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The purpose of this report is to provide information to Tennessee EEs that may help them make decisions about whether to work with their assigned school to align curriculum and instruction with state standards or choose another strategy for helping the school to improve student academic performance. The report includes a description of the topics and cognitive demand included in the Tennessee Content Standards and locally developed district curricula. The report also presents comparisons of the content standards and locally developed district curricula as well as the comparisons of teacher survey results and state standards.

A faculty's commitment to continuous learning and improvement is a critical dimension in defining schools as high-performing learning communities. When planning an improvement effort, a school's staff needs a conceptual framework that outlines the dimensions of school improvement. The AEL Continuous School Improvement Questionnaire (CSIQ) is a self-report inventory that asks professional staff to rate their school on six major dimensions: learning culture; connections among school, family, and community; shared leadership; shared goals for learning; purposeful student assessment; and effective teaching. Extensive pilot and field testing have shown the CSIQ to be a reliable and valid measure of faculty commitment to continuous learning and improvement. This paper reports normative CSIQ data from 3,821 staff in 132 schools in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia that took part in field testing. Within the sample was a subgroup of 11 schools identified as continuously improving or high-performing schools. These schools were labeled "Known" schools. Schools were categorized by grade level and by Johnson Code indicating rural/urban locale. CSIQ scores were highly reliable. School's grade-level had a slight to modest effect, with elementary schools and those containing elementary grades having higher total and subscale scores. CSIQ scores had no relationship to extent of rurality. Educators in "Known" schools almost always scored higher than their counterparts in schools of the same type. (Contains 15 statistical data tables.) (SV)

One of the diagnostic tools used in the evaluation of programs implemented under the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) (1990) is the Innovation Configuration Component (ICC) Map, designed to specify the key elements associated with an innovation and to define what "use" means in the context of implementing an innovation. This study investigated whether the ICC Map for Extended School Services (ESS) developed by the Kentucky Institute for Educational Research could be used to describe the extended school services used in middle school instruction in Kentucky, and, if the map could be used, the nature of the relationship between the level of implementation of extended school services and the state's high stakes assessment of a school's students' academic performances as reflected in the state's Accountability Index. The sample consisted of 10 middle schools at 5 levels of achievement. In this sample, there was a positive relationship between the implementation of extended school services that provide additional instructional or learning opportunities for students and the achievement gains posted by the school's students. It is possible that the degree of implementation of extended school services in a school is a barometer of the school's general willingness to implement a particular KERA reform initiative, and not a function of extended school services per se. The findings also suggest that another iteration in the formulation of the ICC Map of ESS is appropriate. A copy of the revised Map is attached. (Contains 13 references.) (SLD)

The Kentucky Institute for Educational Research has created six different Innovation Configuration Component (ICC) maps that describe the implementation of educational reforms in Kentucky in the context of the Kentucky Educational Reform Act. As part of a general study of progress toward educational goals in Kentucky, an investigation was conducted of the use of the ICC map to describe educational technology used in middle schools in Kentucky and, if the map could be used, the nature of the relationship between the level of implementation of educational technology and Kentucky's high-stakes assessment of academic achievement. Ten middle schools representing 5 levels of performance were followed longitudinally, and data from the ICC technology map compared with the results were of teacher interviews. In the sample of schools studied, there was a positive relationship between the degree of implementation of education technology in a school and achievement gains posted by the school's students, but it could not be determined whether the gains were a function of the implementation of the technology. The implementation of educational technology may be a marker of a school's willingness to implement reforms. Findings also suggest that another iteration of the ICC Map of Educational Technology would be appropriate to reflect the actual situation in the schools more accurately. (Contains 2 figures, 6 tables, and 12 references.) (SLD)

The Student Achievement Outcome goal setting component of the Student Achievement Project (SAP) is described in this paper. It has focused on implementation and documentation procedures that may serve as alternatives to the exclusive use of standardized achievement test scores as indexes of student achievement and indicators of teacher effectiveness. The SAP is a three- to five-year study designed to address the inclusion of student achievement in Kentucky's educational program. The study involved 26 teachers working in 15 independent and county school districts. Participants developed goals and project synopses and held conferences with their principals before proceeding with implementation of projects. While standardized achievement test scores may be used as indicators of school or district level effectiveness, they cannot yet be defensibly used as measures of individual teacher effectiveness. Nonetheless, the piloted procedures described in this paper have potential for development as part of a teacher evaluation system that includes student achievement outcome data. The Goal/Assessment Documentation Form for Conference 1 and 2 and 16 data tables are appended. (TJH)

