986, sixty-two (62) individuals have completed the PEIR program. Many of our PEIRs have become teachers and administrators in schools and educational agencies in their communities.
For residency year 2011–2012 (from September 1 through August 31), PREL is seeking applicants in the following areas:
- Library and Information Literacy Initiatives (based in the successful candidate’s local PREL Service Center)
- Grades 6–8 Science and Math Teacher (based at the service center in American Samoa)
Any teacher, administrator, counselor, or faculty member employed by a school system or institute of higher education within PREL’s area of service may apply. A PEIR preferably holds a bachelor’s degree or higher; however, applicable professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Selectees must obtain the approval and signature of their current employer or Chief State School Officer.
Individuals interested in applying to the PEIR program should visit PREL’s PEIR Program website for complete details and application form. The application deadline is Friday, July 1, 2011.
(Posted June 17, 2011)
PEC 2011 Workshop Proposal Deadline Extended Until May 19, 2011
The deadline for workshop proposals has been extended until May 19, 2011 for the 27th Pacific Educational Conference being held in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, July 19-21, 2011. We invite you to join us and to present. Please submit your workshop and/or meeting proposals and contribute to an outstanding conference. To do so, visit PREL’s PEC Registration webpage, to register for the conference and submit your workshop, meeting proposal, and/or exhibit. We look forward to seeing you there!
The PEC 2011 will be cohosted by the Pohnpei Department of Education (Pohnpei DOE), the College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM), and Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL). The PEC is one of the largest educational conferences in the western Pacific and a major source of professional development opportunities for educators. The PEC is organized by Pacific educators for Pacific educators, who also present the majority of the workshops.
THEME
The theme for the PEC 2011 is The Pacific Child: Cultivating and Preserving the Pacific Identity. School systems throughout the Pacific islands are working to build state capacity to assist districts and schools in meeting the needs of all students by: (a) identifying and implementing proven practices and programs; (b) strengthening teacher quality; and (c) building and sustaining systemic support for school improvement, with the goal of closing achievement gaps and improving achievement outcomes.
Target Audiences
- Community groups
- Early childhood teachers
- Elementary school teachers
- High school teachers
- College and university instructors
- Librarians
- Middle/Intermediate/Junior high school
- Policy-makers
- School administrators and leaders
- School support staff and paraprofessionals
- Service providers and professional developers
- Specialists and resource teachers
Workshop Strands
- Assessment and accountability
- Career and technical education
- Classroom management
- College readiness
- Counseling
- Diverse learners
- Early childhood education (0–5)
- Educational policy
- Educational technology
- English language learners
- Evaluation and planning
- Fine and performing arts
- Health and physical education
- Higher education
- Integrated service delivery: RtI
- Language immersion
- Leadership
- Library and information sciences
- Literacy
- Mathematics education
- Parent and family involvement
- Rethinking education
- Science education
- Social studies
- Special education and early intervention
- World languages
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The PEC provides intensive professional development for education professionals.
Concurrent sessions will include:
- 1.5-hour awareness sessions, which provide opportunities to exchange ideas and develop professional growth.
- 3- to 15-hour skill-building workshops, which are limited to 30 participants to allow for maximum interaction.
- Networking meetings, which provide opportunities to exchange ideas and develop professional relationships.
For more information, please contact:
PEC 2011 Committee
Emrick Lebehn
Pohnpei, FM 96941
Phone: (691) 320-2105/2705
Email: ecechief@mail.fm
- Event Dates: Jul 19 - Jul 21
- Location: Pohnpei, FSM
- Venue: College of Micronesia-FSM, National Campus
- Event Website: http://www.prel.org/pec2011/registration.aspx
(Posted May 03, 2011)
Invitation to the Education Town Hall Meeting on May 4, 2011
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) will participate in the Education Town Hall Meeting that is being organized by Participant Media, Our Public School, Hawai‘i Education Matters, HE‘E Coalition and Kanu Hawai‘i.
New Beginnings: Community Engagement in Public Education will be featuring excerpts from Participant Media’s Waiting for “Superman”, a documentary film by Davis Guggenheim. This event will also have the participation of Governor Neil Abercrombie and Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, Co-founder and Board Member of Our Public School.
This event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 4, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Kapiolani Community College, Cafeteria.
We, at PREL, hope you can join us and stop by our table so we can talk about what we can do together to improve public education.
You can download an invitation for this Town Hall Meeting here.
The event will be held at Kapiolani Community College, Cafeteria at 4303 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96816. Directions to the venue can be found at http://kapiolani.hawaii.edu/object/kccdirections.html. Parking is FREE the evening of the event. Parking Lot C is closest to the Cafeteria.
