The EdVisions Hope Study:Improve School Effectiveness

byGrowing Student Hope

Background

• Minnesota New Country School

• EdVisions Cooperative

• EdVisions Schools

Hope Study Overview

• Adolescent developmental needs as a means to academic success

• Series of scientifically sound self-perception surveys to measure the five components

• Research question: Is our educational environment developmentally healthier for adolescents, and if so, how do they respond?

Stones in Today’s High Schools

Decreases in:*Student Engagement*Intrinsic Motivation*Attention and Effort in School*Interest in Learning*Achievement

Drop Out Rates• Remain basically unchanged despite expensive and

ongoing reforms• 347,000-544,000 per year 1990-2000• Dropouts have a decreased chance of success as

adults

Social Emotional Behavioral

• Depression• Suicide• Eating Disorders• High Risk Behaviors - substance abuse, delinquency

Intellectual growth impeded when these are present.

Stage-Fit Environment Theory• Mismatch between adolescent developmental needs and

the educational environment results in negative outcomes.

• Matching the educational environment to student developmental needs results in:

higher levels of motivation

engagement

achievement

has a positive effect on student psychological health.

Key Developmental Needs of Adolescents (Nails!)

• Autonomy*• Belongingness*• Competence*/Goal Orientation• Engagement• Hope

The Three R’s of Academic Achievement

• Rigor• Relevance• Relationships

* Hope Study connects basic developmental needs to the three R’s to impact student outcomes.

*Academic results follow when the 3 R’s are integrated into the school culture.

*Autonomy*

• Frustrating this need leads to maladaptive behavior and neurosis (Erik Erikson)

• Self management, choice of what to study, personalized goals and timelines, various points of view valued, creativity and learning styles, academics relevant to student

• Directly affects motivation, persistence, and engagement (Relevance)

*Belongingness*

• Need for strong, mutually supportive relationships is a fundamental human need.

• Quality and Depth of relationships with teachers and peers

• Increases motivation, positive social behavior, and academic achievement (Relationship)

• Enhances school adjustment, perceived competence, and self esteem.

*Goal Orientation/Competence*• Reasons behind efforts to achieve

• Approach to learning: Perceived high expectation

Belief that effort will be recognized Emphasis on deep understanding

• Task Goal Orientation has positive results

• Performance Goal Orientation has negative results

• Directly related to Rigor

Engagement

• Occurs when core developmental needs are met• Student work ethic• Concentration and persistence• Attention to school work• Behavioral and emotional involvement in school• Effort and passion put into learning• Results in superior work, deeper understanding,

and longer retention of knowledge and skills

Hope• An individual’s conception of their ability to

*conceptualize goals*develop strategies for goal completion*initiate and sustain motivation toward goals

Growing Hope Can Produce :*Higher College GPA, *Higher graduation rates*More Optimism about life*Better physical health *Higher self esteem *Greater levels of happiness

Adding NailsCreate reforms that permit:

*Higher levels of autonomy for students (Relevance)

*Encourage higher levels of peer and teacher support (Relationships)

*Provide higher levels of task or mastery goal orientation (Rigor)

Example: EdVisions Model

• Individual Project Based Learning• Authentic Assessment• Small Learning Communities/Advisory Groups• Teacher Governance/Democratic Governance

How Can Your Team Meet the Challenge?

• Brainstorm concrete, systemic, cultural changes using the Hope Study Components Checklist to create a better match.

Tools for the Journey

• The Pinnacles Group• EdVisions Schools www.edvisions.com• The Hope Study • Search Institute’s 40 developmental assets

www.search-institute.org/assets• Ted Sizer’s Essential Elements of Schools www.essentialschools.org/resources

Works Cited

• www.edvisions.com• Phi Delta Kappan, Feb. 2007. “Growing Hope

as a Determinate of School Effectiveness”.R. Newell and M. J. Van Ryzin

• Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in Educational Reform: The Story of the Hope Study. R. Newell and M.J. Van Ryzin

• Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets• www.search-institute.org/assets