Analysis: 19.04.2024
How can we improve the literacy of Roma children from Romania and of their peers from socio-economically disadvantages communities? The first scientific evidence showing transfer effects.
https://www.edupedu.ro/cum-imbunatatim-alfabetizarea-copiilor-romi-din-romania-si-a-colegilor-lor-care-provin-din-medii-defavorizate-socio-economic-primele-dovezi-stiintifice-care-arata-efecte-de-transfer-analiza-cerceta/
The PI of ELIRA 2.0 has written an analysis where he disseminates some of the results of the intervention program. Using graphs and laymen language, this analysis shows that the students’ vocabulary, reading comprehension and writing skills improved considerably during the project (compared with the timeframe between post-test and follow-up). It also shows that after the project ended, some of these skills continued to develop faster among the students from the experimental group, compared with their peers from the control group. Finally, some of these skills improved faster among the Roma students from the experimental group compared with their non-Roma peers from the control group.
Debate: 13.12.2023
InfoEdu (TVR Info)
https://www.tvrplus.ro/emisiuni/info-edu-125-17300
The PI or ELIRA 2.0 was invited to an educational talk show at the national television (TVR Info) to discuss the results of PISA 2022. The PI of ELIRA 2.0 pointed out the large discrepancy between Romanian students as a function of their socio-economic status, the fact that investments in education did not rely on impact studies, and that the Romanian public is not used to discriminate between empirical findings and opinions. The PI of ELIRA 2.0 also highlighted the importance of the experimental studies such as the one implemented in ELIRA 2.0, which show a causality relationship between the investigated factors.
Analysis: 11.12.2023
How can we improve the functional literacy of the students from rural areas? The partial results of a research that showed the impact on the students from 40 communities
https://www.edupedu.ro/studiu-cum-imbunatatim-educatia-elevilor-din-mediul-rural-rezultatele-partiale-ale-unei-cercetari-care-arata-cum-s-au-schimbat-rezultatele-elevilor-din-40-de-comunitati/
This analysis showed the partial results of the experimental study of ELIRA 2.0, where the students from the experimental group improved their vocabulary, listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing skills.
Impact: 2399 views
Online debate: 7.12.2023
PISA 2022 – the clear-cut image of the Romanian educational system. Special guest: Andreas Schleicher, OCDE director
https://www.edupedu.ro/dezbatere-online-joi-de-la-ora-1500-pisa-2022-fata-necosmetizata-a-scolii-directorul-ocde-pentru-educatie-andreas-schleicher-fostul-ministru-mircea-miclea-cercetatori-profesori-si-reprezent/
In this live debate the PI of ELIRA 2.0 has highlighted several challanges of the Romanian educational system, such as asking the right questions, identifications of the methodologically correct, relevant an dinformative scientific studies, the extent to which the research conducted in other countries is relevant for Romania, and the need of identifying the causal relationship between the changes made and the goals.
Impact: 1900 views
Analysis: 5.12.2023
The PISA 2022 results, first conclusions: Romania stands out as having the most inequitable educational system
https://www.edupedu.ro/cercetatorul-dacian-dolean-rezultatele-pisa-2022-primele-concluzii-romania-iese-in-evidenta-clasandu-se-pe-ultimul-loc-dintre-toate-tarile-participante-la-capitolul-echitate-educationala-acest-lu/
In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 uses the partial results of the longitudinal study to interpret the results of PISA 2022 to explain why incuzive education should be a priority in Romania.
Impact: 4638 views
Analysis: 5.11.2023
We give merit scholarships to the students with low grades. But what do we do with the scholarship beneficiaries who do not attend school?
https://www.edupedu.ro/dam-burse-de-merit-elevilor-cu-note-mici-dar-ce-ne-facem-cu-bursierii-care-lipsesc-de-la-scoala/
One of the controversial decisions of the Education Ministry from Romania was to offer merit scholarships to 30% of the students from each class, based on their grades. This initiative led to situations where students with very low grades received merit scholarships. Furthermore, the press did not cover the fact that this initiative can positively reward the students with chronic absenteeism. Thus, in this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 highlights the importance of allocating such merit scholarship only in contingency to school presence, highlighting that the results of the ELIRA 2.0 show how important school attendence is.
