Infusing engaged learning strategies and modeling software into sixth grade classrooms: the Achieving High Academic Standards Project (AHAS)

The Achieving High Academic Standards Project (AHAS) of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is an ongoing in-service and dissemination project that provides an engaged-learning professional development program for sixth grade teachers using modeling tasks. The project included thirty-eight sixth grade classrooms (approximately 1000 students) in eight public school districts and three private schools throughout Illinois. The classrooms selected are all low SES, high mobility and high special education enrollments. The project provided classrooms with a new computer, pedagogy and technology for model building. The educational goals were selected to achieve the math standards of data collection, representation, and interpretation. Results indicate an actual cost, including a new computer and wiring, of $225 per student participating in the project. Teacher surveys and observation in classroom visits indicate over 80% active use of modeling software by students in modeling energy systems within their schools. Over 70% of teachers report that they will continue using the modeling software beyond the project end. The AHAS Project is a collaboration among the National Computational Science Alliance (NCSA), the North Central Regional Technology in Educational Center (NCRTEC) and the participating school districts. Funding for $0.25 million is from the ISBE. Partial funding and support are also provided by NCRTEC.