Beyond Breadth-Speed-Test: Toward Deeper Knowing and Engagement in an Advanced Placement Course. (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parker, Walter C.; Lo, Jane; Yeo, Angeline Jude; Valencia, Sheila W.; Nguyen, Diem; Abbott, Robert D.; Nolen, Susan B.; Bransford, John D.; Vye, Nancy J.
• Is Part Of: American educational research journal. Volume 50:Number 6(2013)
• Page Start: 1424
• Page End: 1459
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: high school -- curriculum development -- project based learning -- design-based research -- civic education -- social studies; Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; 370.97305
• DOI: 10.3102/0002831213504237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8312

Abstract

We report a mixed-methods design experiment that aims to achieve deeper learning in a breadth-oriented, college-preparatory course—AP U.S. Government and Politics. The study was conducted with 289 students in 12 classrooms across four schools and in an "excellence for all" context of expanding enrollments in AP courses. Contributions include its investigation of a model of deeper learning, development of a test to assess it, and fusion of project-based learning with a traditional curriculum. Findings suggest that a course of quasi-repetitive projects can lead to higher scores on the AP test but a floor effect on the assessment of deeper learning. Implications are drawn for assessing deeper learning and helping students adapt to shifts in the grammar of schooling.