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Girls Outscore Boys on State Math Tests
DNAinfo ^ | August 18, 2014 | Amy Zimmer

Posted on 08/18/2014 2:48:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Girls in New York City outperformed boys on the state's standardized math tests this year, widening the gap between the genders when it comes to math, new statistics show.

More than 35 percent of the city's third-through-eighth-grade girls passed the state math test, up from 30 percent last year which was the first year of the harder tests aligned to federal Common Core standards. For boys, 33.4 percent passed this year's test, up from last year's 29.3 percent.

It's too soon to know why girls' math scores are rising faster than boys', but some experts wonder if all of the focus and funding going to boosting girls' performance in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — is paying off.

"My gut feeling is that all of the attention that has been given to STEM and getting girls involved in the STEM areas really has impacted these results," said Deborah Shanley, professor at Brooklyn College.

Over the past several years, the National Science Foundation and other organizations have given a lot more funding for K through 12 programs directed at girls, Shanely noted. Groups like Black Girls Code run programs to spark girls' interest in math and computer science.

There has been a cultural shift, too, with commercials like the General Electric one that features a girl talking about how her mom builds underwater fans and airplane engines.

"Putting women in those roles and having girls talk about 'that's my mother that developed that engine' — a lot of it is PR," she said. "But I'm hoping [it seeps into] instruction for girls."

Girls' math scores were better than boys' in all grades from third through eighth and across all ethnic groups, according to city and state data. But it remains to be seen whether the gains will be sustained in high school and beyond.

There are still big gaps between boys' and girls' SAT math scores, with boys scoring 30 points better on recent SATs. And there's still a dearth of women in math and science-related fields, advocates said.

"There is no intrinsic difference in math ability in girls and boys and, in fact, there’s evidence that girls are more attentive and diligent students," Glen Whitney, founder of Flatiron's Museum of Math which is highlighting the accomplishments of women in the field with in an informal lunch discussion featuring three female mathematicians on Sept. 6 called "Solve for XX: A Celebration of Women in Mathematics."

"Methods of assessment," Whitney said, have gradually "let go of their gender biases," which has helped turn the tide for girls' math scores.

"As parents, teachers and mentors we must make sure we don’t introduce a bias that might be based on old misconceptions," he added.

Elementary and middle school girls in New York City have been performing better on English tests than boys for many years and the data shows they've been doing better on math for several years too, raising questions about whether schools are now doing enough to reach boys, some said.

"Girls have the social skills at an earlier age to do well, like sitting still and listening to instruction," said NYU education professor Pedro Noguera. "Boys especially — and all kids — benefit from more hands-on learning, more active learning."

The challenge now, Noguera said, is to use the results of the standardized test scores to think about effective teaching for all students.

"We should be using the scores to guide our interventions and professional development for teachers," he said. "We need again to focus on what kind of instructional strategies would engage kids."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: math
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To: UCANSEE2

You and Sgt Hooper seem to think the same way. LOL


81 posted on 08/18/2014 5:25:09 PM PDT by mylife
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To: mylife

((140/1000) * 115VAC) * 1.41) - 0.7V) = 22VDC with a ton of ripple. You need a post regulator.

115VAC is RMS. You need peak voltage. 1/0.707.


82 posted on 08/18/2014 5:27:56 PM PDT by dhs12345
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To: SgtHooper

Sometimes I think I’m getting barmy.

I wanted to take out 2.8V for Forward voltage loss till I realized only 2 diodes are forward biased at a time.

Jeez the simple stuff you forget over 32 years.


83 posted on 08/18/2014 5:29:18 PM PDT by mylife
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To: dhs12345

You are there.

Explain the math.


84 posted on 08/18/2014 5:30:11 PM PDT by mylife
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To: dhs12345

Isn’t that wonderful...


85 posted on 08/18/2014 5:30:14 PM PDT by wardaddy (Ferguson MO...but i thought blacks went north to escape the racism of mean ol southerners)
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To: nickcarraway

I do not know one feminist southern woman poster here.

Just for the record.


86 posted on 08/18/2014 5:31:55 PM PDT by wardaddy (Ferguson MO...but i thought blacks went north to escape the racism of mean ol southerners)
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To: dhs12345

RMS is .707 X Vpp
Vpp is 1.404 X RMS


87 posted on 08/18/2014 5:32:10 PM PDT by mylife
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To: dhs12345

A regulator and more filtering.


