Boosting Science Scores in Massachusetts

JogNog Launches the American Science Challenge to Boost Standardized Test Scores in Science

Science Teachers Use Competitive Video Games to Help Students Prepare for MCAS Tests

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JogNog is extremely compelling to the kids, because it incorporates the strong appeal of video games.

Lynnfield, MA (PRWEB) December 20, 2011

JogNog announces the availability of the American Science Challenge (ASC), a revolutionary program to boost students’ understanding of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) science, technology, and engineering concepts.
Developed in collaboration with Regional Leaders of the Boston Museum of Science National Center for Scientific and Technical Literacy (NCTL), this new program leverages the JogNog educational game to engage students in an entertaining series of educator-developed quizzes. With JogNog reports, teachers quickly see a consolidated summary of the problem areas for their students and discover where to focus review efforts. This approach reduces the time spent by teachers for student assessment and test preparation.
Efficacy tests have shown JogNog takes less time than traditional test prep methods and produces better results. Moreover, nearly all students say they prefer using the JogNog video game over traditional studying methods and, because of this, they spend more time studying with JogNog than other conventional methods.
"Re-energizing science education in the United States is fundamental to ensuring the long-term competitiveness of our students and our country, and we’re excited to roll out the American Science Challenge specifically to help science teachers," said Stephen Smith, CEO and co-founder of JogNog.com.
“JogNog is extremely compelling to the kids, because it incorporates the strong appeal of video games. That is its major strength,” said Douglas Shattuck, Applied Technology teacher at Concord Middle School, and one of the American Science Challenge founders. "I've seen its effectiveness in instruction in a growing number of applications, including MCAS prep."
Teachers interested in using competitive video games to raise their students’ MCAS Science scores can sign up for the American Science Challenge here: http://www.jognog.com/study-guide/american-science-challenge.html.
About JogNog
JogNog provides competitive learning games that motivate students to study in an engaging and fun way. JogNog is specifically designed to meet teachers’ needs for teaching the state and national standard curricula for grades 2 through 8. JogNog incorporates the latest educational research in providing over 40,000 educator-created review questions to its players. For more information about JogNog visit, http://www.JogNog.com.

High School Graduates Can't Apply to UC or CSU

What may be very hard to believe is that there is a large percentage of high school graduates in California who are not able to apply to the University of California system nor to the California State University system.  These are the graduates who cannot apply, not those who did not graduate.

Why?  Because they may have graduated, but they did not take the correct courses at the correct time.

Here are the percentages by county in California of those who have graduated and can apply because they did take the correct course on time.

Marin  59.3%
San Francisco  53.9%
Santa Clara  48.9%
Alameda  47.5%
Contra Costa  47.5%
Santa Cruz  42.4%
El Dorado  41.9%
San Diego  41.7%
Los Angeles  41.3%
San Mateo  38.4%

As for the state average, only 35.6% of all California public high school graduates can apply to UC or CSU systems because they have met the course requirements.  Meaning, less than half of all California high school graduates are eligible to apply to a four year California university.  The remainder are able to apply to other schools and universities, just not the schools that are funded by the state of California.  Of course out of state tuition and private universities are more expensive.

In speaking with teachers and school administrators, they tell me that there is no baton that is passed between California universities and California high schools to make sure students are taking the required courses timely.  And with fewer guidance counselors than ever before, the possibility that more graduates who are hopeful to attend California state colleges and universities, will be turned away even though they have a California high school diploma.

sources: Silicon Valley Educational Foundation, CA department of Education 8/11

Data Quest
http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/stgradnum.asp?cChoice=StGrdEth2&cYear=2009-10&cLevel=State&cTopic=Graduates&myTimeFrame=S&submit1=Submit