Impact: 24399 views
Analysis: 22.05.2023
EXCLUSIVE: How can we reduce the functional illiteracy in Romania (study)
https://www.edupedu.ro/exclusiv-cum-putem-reduce-analfabetismul-functional-al-elevilor-din-romania-studiu/
This analysis shows the results of a recently published study indicating a surprisingly strong relationship between students’ ability to identify punctuation and capitalization errors and reading comprehension. The study (Dolean & Prodan, 2023) was published in one of the most competitive journals in the field of educational sciences and educaitonal psychology (Learning and Instruction).
Impact: 1978 views
Analysis: 13.05.2023
New data indicate how inequitable is the educational system in Romania and how dangerous the new law to introduce a supplementary high-school exam ca be
https://www.edupedu.ro/cercetatorul-dacian-dolean-noi-date-stiintifice-care-arata-cat-de-neechitabila-este-scoala-din-romania-si-cat-de-daunator-este-noul-proiect-de-lege-privind-examinarea-suplimentara-pentru-50-dintre-lo/
In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 uses the partial results of the longitudinal study to raise awareness of the fact that in Romania, the socio-economic status has a direct, long-term effect on the results of the students’ performance to the National Assessment at the end of 8th grade. Consequently, the new law to allow competitive schools to organize supplemental exams will increase the educational inequity because the probability is very high that the admision to such schools will be contingent on the extent the students’ families could afford to pay for private tutoring.
Impact: 3920 views
Analysis: 23.09.2022
Seven myths about standardized tests
https://www.edupedu.ro/7-mituri-despre-evaluarile-standardizate-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
In this follow-up analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 clarifies seven myths about standardized tests, and explains how they can be done to properly address the needs of Romanian students.
Impact: 2418 views; 21 shares on Facebook
Interview: 4.09.2022
Field testing of the standardized tests: A failed opportunity. The high work volume was useless if they
did not reach their goals.
https://www.edupedu.ro/pilotarea-testelor-standardizate-de-la-finalul-anului-scolar-trecut-o-
oportunitate-ratata-interviu-cu-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean-volumul-de-munca-a-fost-imens-dar-
eforturile-au-fost-inutile-avan/
Standardized tests are not a common practice in Romania. In the Spring of 2022, almost 150.000 students participated in field testing of a computerized standardized test, organized by the Romanian government in partnership with a private company. However, the procedures and the outcomes of this initiative raises many questions (as outlined by the PI of ELIRA 2.0 in this interview), such as the lack of parental consent, the lack of representativeness for the Romanian population (to generate normative data), the questionable construct validity of the questions, and the absence of a justification and lesson learned of the utility of this data collection. The PI of ELIRA 2.0 shares in this interview ideas about how such actions need to be done in the future, to follow the good practices in the scientific community.
Impact: 3593 views; 42 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 8.04.2022
The role of assessments in primary and secondary school
https://www.edupedu.ro/rolul-evaluarilor-din-invatamantul-preuniversitar-explicat-pe-intelesul-tuturor-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
Multiple debates in media indicate confusion among the Governmental decisionmakers regarding the role of standardized assessment, as this is a novel construct in Romania. Both the Romanian education minister (Mr. Sorin Campeanu) and one of his consultants (Mr. Radu Szekely) declared that they do not know whether such results will be graded and impact the students’ GPA. In this analysis the PI of ELIRA 2.0 relies on the expertise in the field of Educational Sciences accumulated working with the Norwegian partners and explains the varying roles of the educational assessments.
