Stephen Davis

1 month ago | edweek.org | Stephen Davis

I’m a big fan of rigorous academic research, especially well-constructed mixed-method studies that examine the effects of educational innovations on large, randomized samples. I like to know how innovations actually change educational practices and outcomes and I love the various quantitative and qualitative methods used to describe them. I am clearly biased in favor of strong research approaches.

1 month ago | dailyrepublic.com | Stephen Davis

The Trump administration’s recent decision to cut funding for the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam for 12th graders will have a number of consequences for American educational progress – none of them good.

2 months ago | dailyrepublic.com | Stephen Davis

As a former 12th-grade, U.S. Government teacher, I have been thinking deeply about current political events and how I would help America’s high school students make sense of American democracy in the era of President Donald Trump. While there are well established curriculum standards for U.S. Government courses in California high schools, the current actions by the Trump administration “color way beyond the lines” of accepted academic doctrines.

2 months ago | dailyrepublic.com | Stephen Davis

Editor's Note: Due to a technical issue, this column did not run as it usually does on Wednesday. It will return to its usual publication scheduled of every other Wednesday on March 5. How do you know what you know? Think for a moment. Most of us would respond by saying something like, “I just know; or “I have years of professional, educational, and life experiences;”or “I keep up with current events;” or “I read a lot;” etc.

Feb 5, 2025 | dailyrepublic.com | Stephen Davis

When given a task to complete at work, at school or at home, do you perform better when you are pushed into the situation or nudged? Would you rather have a chance to reflect upon and consider your task completion strategy or would you rather be told what to do and how? My guess is many of you would respond that while it can depend on the situation, in general you’d rather have a say in how to perform the task.