What+strategies+help+people+get+the+best+test+scores?+Jack,+Alexis,+Kyle,+Sam

We would test four different strategies. Taking Notes, Asking Questions, Discussion and Underlining. The test would consist of a control test based on a passage where the test subject would not use any strategies, and then a second test on the same passage where they used one of the problem. We would then measure improvement of test scores between test 1 and 2. There would be a boy and a girl per strategy, except for discussion, where there was a team of girls and a team of boys. The amount of improvement between 1 and 2 would tell us the best strategy, but…

…There was a problem. We suspected the second test was harder than the first, since we were consistently getting lower test results on the second test, even though they were using strategies on that test.

However, we were able to salvage that discussion was by far the best reading strategy, because the test subjects that used discussion strategies were getting far better scores on the second test, the supposedly harder test, than the first. We also determined that taking notes was the second best since the test subjects that used the strategy had the least amount of decrease in score from test one to test two. Answer Key Test 1 1. B 2. C 3. D 4. A 5. D 6. Varying Answers

Test 2

1. C 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. A 6. Varying Answers

Time Management 10 minutes to read passage and/or use strategies 10 minutes to take test

Groups of students: Group 1: 2 students, 1 boy, 1 girl Strategy: Control

Group 2: 2 students Boy: 6/9, 5/9 Girl: 7/9, 4/9 Strategy: Underlining and/or circling

Group 3: 2 students, 1 boy, 1 girl Strategy: taking notes

Group 4: 2 boys Strategy: Discussion

Group 5: 2 Girls Strategy: discussion

Extra Copy of passage and tests
Caffeine, the stimulant in coffee, has been called “the most widely used psychoactive substance on Earth.” Snyder, Daly and Bruns have recently proposed that caffeine affect behavior by countering the activity in the human brain of a naturally occurring chemical called adenosine. Adenosine normally depresses neuron firing in many areas of the brain. It apparently does this by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry nerve impulses from one neuron to the next. Like many other agents that affect neuron firing, adenosine must first bind to specific receptors on neuronal membranes. There are at least two classes of these receptors, which have been designated A1 and A2. Snyder et al propose that caffeine, which is structurally similar to adenosine, is  able to bind to both types of receptors, which prevents adenosine from attaching there and allows the neurons to fire more readily than they otherwise would.

For many years, caffeine’s effects have been attributed to its inhibition of the production of phosphodiesterase, an enzyme that breaks down the chemical called cyclic AMP. A number of neurotransmitters exert their effects by first increasing cyclic AMP concentrations in target neurons. Therefore, prolonged periods at the elevated concentrations, as might be brought about by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, could lead to a greater amount of  neuron firing and, consequently, to behavioral stimulation. But Snyder et al point out that the caffeine concentrations needed to inhibit the production of phosphodiesterase in the brain are much higher than those that produce stimulation. Moreover, other compounds that block phosphodiesterase’s activity are not stimulants.

. "PASSAGE A- “Caffeine”."//http://kencil.files.wordpress.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr 2012. .

Test #1

1. Snyder, Daly and _have recently proposed that caffeine affect behavior by countering the activity in the human brain of a naturally occurring chemical called adenosine. A. Burns B. Bruns C. Murphy D. Anderson

2.The stimulant in coffee is A. Sugar B. Hormones C. Caffeine D. Potassium

3. Which of the following affects neuron firing? A. Endorphins B. Carbon C. Dopamine D. Adenosine

4. Which of the following is a class of receptors? A. A1 B. F5 C. Neural Cord D. REM

5. Caffeine has been called _ A. The most energetic substance on Earth. B. The most addictive substance on Earth C. The most effective method of staying awake. D. The most used energetic substance on Earth.

6. Explain what a phosphodiesterase is, what it does and why it is being discussed in the artice.

Test #2

1. Phosphodiesterase is a chemical that breaks down A. Folic acid B. Caffeine C. Cyclic AMP D. A2

2. Snyder et al propose that caffeine A. Causes depression. B. Is able to bind to both types of receptors A1 and A2. C. Lowers your IQ. D. Will become twice as expensive in 6 months.

3. Snyder, Daly and Bruns have recently proposed that caffeine ­ A. Affects behavior by countering neurons. B. Affects behavior by countering blood-flow. C. Affects behavior by countering muscles in the brain. D. Affects behavior by countering adenosine.

4. How many classes of receptors on neuronal membranes? A. Exactly 2 B. None C. At least 2 D. Less than 2

5. Why is caffeine able to blind both receptors A1 and A2 A. It is structurally similar to adenosine. B. It is more energetic than adenosine. C. It is less potent than adenosine. D. It is able to travel faster than adenosine.

6. Summarize the article.

Results:

Questions; Girl Test #1: 4/9, Test #2: 2/9 Boy Test#1: 7/9, Test #2: 6/9

Notes: Girl: Test #1: 9/9, Test #2: 9/9 Boy Test#1: 7/9, Test #2: 6/9

Underlining Girl Test #1: 7/9, Test #2: 4/9 Boy Test#1: 6/9, Test #2: 5/9

Discussion Boys Boy #1 Test #1: 3/9, Test #2: 4/9 Boy #2 Test#1: 4/9, Test #2: 4/9

Discussion Girls Girl #1: Test #1: 2/9, Test #2: 6/9 Girl #2: Test#1: 4/9, Test #2: 6/9

Jack's Project

Kyle Grebert's project: [|Reading strategies.pptx]