Impact: 3.707 views; 18 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 16.02.2022
About the scientific basis of changing the school year structure
https://www.edupedu.ro/despre-fundamentarea-stiintifica-a-trecerii-la-trimestre-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
Romania is in need of meaningful educational reform. However, one of the ideas that was frequently promoted in the media by the Governmental representatives was that the structure of the school year should be changed from semesters to trimesters. In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 points out that such change will only create more instability, while there is no scientific argument to support it. Meanwhile, important issues such as high rate of functional illiteracy, are not addressed. The PI of ELIRA 2.0 highlights the primacy of science when making educational policy decisions.
Impact: 3.570 views; 49 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 19.01.2022
The true problem behind the plagiarism of the doctoral thesis
https://www.edupedu.ro/adevarata-problema-din-spatele-fenomenului-plagierii-doctoratelor-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
Romanian mass-media presents recurrently information that some of the doctoral thesis of some politicians might have plagiarized their doctoral thesis. In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 shares with the public a potential classification of the research outputs, highlighting the importance of rigorous science and outlining criteria that can be used to identify high-quality research (including the doctoral work).
Impact: 3.042 views; 30 shares on Facebook
Interview: 15.01.2022
Who needs to teach the children the times table?
https://www.edupedu.ro/cine-trebuie-sa-i-invete-pe-copii-tabla-inmultirii-invatatorii-sau-parintii-in-vacanta-de-vara-dinainte-de-clasa-a-ii-a-dacian-dolean-cercetator-specializat-in-alfabetizarea-timpurie-ideea-de-a-d/
In this interview, the PI of the ELIRA 2.0 project addresses one of the recent public debates in Romania debates in public media: To what extent is the family responsible with the child’s education? Relying on the empirical data analyzed and published jointly with one of the Norwegian partners in the Journal of Experimental Education, The PI of ELIRA 2.0 debunks some of the myths around the utility of homework, and provides scientific support for his arguments.
Impact: 17.273 views; 151 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 29.12.2021
Do we need a bigger budget for education?
https://www.edupedu.ro/avem-nevoie-de-un-budget-mai-mare-alocat-educatiei-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The budget for 2022 recently adopted by the Romanian Parliament has allocated to education the lowest GDP percentage in recent history. At the same time, a government representative described in an interview how 30 million Euros were spent on remedial programs, without providing evidence of impact. In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 argues that the Romanian Government should consider allocating a larger budget on education, and particularly on research in education, because education research is an investment that allows the educational stakeholders to make finely-refined decisions based on measurable progress of impactful educational programs. He uses examples of the upcoming randomized control trial from ELIRA 2.0 to show how such programs can inform educational policy, and why it is important to rely on research when making these types of decisions.
Impact: 1.753 views; 13 shares on Facebook
Interview: 6.12.2021
Research in Spotlight: ELIRA 2.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-mVHAeTBOA
UEFISCDI started the campaign Research in the spotlight, to disseminate to the public the partial results of the projects funded by EEA Grants. In this interview, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 explains why advanced research is important to understand the educational needs of Roma children, why socioeconomic status places such powerful constrains in literacy development in Romania, and what we need to do to improve the literacy skills of Roma children.
Analysis: 29.11.2021
The multitalented Romanian teacher
https://www.edupedu.ro/profesorul-roman-multilateral-dezvoltat-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The pandemic has generated a great deal of stress among employees in most fields. Teachers in particular, are experiencing high levels of stress given the unpredictability of legislation concerning schools operations format (virtual, hybrid or face-to-face) and an increasing number of responsibilities. Recently, the Education Ministry in Romania has suggested that teachers (and not the medical personnel) should also be responsible to administer the COVID-19 test to their students (by collecting the saliva samples), using test kits that came with little (or no) instructions and unassembled.
In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 outlines that many teachers are already burned out and they need more support, not more tasks. He gives three solutions to support teachers, including examples from the paper published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners (Dolean & Lervag, 2021) on how research teams can alleviate teachers' workload.
