News
The latest news at CRESST
CRESST researchers publish well over 150 articles every year, primarily in distinguished peer-reviewed journals but also in more practice- or policy-focused publications such as Educational Leadership, Education Next, Phi Delta Kappan magazine, the American School Board Journal, and the National PTA's Our Children magazine.
CRESST partners publish scholarly books and are regularly quoted for their expertise in America's newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, or Chicago Tribune.
Our researchers serve as editors, co-editors, and reviewers for a number of national journals including the journal Educational Assessment.
CRESST Co-Director Search Announced
The Faculty of UCLA’s Department of Education recently announced the search for an energetic, creative scholar to serve as a CRESST Co-Director. CRESST is an internationally recognized research and development center that enjoys strong partnerships with leading institutions and researchers.
Top candidates will posses substantial records of research, leadership, collaboration, and scholarship.
Click here to read a complete job announcement and to submit an application to the search committee, headed by CRESST Co-Director Li Cai.
Findings from CRESST Evaluation of SimScientists Program
In a recent evaluation of simulation-based science assessments, CRESST researchers found that teachers overall had favorable impressions of the SimScientists program, especially when the technology-based assessments were compared to more traditional paper and pencil tests.
Click here to read the full "CRESST Evaluation of Calipers II: Using Simulations to Assess Complex Science Learning."
CRESST Welcomes New Dean
CRESST is pleased to welcome the new dean of the UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, during his first visit to CRESST on October 1, 2012.
An international scholar who has been widely published in global outlets, Dean Suárez-Orozco comes to UCLA and CRESST from the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
Click here to read a complete story.
Margaret Heritage Featured Speaker at Kansas State Education Conference
Margaret Heritage, CRESST Assistant Director for Professional Development, is a special guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Kansas State Department of Education in Wichita, Kansas on November 5, 2012.
She will illustrate how teachers can integrate formative assessment together with the Kansas Common Core Standards to improve instruction and learning.
Click here for more information.
Assessing Teacher Knowledge Requires Multiple Measures
A new CRESST research study concludes that measuring teacher knowledge is a complex process and that "no one assessment can accurately measure it in its entirety."
Eighty-six teachers participated in this latest CRESST study that used a series of assessments to measure different levels of teacher subject matter knowledge and their knowledge in teaching algebra.
Click here to read "Validating Measures of Algebra Teacher Subject Matter Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge" by Rebecca Buschang, Greg Chung, Girlie Delacruz, and Eva Baker.
Games Can Be Effective Teaching Tools Finds New CRESST Study
The expectations that video games can be effective learning tools has often exceeded the supporting evidence. A new CRESST study indicates that learning can occur in games but more so for students with high levels of prior content knowledge.
Click here to download CRESST Report 819, "The Mediation Effect of In-Game Performance Between Prior Knowledge and Posttest Score."
Click here to download other recent CRESST reports.
New CRESST Policy Brief Shares Technology Findings
Drawing from a number of recent research studies, a new CRESST policy brief finds that simulations can be used to improve human performance, rating accuracy, and coaching.
The authors also conclude that computer games can be used to increase math performance, but may need to be adapted to current student proficiency.
Click here to download a copy of "Key Findings From Simulations and Technology Research."
Click here to review a broad number of CRESST policy briefs.
CRESST Evaluation Services
CRESST program evaluations use rigorous designs and innovative measurement techniques to help policymakers and managers understand the effectiveness of their programs.
Current CRESST evaluations combine qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the implementation and effects of military training, medical education, and K-12 school programs.
Click here to discuss your evaluation needs with CRESST Associate Director Noelle Griffin.
Girlie Delacruz Featured in On-Line Magazine
Ampersand, the UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies online magazine, features a story this week about CRESST Senior Researcher Girlie Delacruz. The article highlights Dr. Delacruz's research supporting both military and K-12 education.
Click here to read the full Ampersand article, "Girlie Delacruz: On Target to Improve Military Readiness, K-12 Learning."
Click here to read Dr. Delacruz's recent report, "Impact of Incentives on the Use of Feedback in Educational Videogames."
