How to Read Education Data (The Atlantic)

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In an opinion piece in The Atlantic, Tim Lahey, an associate professor of medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine, and co-author Jessica Lahey write of the importance of not oversimplifying the results of studies about learning and pedagogy. “Education journalists are in a race to report these findings as they search for the magic formula that will save America’s schools,” they write. “But while most of this research is methodologically solid, not all of it is ready for immediate deployment in the classroom.”

They continue, “When journalists cite a press release describing a study without reading and exploring the study’s critical details, they often end up oversimplifying or overstating the results. Their coverage of education research therefore could inspire parents and policymakers to bring half-formed ideas into classroom.”

Read the full opinion piece, published 7/8/14 by The Atlantic.

 

 

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