Impact: 11.405 views; 476 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 23.10.2021
Functional illiteracy in Romania is over 50% and this is not even the most challenging problem of the Romanian educational system
https://www.edupedu.ro/analfabetismul-functional-din-romania-depaseste-50-si-aceasta-nu-este-cea-
mai-mare-problema-a-sistemului-educational-din-romania-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The analysis was also published by g4media.ro and adevărul.ro
In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 uses preliminary data from the ELIRA 2.0 project to underscore the idea that the functional illiteracy in Romania is much greater than what the Romanian authorities believe it is. The analysis outlines 3 important challenges of the Romanian educational system, and offers solutions to overcome these challanges.
Impact: 13.881 views; 544 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 13.09.2021
The process of piloting educational programs explained step by step
https://www.edupedu.ro/pilotarea-programelor-educationale-explicata-pas-cu-pas-sau-ce-ar-fi-bine-sa-inteleaga-dl-szekely-ca-inseamna-pilotare-educationala-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The analysis was also published by g4media.ro
In Fall 2021, several schools from Romania started piloting educational programs with the aim of improving the quality of education. This analysis is a reaction to this phenomenon, where the PI of ELIRA 2.0 explains 5 critical steps to effectively piloting educational programs. The arguments rely on examples of good practices from a longitudinal study (Dolean, Lervag, Visu Petra & Melby-Lervag, 2021) and an experimental study (Dolean & Lervag, 2021), published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners.
Impact: 2.054 views; 42 shares on Facebook
Interview: 15.07.2021
The scientific illiteracy of "Educated Romania": Methodological issues outlined by the researcher Dacian Dolean
https://www.edupedu.ro/analfabetismul-stiintific-al-romaniei-educate-probleme-metodologice-grave-semnalate-de-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The interview was also published by g4media.ro
After 5 years of debates, the Romanian presidency office published a document that is meant to guide the education reform in Romania. In this interview, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 has relied on the knowledge drawn from the collaborative research with the Norwegian partners to outline several critical methodological issues of the document. In this interview, the PI of Elira 2.0 underscored a) the need to embrace the educational sciences, b) the need of advanced research in educational sciences to guide educational policies, c) the need of using clear, concise and simple language when elaborating such documents.
Impact: 12.047 views; 538 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 14.07.2021
What we need to understand about piloting the educational programs in Romania: Five ideas that need to be included in conversations on this topic.
https://www.edupedu.ro/analiza-ce-nu-se-intelege-legat-de-pilotarea-programelor-educationale-cinci-aspecte-care-lipsesc-din-discutiile-pe-aceasta-tema-dacian-dolean/
One of the current debates in Romania is the upcoming implementations of educational pilot programs, starting with Fall 2021. However, the debates published in media miss important key characteristics of the educational pilot programs. In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 outlines 5 key elements that need to be considered when discussing such programs.
Impact: 1.230 views; 31 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 8.07.2021
Is the project "Educated Romania" ready to pay teachers differently according to performance?
https://www.edupedu.ro/este-pregatita-romania-educata-pentru-salarizarea-diferentiata-a-profesorilor-dacian-dolean/
One week before the official launch by the presidential office of the ”Educated Romania” (a widely debated document that is meant to guide the education reform in Romania), the presidential counselor has presented to the press a draft of the document. The official declarations and a draft summary of the document suggested that the plan was to pay teachers based on their students’ performance. In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 argued why such idea risks to punish teachers working with disadvantaged students (particularly Roma), and argued that this idea would make teaching Roma children a very unattractive profession.
A week later, the plan was removed from the official document.
Impact: 12.440 views; 62 shares on Facebook
Keynote speech: 8.06.2021
The online debate about the Digital Reform of Education in Romania (organized by edupedu.ro, UiPath foundation and Brio)
https://www.edupedu.ro/dezbatere-online-reforma-digitala-a-educatiei-marti-8-iunie-de-la-15-00-georgi-dimitrov-comisia-europeana-ligia-deca-sorin-cimpeanu-ciprian-teleman-daniel-funeriu-vasile-dancu-dra/
The role of digitalization in the development of literacy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkHjaWmyypk
The speech content was also published by Pedagoteca.ro
In this keynote presentation, the PI of the project ELIRA 2.0 outlined major challenges of the Romanian educational system. The presentation relied on the research conducted and published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners (Dolean et al., 2019; Lervag et al., 2019), emphasizing on the fact that in Romania, the socio-economic status plays a critical role in the development of literacy. He also pointed out to major needs of reform of the educational content (particularly of the early literacy textbooks), by providing examples of good practices from other countries.
