Stories from the Field

Cleveland teacher with students examining caterpillars

Stories and commentary on AIR's mission in action, from our researchers and practitioners and from those who are touched by our work.

"To generate and use rigorous evidence that contributes to a better, more equitable world."
24 Sep 2020
In the Field

Addressing Teacher Shortages with Differentiated Staffing Models

As the COVID-19 pandemic turns into a longer-term crisis with no end in sight, planning for the fall raises even more questions for teachers about school policies and their own futures. In this final installment of a series, Gretchen Weber discusses how the pandemic could be the force that finally drives us to permanent, much needed staffing solutions.
Topic: 
Education, Teacher Preparation and Performance
16 Sep 2020
Q & A

Meet the Expert: Joshua R. Polanin

In this Q&A, Josh Polanin, principal researcher and project director for AIR’s What Works Clearinghouse, discusses his experience in quantitative methodology, particularly systematic review and meta-analysis, which allows him to design and lead studies across the field of education research.
Topic: 
Education, District and School Improvement, English Learners, Violence Prevention
10 Sep 2020
In the Field

Promoting Digital Equity and Opportunity in the Time of COVID-19

Often, strategies to provide equal access to technology and the internet involve simply providing people with devices. AIR's Trent Sharp explains why this could be short-sighted.
Topic: 
Education, Equity in Education, Technology for Teaching and Learning
24 Aug 2020
In the Field

Resources to Go Beyond the Basics and Support the Whole Child

Despite uncertainty about the start of the 2020-2021 school year, one thing is clear: Learning will take multiple forms and things will likely change as the school year progresses. AIR researchers created this resource for families and caregivers to help foster positive conditions for learning at home.
Topic: 
Education, Equity in Education, Social and Emotional Learning
11 Aug 2020
Q & A

How Can Schools Provide Quality Professional Learning Remotely?

As the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged teachers to shift instruction to distance learning platforms, it also has exposed the need for professional learning opportunities to help teachers adapt to this “new normal.” Lynn Holdheide answered a few questions about how districts and schools can turn this crisis into an opportunity for robust professional learning.
Topic: 
Education, Teacher Preparation and Performance
5 Aug 2020
Q & A

Promising Strategies to Prepare New Teachers in a COVID-19 World

Lynn Holdheide, managing technical assistance consultant at AIR, and senior advisor and former director for the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders, explains how teacher preparation programs are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. She also shares some innovative ways that school districts and programs are preparing teachers during uncertain times.
Topic: 
Education, Teacher Preparation and Performance
3 Aug 2020
Q & A

A Quick Word with Alex Holod on Awareness of Family Leave Policy in California

According to existing research, giving mothers paid time off could lead to both improved health outcomes and overall costs savings from reduced employee turnover and re-training costs. AIR's Alex Holod describes the benefits of family leave for both parent and child, why some parents aren’t taking full advantage of available family leave, and the lessons that California's Family Leave practices offer the rest of the country.
Topic: 
Early Childhood and Child Development, Health, Child Welfare, Eliminating Health Disparities
30 Jul 2020
Q & A

Meet the Expert: Eboni Howard

Eboni Howard is a nationally recognized expert in child and family development, implementation science, and mixed-methods evaluation approaches. In this Q&A, she describes her work on such topics as early childhood systems change, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems, and professional development.
Topic: 
Education, Early Childhood and Child Development
27 Jul 2020
In the Field

Why Retaining Deeply Experienced Teachers Is Critical During a Global Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic turns into a longer-term crisis with no end in sight, planning for the fall raises even more questions for teachers about school policies and their own futures. This is the first installment of a new series in which AIR experts discuss how to facilitate quality instruction in the midst of a pandemic, from attracting, preparing, and retaining teachers to providing them with professional learning opportunities.
Topic: 
Education, Teacher Preparation and Performance, Health
20 Jul 2020
In the Field

Digital Accessibility: How Schools and Teachers Can Support Students with Disabilities in Remote Learning

Keeping an eye on issues of equity in remote learning environments can seem overwhelming, particularly when moving teaching and learning from the classroom to an online platform. Taking the time to address digital accessibility has an overarching benefit: Universally designed and accessible learning materials can benefit all learners.
Topic: 
Education, Equity in Education, English Learners, Special Education, Technology for Teaching and Learning
14 Jul 2020
Q & A

New Tool Maps Literacy and Numeracy Skills Across U.S. States and Counties

Literacy and numeracy are cornerstones of our modern society. Jaleh Soroui discusses the data behind the National Center for Education Statistics' PIAAC Skills Mapping tool, and how it can be used by state and county policymakers, administrators, educators, researchers, and others to draft policies, address gaps, set priorities, and allocate resources.
Topic: 
Education, International Comparisons in Education, Mathematics Education, Reading and Literacy, Adult Learning
9 Jul 2020
Q & A

In Conversation: How an International Survey Can Help Us Understand the Challenges the Coronavirus Poses for Educators

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, teachers, principals, and students have had to quickly adjust to distance learning or e-learning. Although data were gathered before the pandemic, the results of the spring 2020 release of Volume 2 of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) offer insights about teachers and principals that may help us better understand the challenges they are experiencing now and about how to support them.
Topic: 
Education, International Comparisons in Education, Teacher Preparation and Performance, International
7 Jul 2020
Q & A

A Practitioner’s Insights on Student Misconceptions and Errors

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and TIMSS Advanced assessments are a rich source of data on student performance in math and physics. A team of AIR researchers methodically analyzed these data across multiple assessment cycles and answered some of our questions about them.
Topic: 
Education, International Comparisons in Education, Mathematics Education, STEM
30 Jun 2020
In the Field

Four Steps to Help Home Visitors Increase Use of Evidence-Based Practices

Through home visiting, child development specialists, speech therapists, and other professionals work with families and their children in their homes to assess children’s development and health, as well as bolster parenting skills. Consistent, correct use of evidence-based practices by practitioners such as home visitors can help improve children’s outcomes. AIR recently conducted a study of a parent-implemented language-based intervention used in the home visiting context.
Topic: 
Education, Early Childhood and Child Development, Reading and Literacy
17 Jun 2020
In the Field

Five Evidence-based Takeaways Policymakers Need to Know About Preventing Youth Violence

The root causes of youth violence are similar in communities across the globe, but community responses to improve public safety and well-being vary considerably. To address this need in the Latin America and Caribbean region, the USAID selected AIR to conduct a global review of the evidence on youth violence prevention. Patricia Campie shares five takeaways from the resulting comprehensive study.
Topic: 
Health, Violence Prevention, Youth-Serving Systems, International
15 Jun 2020
In the Field

Making Sense of Data on International College Completion Rates and Financial Aid

Among the benefits of going to college are higher employment rates, higher earnings, and healthier lifestyles. Yet many young people who enroll in college don’t make it to graduation day. In a RISE webinar, Rachel Dinkes and Audrey Peek highlighted key findings and implications from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data.
Topic: 
Education, International Comparisons in Education

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