Iowa CoreAlignment of Instructional Content to the Iowa Core
Sue UpdegraffKeystone AEA
TARGET: Complete INITIAL alignment of
local content with CORE Essential Concepts and SkillsJuly 1, 2012, grades 9-122013-14, grades K-8
(from p. 4 of Self-Study and Implementation Handbook)2
4 Alignment Sessions
1. Needs Assessment
2. Planning
3. Implementation
4. Evaluation
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Professional Learning Communities
(PLCs)or
Collaborative Learning Communities
(CLCs)
are the structure to get the work done.4
Why study Alignment?
Iowa Core, April 2008
Outcome 4 Alignment of Content, Instruction, Assessment
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Outcome 4
Use data to increase the degree of alignment of each and every student’s enacted curriculum to Iowa Core
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First FocusUsing summative self-reports to examine alignment of the enacted curriculum to the intended Iowa Core
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Alignment will continue over a number of years and include:
Assessment
Instructional Practices
Instructional Resources
Continuous Evaluation
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ResearchAs alignment between what is taught and what is assessed increases, so, too, do student outcomes for ALL students (Gamoran and Cohen)
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School ImprovementK-12 curriculum must be aligned and must
match state expectations. (Learning Points Associates, 2006)
Explicit focused efforts should be made to ensure alignment of written, taught, tested curricula. (Wallberg, 2007)
Successful students have experienced curriculum aligned with standards and assessments.
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School ImprovementLesson planning and session delivery are the
two places where nonalignment takes place. (Lezotte & McKee, 2002)
Successful school districts align curriculum and instruction between grades. (Zavadsky, 2006)
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In district team, discuss potential implications of this Outcome for:
Practices of teachers
Professional development
District and school priorities
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UNIVERSAL CONSTRUCTSAre these student learning goals?
Complex Communication
Creativity
Productivity and Accountability
Flexibility and Adaptability
Collaboration
Critical Thinking13
What is alignment?Intended content
Enacted instruction
Assessedassessment
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Two State mandates about WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN
1. Iowa Core Content Standards and Benchmarks – broad
2. Iowa Core (includes Common Core) – more detail
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The Relationship
Iowa Core Content Standards and Benchmarks
Iowa Core Curriculum
Primary Focus Broad, general statements to assess student accomplishments.
More in-depth. Details along with Essential Concepts and Skills. Sets higher learning expectations for all students.
Origination Source Iowa Testing Service Collaborative Writing teams assembled by the DE
Content Addressed Literacy, Math, Science Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, 21st Century Skills
Grade Levels 3-12 K-12
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How the Cores Compare
The RelationshipHigh School Math Example
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Common Core Standard
Iowa Core Content Iowa Core
Use the rules of probability to compute probabilities of compound events in a uniform probability model.
Standard: Students can understand and apply a variety of math concepts.
Benchmark: Students can understand and apply concepts in probability and statistics.
Understand and apply the basic ideas of probability.
Essential Concept/Skill: Understands and applies basic ideas of probability.
Alignment Definition
The extent to which and how well all policy elements (content, instruction, assessment) work together to guide instruction and student learning.
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Alignment is anongoing process
The purpose is to determine the extent to which content, instruction, and assessment are in agreement and facilitate student learning
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Alignment provides:
Clear message of goals/outcomes
Consistency
Data about progress
Data for improvement
Fair assessment practices20
Rationale for Alignment
1. Determine WHAT to teach, teach it, assess it
2. If #1 is not done, we are unfair to students
3. Alignment reduces confusion, improves opportunity to learn, improves outcomes for each and every student
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Group DiscussionWhere is your district on the following?
1.Status of local curriculum
2.Understanding and relationship of:
intended
enacted
assessed
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Principles for Alignment Work
1. Once alignment is prioritized, process of developing and implementing practices can begin
2. Focus on deep content knowledge
3. Ongoing training and support for alignment increases quality of work
4. Gradually introducing successively more complex alignment over time will increase skill development
5. Understanding of measurement and data collection for alignment promotes continuous improvement
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What is the work?Alignment of enacted to
intended
Topical first; later by complexity and emphasis
Using alignment data for decision-making
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Foundational Curriculum Terms
Using the Foundational Curriculum Terms, create a framework on Post-It paper (i.e., how the terms work together or are logically organized for your district)
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Explain your framework to others present
In district group, discuss similarities/differences
Make any adjustments
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