Impact: 2.180 views; 58 shares on Facebook
Interview: 7.05.2021
Dacian Dolean, language development expert: The Hungarian students from isolated communities from Romania need to learn Romanian language as a second language, but they need to have experiences of linguistic immersion at school
https://www.edupedu.ro/dacian-dolean-specialist-in-dezvoltarea-limbajului-la-elevii-de-etnie-maghiara-din-comunitati-izolate-orele-de-limba-romana-trebuie-tratate-ca-ore-de-limba-straina-dar-trebuie-sa-aiba-experiente-de/
The interview was also published by g4media.ro , Informatia Harghitei
Recently, the Hungarian Union of Teachers from Romania indicated that the Hungarian minority students consistently have lower scores than the Romanian students. In this interview, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 draws upon the partial results from the project and uses the data collected from the bilingual Roma minority students to explain what needs to be done in order for linguistic minority students in Romania to be successful in school
Impact: 7.191 views; 29 shares
Analysis: 27.04.2021
Is it justified to keep the schools closed when the vaccine availability is higher than the demand?
https://www.edupedu.ro/mai-este-justificata-inchiderea-scolilor-atat-timp-cat-disponibilitatea-vaccinurilor-depaseste-cererea/
The article was also published by g4media.ro
The schools in Romania were closed for a month in the spring of 2021, and the ones that were impacted the most were the children from the vulnerable communities (many of which were Roma). In many of the small communities, there was a lower incidence of infections with COVID-19, but the Romanian Government decided to close all schools throughout the country, regardless of the incidence rate. In this article the PI of ELIRA 2.0 explains why it is very important that the children from disadvantaged communities to participate to school. He argued, using the data published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners (Dolean et al., 2019; Lervag et al., 2019), that the socio-economic status plays a critical role in the literacy development in Romania, and it is crucial that many of these children to go to school.
Impact: 20.614 views; 45 shares on Facebook
Interview: 8.02.2021
The vocabulary and the oral language skills of early elementary school children are the best predictors of reading comprehension
https://www.edupedu.ro/limbajul-si-vocabularul-folosite-de-un-copil-in-primii-ani-de-scoala-prezic-cel-mai-bine-capacitatea-de-a-intelege-mai-tarziu-un-text-citit-studiu-condus-de-un-cercetator-roman-de-la-univers/
The interview was also published by g4media.ro
In this interview, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 shares the results of the recent empirical study published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners (Dolean, Lervag, Visu-Petra & Melby-Lervag, 2021) in the prestigious journal Reading and Writing. The results of this short-term longitudinal research conducted in Romania point out to the core issue addressed in the project ELIRA 2.0: if we want to improve the literacy skills of Romanian children, we need to improve their oral language skills. Updates (28 October, 2021): The study had a very good reception in the international scientific community, its Altmetric score of 139 placing it in the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric, one of the highest-scoring outputs from the journal Reading and Writing (#4 of 664), and in the 98th percentile compared to other papers of the same age.
Impact: 4.415 views; 49 shares on Facebook
Interview: 14.11.2020
Smart or educated? Myths about the role of general intelligence in predicting the school performance of the children from Romania
https://www.edupedu.ro/inteligenti-sau-educati-mituri-legate-de-rolul-inteligentei-generale-in-prezicerea-performantei-scolare-a-elevilor-din-romania-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The interview was also published by g4media.ro
In Romania, many elementary school children from disadvantaged communities are left behind due to the misconception that “they cannot keep up” with the standards because they are “not smart enough”. Their poor performance is often attributed to factors related to genes, rather than factors related to the effects of the education. In this interview, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 draws upon the research published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners (Dolean et al., 2019; Lervag et al., 2019; Dolean & Calugar, 2020) to inform the general public from Romania that there are many things that teachers can do to help students who struggle academically from disadvantaged communities, and intelligence does not have such a strong impact on their educational development as it is typically considered.