The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) is designed to study fundamental phenomena in space plasma physics such as a magnetic reconnection. The mission consists of four spacecraft, equipped with identical scientific payloads, allowing for the first measurements of fast dynamics in the critical electron diffusion region where magnetic reconnection occurs and charged particles are demagnetized. The MMS orbit is optimized to ensure the spacecraft spend extended periods of time in locations where reconnection is known to occur: at the dayside magnetopause and in the magnetotail. In order to resolve fine structures of the three dimensional electron distributions in the diffusion region (reconnection site), the Fast Plasma Investigation's (FPI) Dual Electron Spectrometer (DES) is designed to measure three dimensional electron velocity distributions with an extremely high time resolution of 30 ms. In order to achieve this unprecedented sampling rate, four dual spectrometers, each sampling 180 x 45 degree sections of the sky, are installed on each spacecraft. We present results of the comprehensive tests performed on the DES Engineering & Test Unit (ETU). This includes main parameters of the spectrometer such as energy resolution, angular acceptance, and geometric factor along with their variations over the 16 pixels spanning the 180-degree tophat Electro Static Analyzer (ESA) field of view and over the energy of the test beam. A newly developed method for precisely defining the operational space of the instrument is presented as well. This allows optimization of the trade-off between pixel to pixel crosstalk and uniformity of the main spectrometer parameters.

Neural network-based adaptive control is considered for active control of a highly flexible truss structure which may be used to support solar sail membranes. The objective is to suppress unwanted vibrations in SAFE (Solar Array Flight Experiment) boom, a test-bed located at NASA. Compared to previous tests that restrained truss structures in planar motion, full three dimensional motions are tested. Experimental results illustrate the potential of adaptive control in compensating for nonlinear actuation and modeling error, and in rejecting external disturbances.

Neural network-based adaptive control is considered for active control of a highly flexible truss structure which may be used to support solar sail membranes. The objective is to suppress unwanted vibrations in SAFE (Solar Array Flight Experiment) boom, a test-bed located at NASA. Compared to previous tests that restrained truss structures in planar motion, full three dimensional motions are tested. Experimental results illustrate the potential of adaptive control in compensating for nonlinear actuation and modeling error, and in rejecting external disturbances.

Most active vibration isolation systems that try to a provide quiescent acceleration environment for space science experiments have utilized linear design methods. In this paper, we address adaptive control augmentation of an existing classical controller that employs a high-gain acceleration feedback together with a low-gain position feedback to center the isolated platform. The control design feature includes parametric and dynamic uncertainties because the hardware of the isolation system is built as a payload-level isolator, and the acceleration Sensor exhibits a significant bias. A neural network is incorporated to adaptively compensate for the system uncertainties, and a high-pass filter is introduced to mitigate the effect of the measurement bias. Simulations show that the adaptive control improves the performance of the existing acceleration controller and keep the level of the isolated platform deviation to that of the existing control system.

The Low Temperature Microgravity Physics Facility (LTMPF) is being developed by NASA to provide long duration low temperature and microgravity environment on the International Space Station (ISS) for performing fundamental physics investigations. Currently, six experiments have been selected for flight definition studies. More will be selected in a two-year cycle, through NASA Research Announcement. This program is managed under the Low Temperature Microgravity Physics Experiments Project Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The facility is being designed to launch and returned to earth on a variety of vehicles including the HII-A and the space shuttle. On orbit, the facility will be connected to the Exposed Facility on the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo. Features of the facility include a cryostat capable of maintaining super-fluid helium at a temperature of 1.4 K for 5 months, resistance thermometer bridges, multi-stage thermal isolation system, thermometers capable of pico-Kelvin resolution, DC SQUID magnetometers, passive vibration isolation, and magnetic shields with a shielding factor of 80dB. The electronics and software architecture incorporates two VME buses run using the VxWorks operating system. Technically challenging areas in the design effort include the following: 1) A long cryogen life that survives several launch and test cycles without the need to replace support straps for the helium tank. 2) The minimization of heat generation in the sample stage caused by launch vibration 3) The design of compact and lightweight DC SQUID electronics. 4) The minimization of RF interference for the measurement of heat at pico-Watt level. 5) Light weighting of the magnetic shields. 6) Implementation of a modular and flexible electronics and software architecture. The first launch is scheduled for mid-2003, on an H-IIA Rocket Transfer Vehicle, out of the Tanegashima Space Center of Japan. Two identical facilities will be built. While one facility is onboard the ISS, the other is re-integrated on the ground with new experiments. When the cryogen of the facility in space are exhausted, it will be swapped with the other facility with the new experiment. A total of 20 science missions are envisioned over the next 20 years.