(Posted April 27, 2011)
PREL and WestEd Expand Collaborative Relationship
Two projects focus on STEM education and research
In April 2011 Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) and WestEd announced they collaboration on two projects related to climate science and mathematics education across the Pacific. These projects continue and expand the existing collaborative relationship between the organizations.
"These efforts further advance a history of collaboration between the organizations. However, the PREL/WestEd relationship will be particularly exciting this year as we work together on major proposals, building a synergy of the two organizations' expertise,” says Sharon Nelson-Barber, CEO of PREL. “These combined efforts will let us provide even more useful and higher quality services and products in our respective regions.”
The first project, Pacific Islands Climate Change Education Partnership (PCEP), educates students and citizens across the Pacific about the urgency of climate change impacts in ways that exemplify modern science and honor indigenous cultures and environmental knowledge. This project serves the United States-affiliated Pacific Island region that includes the Hawaiian Islands, the islands of American Samoa, the Micronesian Archipelago from the Marshall Islands to Palau, and the Mariana Islands, including Guam. Students and citizens within the region will gain the knowledge and skills to advance understanding of climate change, mitigate the extent of climate change, and adapt to its impacts.
For this project, PREL's leadership roles focus on the region's education connections and infrastructures, emphasizing indigenous knowledge and cultural contexts. WestEd's role focuses on the western science underlying climate change and creating a web environment that enables partnership stakeholders to collaborate in developing an education plan that can transform climate education in the region.
The second project, Relationship Between Teacher-Level and Student-Level Factors and NAEP Mathematics Test Performance by American Indian and Alaska Native Students, focuses on mathematics and American Indian and Alaska Native students in Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico. By studying existent, relevant data from the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics assessment, this study seeks to improve instructional practice and student achievement in mathematics.
Dr. Sharon Nelson-Barber of PREL will oversee this project and serve as liaison to consultants and the National Science Foundation program officer. WestEd staff will manage the methodological aspects of the project, conducting statistical and other analyses.
Says Glen Harvey, CEO of WestEd, "These projects are great for kids and communities from New Mexico to Guam. We look forward to working with PREL on these projects, and collaborating on new proposals that will further strengthen our relationship."
Additional Contacts
To find out more about the Pacific Islands Climate Change Education Partnership, please visit http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/pj/583 or contact Marylin Low of PREL at lowm@prel.org or Art Sussman of WestEd at asussma@WestEd.org
To find out more about the mathematics test performance study, please visit http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/pj/584 or contact Sharon Nelson-Barber of PREL at nelsons@prel.org or Kevin (Chun-Wei) Huang of WestEd at chuang@WestEd.org.
About PREL
PREL envisions a world where all children and communities are literate and healthy, global participants grounded in and enriched by their cultures. Throughout the Pacific, a region of diverse languages and cultures, PREL collaborates with clients and partners using the proven results of research to improve schooling and promote community change. PREL is an independent, nonprofit corporation headquartered in Hawai‘i, with service centers in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.
About WestEd
WestEd, a national nonpartisan, nonprofit research, development, and service agency, works with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. WestEd has 17 offices nationwide, from Washington and Boston to Arizona and California. Its corporate headquarters are in San Francisco. More information about WestEd is available at WestEd.org.
Contact Information about this release
Matthew Spaur
415.615.3219
mspaur@wested.org
Javier Elizondo
808 441- 1337
elizondoj@prel.org
(Posted April 05, 2011)
New Effective Instructional Strategies Book Series from PREL
Pacific Communities with High-performance In Literacy Development (Pacific CHILD) is a principles-based professional development program consisting of research-based teaching and learning strategies proven to help improve students’ reading comprehension using informational text. Below are booklets based on the components used in the Pacific CHILD program. These booklets are all available for free download here, just click on the image for each booklet below. If you would like printed copies, please contact PREL at communications@prel.org.
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Text Structure: Cause and Effect Text Structure: Cause and Effect is intended to assist practitioners on how to build students’ knowledge on using text structure to improve comprehension. Practitioners will learn about research that supports the use of text structure and what they must include in their instruction so they can be prepared to explicitly teach cause and effect in reading and writing. Click on the image to download the pdf. |
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Text Features Text Features is ubiquitous in nonfiction and informational texts. This booklet will explain the research supporting text features as an important tool to help students better comprehend content area text. The booklet contains several strategies and examples for practitioners to try in their classroom. Click on the image to download the pdf. |
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Interactive Tasks Interactive Tasks is an instructional approach that promotes the use of language by the teacher and students. Practitioners will learn about research supporting interactive tasks as an effective way for students to learn from each other and how teachers’ use of specific strategies can increase language development and achievement for all students. Click on the image to download the pdf. |
(Posted March 22, 2011)
PEC 2011 Invitation and Call for Proposals
The Pacific Educational Conference (PEC) 2011 cohosts cordially invite you to the 27th annual PEC to be held in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, July 19–21, 2011. Please submit your workshop and/or meeting proposals and contribute to an outstanding conference. To do so, visit PREL’s PEC Registration webpage, to register for the conference and submit your workshop, meeting proposal, and/or exhibit. The deadline for submissions is April 28, 2011. We look forward to seeing you there!