88 posted on 08/18/2014 5:34:31 PM PDT by mylife
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To: onedoug

You are mentioning exceptions

Which is what we do to make everyone the equal of white Christian men....or Jews

We turn common sense on its ear because we can’t handle the truth

Anymore


89 posted on 08/18/2014 5:35:56 PM PDT by wardaddy (Ferguson MO...but i thought blacks went north to escape the racism of mean ol southerners)
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To: dhs12345

Now, how does a switching power supply work and what are the advantages disadvantages of that circuit?


90 posted on 08/18/2014 5:36:19 PM PDT by mylife
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To: mylife

The voltage set by the bridge rectifier is the PEAK voltage and not the RMS. The ACV is RMS so in order to get to peak you have to multiply it by 1/0.707.

The turns ratio is 140/1000 which gives you approx 16VAC times 1/0.707 or approx 22.7V. The diode/rectifier drop is subtracted from that to give 22VDC with lots of ripple.


91 posted on 08/18/2014 5:37:30 PM PDT by dhs12345
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What is the difference in a Logarithmic amplifier as opposed to a linear amplifier?

What is a Decibel? What is Dbm??

Explain Ohms law.

How does a wideband receiver work?
What is a wideband receiver?


92 posted on 08/18/2014 5:40:06 PM PDT by mylife
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To: mylife
Oooh sounds like an interview. :)

I presume that you are referring to a linear versus a switcher.

A switcher is more efficient than a linear.

Instead of dissipating the power as a way of regulation, a switcher actually uses a pulse width to regulate the output voltage. The secondary circuit averages the output voltage.

A wider pulse width means a higher average output voltage a narrower pulse means a lower voltage. There is usually a control loop that keeps the output voltage within spec.

Disadvantages — cost. Extra circuitry, inductors, etc.

A switcher tends to be more expensive at lower power levels. At higher power levels they are ideal since switchers are a lot more efficient.

93 posted on 08/18/2014 5:51:01 PM PDT by dhs12345
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To: nickcarraway

This can’t be tolerated. We must continue the war on males until only females succeed.


94 posted on 08/18/2014 5:53:49 PM PDT by wgmalabama
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To: mylife

Yup.


95 posted on 08/18/2014 5:54:18 PM PDT by dhs12345
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To: mylife
Exactly. Switching noise, etc. Those sharp edges have lots of harmonics! A snubber is handy too. Will help with noise.
96 posted on 08/18/2014 5:55:33 PM PDT by dhs12345
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To: dhs12345

Yes I know the Bridge is in Vpp.

I am missing something here What do you mean by ACV The AV in?
Yes that is aways expressed in RMS

I am missing something here how is 16 X .707 = to 22?

Man I feel stupid, I am right there, buth the math has left me in my old age.

Let me clarify my position.

It is my understanding that alL AC voltage is expressed in RMS.
RMS is the Vpp x .707
Now it hits the bridge rectifier, in the bridge we work in Vpp, so multiply the voltage by 1.404 the diodes in the bridge ractifier have a forward voltage drop of .7 V on each diode,
2of the 4 are forward biased at a time so I would subtract 1.4V.. Then this get filtered an that is measured as RMS DC
So Convert the Vpp back by multiplying by .707

What am I missing? My theory on this stuff is very stale.


97 posted on 08/18/2014 5:56:28 PM PDT by mylife
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To: dhs12345

I understand why switching PS are popular but I hate the noise and they have a high failure rate.


98 posted on 08/18/2014 5:58:25 PM PDT by mylife
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To: mylife

AC in?

Jeez.


99 posted on 08/18/2014 5:59:22 PM PDT by mylife
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To: FredZarguna
You have to sign up for calc in High School It is an AP class.

Second SEMESTER Physics usually means full blown calculus. Even calculus 2. Depending on if you are talking about college Physics or HS Physics.

I don't think that they even offer a second year Physics in College. Well usually it is some much higher level Physics.

I don't know if they offer a second year physics in High School. But that would be AP x 4.

I am referring to High School. Not College. :)

100 posted on 08/18/2014 6:03:37 PM PDT by dhs12345
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