New approaches to MDO have been developed and demonstrated during this project on a particularly challenging aeronautics problem- HSCT Aeroelastic Wing Design. To tackle this problem required the integration of resources and collaboration from three Georgia Tech laboratories: ASDL, SDL, and PPRL, along with close coordination and participation from industry. Its success can also be contributed to the close interaction and involvement of fellows from the NASA Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization (MAO) program, which was going on in parallel, and provided additional resources to work the very complex, multidisciplinary problem, along with the methods being developed. The development of the Integrated Design Engineering Simulator (IDES) and its initial demonstration is a necessary first step in transitioning the methods and tools developed to larger industrial sized problems of interest. It also provides a framework for the implementation and demonstration of the methodology. Attachment: Appendix A - List of publications. Appendix B - Year 1 report. Appendix C - Year 2 report. Appendix D - Year 3 report. Appendix E - accompanying CDROM.

Computing architectures are being assembled that extend concurrent engineering practices by providing more efficient execution and collaboration on distributed, heterogeneous computing networks. Built on the successes of initial architectures, requirements for a next-generation design computing infrastructure can be developed. These requirements concentrate on those needed by a designer in decision-making processes from product conception to recycling and can be categorized in two areas: design process and design information management. A designer both designs and executes design processes throughout design time to achieve better product and process capabilities while expanding fewer resources. In order to accomplish this, information, or more appropriately design knowledge, needs to be adequately managed during product and process decomposition as well as recomposition. A foundation has been laid that captures these requirements in a design architecture called DREAMS (Developing Robust Engineering Analysis Models and Specifications). In addition, a computing infrastructure, called IMAGE (Intelligent Multidisciplinary Aircraft Generation Environment), is being developed that satisfies design requirements defined in DREAMS and incorporates enabling computational technologies.

Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) embodies the simultaneous application to both system and quality engineering methods throughout an iterative design process. The use of IPPD results in the time-conscious, cost-saving development of engineering systems. To implement IPPD, a Decision-Based Design perspective is encapsulated in an approach that focuses on the role of the human designer in product development. The approach has two parts and is outlined in this paper. First, an architecture, called DREAMS, is being developed that facilitates design from a decision-based perspective. Second, a supporting computing infrastructure, called IMAGE, is being designed. Agents are used to implement the overall infrastructure on the computer. Successful agent utilization requires that they be made of three components: the resource, the model, and the wrap. Current work is focused on the development of generalized agent schemes and associated demonstration projects. When in place, the technology independent computing infrastructure will aid the designer in systematically generating knowledge used to facilitate decision-making.

Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) embodies the simultaneous application of both system and quality engineering methods throughout an iterative design process. The use of IPPD results in the time-conscious, cost-saving development of engineering systems. Georgia Tech has proposed the development of an Integrated Design Engineering Simulator that will merge Integrated Product and Process Development with interdisciplinary analysis techniques and state-of-the-art computational technologies. To implement IPPD, a Decision-Based Design perspective is encapsulated in an approach that focuses on the role of the human designer in product development. The approach has two parts and is outlined in this paper. First, an architecture, called DREAMS, is being developed that facilitates design from a decision-based perspective. Second, a supporting computing infrastructure, called IMAGE, is being designed. The current status of development is given and future directions are outlined.

A method for using system identification techniques to improve airframe finite element models using test data was developed and demonstrated. The method uses linear sensitivity matrices to relate changes in selected physical parameters to changes in the total system matrices. The values for these physical parameters were determined using constrained optimization with singular value decomposition. The method was confirmed using both simple and complex finite element models for which pseudo-experimental data was synthesized directly from the finite element model. The method was then applied to a real airframe model which incorporated all of the complexities and details of a large finite element model and for which extensive test data was available. The method was shown to work, and the differences between the identified model and the measured results were considered satisfactory.

