This image was inspired by Janet Abercrombie’s post Are We Confusing Standards with Standardization?
Specifically the section: Clarification 3
If we agree that instructional standardization is unnecessary, we can maintain creativity and passion in a standards-based classroom.
But we need to make a few paradigm shifts.
Specifically,
- Look at the standards before we look textbooks or think of “thematic” activities. The unit on Spiders is no longer a list of activities. It is a list of standards first (classification, expository writing, research, health and safety), then activities.
- Use team meeting time to plan. Work together to compile activities and resources that will teach to the standards. Use textbooks and other materials as resources. Trust yourself to create new activities that teach to standards more authentically than pre-packaged materials.
- Maintain checklists of standards and keep track of students that have and have not met specific standards. Project-based learning is then tweaked to include the following instructions: Somewhere in your project, you need to show me that you understand the difference between insects and spiders. You need to tell me whether or not your spider is dangerous and how you can tell. When I come and talk to you, I will ask which books and websites you have been reading and how they helped you.
It elaborates somewhat on my post: Personalization and Responsibility.
Specifically on two lines within my Participant’s Manifesto at the bottom of the post:
Curriculum describes and directs; it is not to be prescribed or directed.
Knowledge is static. Synthesis is dynamic. We create meaning.
And in tying the two together, I’ll part with a very simple mantra, “With freedom comes responsibility.”
Thanks to Janet for the inspiration!
As always, your thoughts and feedback are appreciated.
Thank YOU, David. Your original post clarifying definitions inspired the standards/standardization post.
One day I’ll spend meeting time on a visual thinking exercise: Say a word everyone believes they understand. Everyone writes a definition on a post-it note. Attach post-its to walls. Observe.
Could he interesting. ..
Naiku http://www.naiku.net/ works great to “Maintain checklists of standards and keep track of students that have and have not met specific standards,” among other things.
And, using Naiku’s Quick Question http://www.naiku.net/quick-question/ for that polling exercise will be more effective than using post-it notes. (And, I even have some good friends who work for 3M, the makers of post-it notes.)
Well David, I specifically agree with the adaptation of the technology in the teaching standards. And indeed charting down the students who have or have not met the standards. Each and every child has his unique learning technique and methodology. The steps and efforts to include varied teaching techniques in the standards would definitely prove beneficial in the long run.