Impact: 3.337 views; 187 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 8.11.2020
What data do we have about the effects of school absenteeism on the development of literacy of children from Romania?
https://www.edupedu.ro/ce-date-stiintifice-avem-despre-efectul-absenteismului-scolar-asupra-alfabetizarii-copiilor-din-romania-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The analysis was also published by g4media.ro
In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 relies on the research that was published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners (Dolean et al., 2019; Lervag et al., 2019) to underscore the crucial role of school attendance. The aim of this analysis was to inform the general public and stakeholders to understand that closing schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic should be done as a last resort.
Impact: 2.013 views; 112 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 30.03.2020
How can parents handle their children at home in the era of social distancing?
https://www.edupedu.ro/ce-pot-face-parintii-cu-copiii-care-stau-acasa-in-era-distantarii-sociale-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The analysis was also published by g4media.ro
The COVID-19 pandemic lead to a sudden closure of the schools, leaving many parents underprepared about how to handle the education of their children while in quarantine. In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 relies on the knowledge developed through the collaboration with the Norwegian partners and gives 5 tips for parents that they could use to address the educational needs of their children.
Impact: 3.306 views; 165 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 18.03.2020
What is the developmental pace of literacy of children from Romania during the school breaks, relative to the time they spend at school?
https://www.edupedu.ro/care-este-ritmul-de-dezvoltare-a-alfabetizarii-copiilor-din-invatamantul-primar-in-timpul-vacantei-comparativ-cu-timpul-pe-care-si-l-petrec-la-scoala-ce-pot-face-parintii-in-zilele-acestea-sa-isi-aj/
The analysis was also published by g4media.ro
In this analysis the PI of ELIRA 2.0 uses data from the collaborative research conducted with the Norwegian partners to compare and contrast the development of literacy skills of children during the school year and during the summer break, underscoring the crucial role of the family and the school experience in educational development of their students.
Impact: 2.556 views; 251 shares on Facebook
Analysis: 9.12.2019
Functional illiteracy explained in simple terms
https://www.edupedu.ro/analfabetismul-functional-pe-intelesul-tuturor-explicat-de-cercetatorul-dacian-dolean/
The analysis was also published by g4media.ro
The most recent results of PISA were published in early December 2019, showing once again that the functional illiteracy of 15 year old children in Romania is very high, and double than the mean rate of the European Union. In this analysis, the PI of ELIRA 2.0 relies on the knowledge learned from the Norwegian partners (and on the upcoming collaborative research paper that is under review) and explains the theoretical and empirical evidence underlying the "simple view of reading" to the Romanian public and educational stakeholders. Then, he proposes a set of 7 steps that the Romanian Government can take to address this issue.
Impact: 11.188 views; 608 shares on Facebook
Press article: 25.11.2019
New milestones of the Romanian research: the role of school, home environment and intelligence in the development of literacy skills of children from Romania, investigated in two studies published in international journals
https://www.edupedu.ro/premiera-pentru-cercetarea-romaneasca-rolul-scolii-al-mediului-de-acasa-si-al-inteligentei-in-dezvoltarea-alfabetizarii-copiilor-din-romania-studiate-in-doua-cercetari-publicate-in-jurnale-internat/
The analysis was also published by g4media.ro
This paper presents for the first time to the general public of Romania the results of the two major research papers published in collaboration with the Norwegian partners in the prestigious journals Learning and Instruction (Dolean et al., 2019) and Developmental Science (Lervag et al., 2019).
Impact: 7.717 views; 700 shares on Facebook