Effective design of the High Speed Civil Transport requires the systematic application of design resources throughout a product's life-cycle. Information obtained from the use of these resources is used for the decision-making processes of Concurrent Engineering. Integrated computing environments facilitate the acquisition, organization, and use of required information. State-of-the-art computing technologies provide the basis for the Intelligent Multi-disciplinary Aircraft Generation Environment (IMAGE) described in this paper. IMAGE builds upon existing agent technologies by adding a new component called a model. With the addition of a model, the agent can provide accountable resource utilization in the presence of increasing design fidelity. The development of a zeroth-order agent is used to illustrate agent fundamentals. Using a CATIA(TM)-based agent from previous work, a High Speed Civil Transport visualization system linking CATIA, FLOPS, and ASTROS will be shown. These examples illustrate the important role of the agent technologies used to implement IMAGE, and together they demonstrate that IMAGE can provide an integrated computing environment for the design of the High Speed Civil Transport.

A method for using system identification techniques to improve airframe finite element models was developed and demonstrated. The method uses linear sensitivity matrices to relate changes in selected physical parameters to changes in total system matrices. The values for these physical parameters were determined using constrained optimization with singular value decomposition. The method was confirmed using both simple and complex finite element models for which pseudo-experimental data was synthesized directly from the finite element model. The method was then applied to a real airframe model which incorporated all the complexities and details of a large finite element model and for which extensive test data was available. The method was shown to work, and the differences between the identified model and the measured results were considered satisfactory.

This investigation employed an in-basket simulation to assess the effect of provisional analysis on the use of evaluation data by program administrators in making program decisions. Sixty-five volunteers from graduate education courses and 52 volunteers from undergraduate educational psychology classes at Western Kentucky University were randomly assigned to two groups, only one of which experienced provisional analysis. Both groups then took part in an in-basket simulation where each person assumed the role of a newly appointed high school principal, receiving a letter from his or her superintendent that directed him or her to dismiss four of seven teachers due to declining enrollment. Analysis of the participants' decisions reflected no differences between those who had experienced provisional analysis and those who had not. The implication is that provisional analysis, as administered, does not affect the use of evaluation data in programmatic decision making by program administrators. Suggestions for future research are discussed. (Author/TE)

A preliminary investigation of teacher education evaluation practices was conducted to provide a basis for understanding the present state-of-the-practice in teacher education evaluation and to suggest directions to be taken to improve the practice. An analysis is presented of data obtained from 397 responding institutions. Findings are presented in eight categories: (1) institution demographics; (2) institutions engaged in teacher education evaluation; (3) area of data collected; (4) methods of data collection; (5) relationship between size of program and method of data collection; (6) perceived value of teacher education evaluation; (7) perceived needs in conducting teacher education evaluation; and (8) reported budget for evaluation. In a summary of findings, a list of 10 conclusions drawn from the preliminary analysis is provided. (JD)

To evaluate the instructional effectiveness of the introductory portion of a modularized competency-based vocational education (CBVE) drafting program, achievement of students participating in this program were compared to students receiving traditional drafting instruction. Research participants were female and male juniors and seniors in their first year of drafting at one of six vocational schools in west central Kentucky. Fourteen instructional modules were used in the CBVE drafting instructional program. Two dependent variables were used in the analysis: the cognitive posttest of drafting knowledge and the psychomotor test of drafting abilities. The multiple regression analysis indicated significant effects due to teaching method for the total group. Analysis of the posttest scores supported the interpretation that good students appeared to do well regardless of the teaching methods used, whereas CBVE may have its most pronounced effects in lower ability students. The CBVE students displayed significantly higher achievement on the drafting posttest. The on and below the median group appeared to benefit most from the CBVE instruction. CBVE instruction appeared to have best addressed the correct line weights and visualization skills required to solve drafting problems. (YLB)

The use of holographic interferometry to view the small- and large-scale flow field structures in the combustion chamber of a motored Wankel engine assembly is described. In order that the flow patterns of interest could be observed, small quantities of helium were injected with the intake air. Variation of the air flow patterns with engine speed, helium flow rate, and rotor position are described. The air flow at two locations within the combustion chamber was examined using this technique.

The development of a dual plate holographic interferometer using thermoplastic recording devices is described. The operational characteristics of the thermoplastic devices are investigated and optimized for fringe contrast and signal-to-noise ratio. The dual plate device was demonstrated in a transonic wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. The interferograms derived from the thermoplastic device are compared with those derived from conventional photographic emulsions. The fringe contrast achieved with the optimized thermoplastic device is equivalent to the contrast achieved with conventional techniques.