Todd Beach | University of Minnesota (original) (raw)

Thesis Chapters by Todd Beach

Research paper thumbnail of Using Formative Assessment to Inform Teaching Practice and Improve Student Achievement: A Review of Literature and a Call for Collaboration

Formative Assessment: A Review of Literature 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Formative Assessment and All That Jazz

Formative Assessment and All That Jazz, 2008

This study investigates the collaborative development and use of formative assessment activities ... more This study investigates the collaborative development and use of formative assessment activities to inform teaching practice of Social Studies teachers in a U.S. high school. I developed a menu of twenty-two formative assessment activities based on literature from leading researchers in the field and from my nineteen years of teaching experience. A team of seven, 9th grade American Government teachers took part in the study and was surveyed regarding their use and perceived effectiveness of each activity throughout the five months of the study. Additionally, teachers kept written journals describing their use of formative assessment activities and the team of teachers met regularly to analyse survey data and discuss the implementation and effect of the activities. Teachers also surveyed students regarding their perceptions of the effectiveness of formative assessment activities.

The findings of this research essentially indicate that formative assessment strategies, when engaged regularly and properly, are effective in informing teaching practice. Furthermore, the findings indicate that teachers who regularly collaborate about their practice are more effective and more likely to attempt new formative assessment strategies in their practice. This collaboration, within a supportive professional learning community, affords the practice of a more guaranteed and viable curricular experience for students as well as reflective and improved pedagogy among the teachers engaged in the study.

Book Reviews by Todd Beach

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching History - Cuban Text Response by Todd Beach 2017.pdf

Book review of 'Teaching History: Then and Now' by Larry Cuban. Published in 'Teaching History A... more Book review of 'Teaching History: Then and Now' by Larry Cuban. Published in 'Teaching History A Journal of Methods', Vol.42, No.2, Fall 2017

Drafts by Todd Beach

Research paper thumbnail of Why Do We Study History

Research paper thumbnail of Instructional Practices in the Social Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Why Using a Variety of Texts to Teach the Social Studies is Essential

As teachers tasked with educating our citizenry, we must be cognizant of our student's reading le... more As teachers tasked with educating our citizenry, we must be cognizant of our student's reading levels and cultural backgrounds and implement practices that scaffold and address the needs of every learner. To accomplish this it is important to provide a variety of texts beyond the traditional textbook.

Papers by Todd Beach

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching History Now: Secondary Schools

Teaching History: A Journal of Methods

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching for Complexity in the AP Classroom

Literacy is the key word here, because the teaching of history should have reading and writing at... more Literacy is the key word here, because the teaching of history should have reading and writing at its core.

Research paper thumbnail of Using Formative Assessment to Inform Teaching Practice and Improve Student Achievement: A Review of Literature and a Call for Collaboration

Formative Assessment: A Review of Literature 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Formative Assessment and All That Jazz

Formative Assessment and All That Jazz, 2008

This study investigates the collaborative development and use of formative assessment activities ... more This study investigates the collaborative development and use of formative assessment activities to inform teaching practice of Social Studies teachers in a U.S. high school. I developed a menu of twenty-two formative assessment activities based on literature from leading researchers in the field and from my nineteen years of teaching experience. A team of seven, 9th grade American Government teachers took part in the study and was surveyed regarding their use and perceived effectiveness of each activity throughout the five months of the study. Additionally, teachers kept written journals describing their use of formative assessment activities and the team of teachers met regularly to analyse survey data and discuss the implementation and effect of the activities. Teachers also surveyed students regarding their perceptions of the effectiveness of formative assessment activities.

The findings of this research essentially indicate that formative assessment strategies, when engaged regularly and properly, are effective in informing teaching practice. Furthermore, the findings indicate that teachers who regularly collaborate about their practice are more effective and more likely to attempt new formative assessment strategies in their practice. This collaboration, within a supportive professional learning community, affords the practice of a more guaranteed and viable curricular experience for students as well as reflective and improved pedagogy among the teachers engaged in the study.

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching History - Cuban Text Response by Todd Beach 2017.pdf

Book review of 'Teaching History: Then and Now' by Larry Cuban. Published in 'Teaching History A... more Book review of 'Teaching History: Then and Now' by Larry Cuban. Published in 'Teaching History A Journal of Methods', Vol.42, No.2, Fall 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Why Do We Study History

Research paper thumbnail of Instructional Practices in the Social Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Why Using a Variety of Texts to Teach the Social Studies is Essential

As teachers tasked with educating our citizenry, we must be cognizant of our student's reading le... more As teachers tasked with educating our citizenry, we must be cognizant of our student's reading levels and cultural backgrounds and implement practices that scaffold and address the needs of every learner. To accomplish this it is important to provide a variety of texts beyond the traditional textbook.

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching History Now: Secondary Schools

Teaching History: A Journal of Methods

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching for Complexity in the AP Classroom

Literacy is the key word here, because the teaching of history should have reading and writing at... more Literacy is the key word here, because the teaching of history should have reading and writing at its core.