PACIFIC EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011
The PEC 2011 will be cohosted by the Pohnpei Department of Education (Pohnpei DOE), the College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM), and Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL). The PEC is one of the largest educational conferences in the western Pacific and a major source of professional development opportunities for educators. The PEC is organized by Pacific educators for Pacific educators, who also present the majority of the workshops.
THEME
The theme for the PEC 2011 is The Pacific Child: Cultivating and Preserving the Pacific Identity. School systems throughout the Pacific islands are working to build state capacity to assist districts and schools in meeting the needs of all students by: (a) identifying and implementing proven practices and programs; (b) strengthening teacher quality; and (c) building and sustaining systemic support for school improvement, with the goal of closing achievement gaps and improving achievement outcomes.
Target Audiences
- Community groups
- Early childhood teachers
- Elementary school teachers
- High school teachers
- College and university instructors
- Librarians
- Middle/Intermediate/Junior high school
- Policy-makers
- School administrators and leaders
- School support staff and paraprofessionals
- Service providers and professional developers
- Specialists and resource teachers
Workshop Strands
- Assessment and accountability
- Career and technical education
- Classroom management
- College readiness
- Counseling
- Diverse learners
- Early childhood education (0–5)
- Educational policy
- Educational technology
- English language learners
- Evaluation and planning
- Fine and performing arts
- Health and physical education
- Higher education
- Integrated service delivery: RtI
- Language immersion
- Leadership
- Library and information sciences
- Literacy
- Mathematics education
- Parent and family involvement
- Rethinking education
- Science education
- Social studies
- Special education and early intervention
- World languages
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The PEC provides intensive professional development for education professionals.
Concurrent sessions will include:
- 1.5-hour awareness sessions, which provide opportunities to exchange ideas and develop professional growth.
- 3- to 15-hour skill-building workshops, which are limited to 30 participants to allow for maximum interaction.
- Networking meetings, which provide opportunities to exchange ideas and develop professional relationships.
For more information, please contact:
PEC 2011 Committee
Emrick Lebehn
Pohnpei, FM 96941
Phone: (691) 320-2105/2705
Email: ecechief@mail.fm
(Posted February 18, 2011)
The Pacific Teacher Scholarship Fund Accepting Applications Now
Since 2004, the Pacific Teacher Scholarship Fund has granted tuition assistance to students pursuing a teaching career in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific. The fund was founded by Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) with a mission to increase the number of qualified teachers working in the Pacific region. Each year, students are awarded scholarships ranging from $750 to $1,000. The funds are a collection of charitable donations from the community-at-large, including businesses, PREL staff and board members, and the general public.
PREL is now accepting applications. To apply for a scholarship for the 2011-2012 school year, contact your local PREL Service Center at http://www.prel.org/contactprel.aspx or visit PREL's Pacific Teacher Scholarship web page at http://www.prel.org/opportunities/pacific-teacher-scholarship.aspx, where the application form and instructions are posted. All application materials must be received at PREL's Honolulu office by April 1, 2011.
To date, more than 40 aspiring teachers have been awarded scholarships. Among them is Jalma Manglona, from the island of Rota. With the assistance of a federal Pell Grant and a Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands scholarship, Jalma is a full-time student at Guam Community College and now plans to simultaneously attend the University of Guam so that she may graduate sooner with an associate of science degree and begin her teaching career in early childhood education. She graduated from Rota High School and would like to become a teacher at one of the island's elementary schools.
Last year Alexander Edward Coffin, from American Samoa, was also awarded a scholarship. He is a seventh-grade science teacher at Matafao Elementary School pursuing his bachelor of arts degree in education as a full-time online student at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.
If you know of a future teacher who could be a scholarship recipient or if you are interested in donating to the effort, please visit PREL's Pacific Teacher Scholarship web page and click on Donate, or mail your donation to: The Pacific Teacher Scholarship Fund, PREL, 900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1300, Honolulu, HI 96813.
More information about this press release or PREL is available by contacting Javier Elizondo.
(Posted January 20, 2011)