Learning Gets Personal
October 10, 2017
Standards Mastery: Deepening Personalized Learning for Students
For the past several years, we've been on a journey to personalize learning for students. As schools have embarked on this journey to shift instructional practices, learning architects have simultaneously been developing a set of tools called the Standards Mastery Framework. These tools are designed to provide a guaranteed and viable curriculum and to deepen personalization of the learning experience for FCS students.
In order to personalize learning for students and create student-focused learning opportunities, we have to know at what level our students are currently performing. With the Standards Mastery Framework, teachers may enable each student to advance within and between courses upon demonstrated mastery and plan their instruction by considering four essential questions:
- What do students need to know?
- How do we know that they know it?
- What do we do if they don't know it?
- What do we do if they already know it?
The Standards Mastery Framework tools will include:
- Learning Maps that consist of: prioritized standards, proficiency scales, and Evidence Blueprints.
- Assesment items and tasks
- Scoring guides and student exemplars
- Optional scales for reporting skills of success
The Standards Mastery Framework has some commonalities with the philosophy of competency-based systems. Two of the most important are:
- An unwavering belief that all students can reach mastery given the appropriate supports and opportunities to do so
- The time it takes students to master material, and the level(s) at which students learn, should not be constrained entirely by age and grade levels; learning time and learning level may vary for different students working on similar standards
This issue Learning Gets Personal is full of resources to help you learn more about competency-based systembs and Fulton's Standards Mastery Framework. I hope you find it useful.
Best,
Heather
Sal Khan on Standards Mastery
What is Competency Education?
Competency Works writes, "The time for competency education has come. It is vitally important for our country to move away from the restrictions of a time-based system. The reasons are many...
Many districts are making the transition to competency-based education because they know that they can’t help all their students reach career and college readiness without greater personalization. Click here to read more about competency education.
From Subpar to On Par: Lindsay Unified Redefined
What is the Difference between Standards-Based Grading and Competency-Based Education?
Using Seesaw to Document Mastery of Content
By Ann Marie Carrier, KSU iTeach Instructional Technology Coach
It wasn’t too long ago that paper and pencil tests, scantrons and student projects saturated the documentation process as teachers attempt to document student progress and growth throughout each learning unit. With the onset of new technology, including apps and programs created to provide students with opportunities for creativity and reflection, the way students are able to share what they have learned in the classroom is ever increasing. Seesaw is just one way that many teachers across Fulton County are not only able to allow students to self-reflect and share what they know about content in a variety of ways, but also to document their learning progression and the mastery of content to their teachers and their families.
Since students learn in a variety of ways, it is safe to say that they also must be able to demonstrate what they have learned differently in order to effectively communicate their understanding in their own unique learning style. The Seesaw app offers our young digital natives an opportunity to do just that while giving them the ability to share what’s happening in class by accessing their own Seesaw profile through Launchpad. All across the county, teachers are digitizing their assessment techniques and using this application to offer students creative ways to model their mastery using photographs, text, drawing tools, creative voice and video recording of content!
Help students get excited about assessments using selfie mode! The video capture tool can be quickly and easily used to ask students to reflect back on topics discussed during reading and writing conferences given simple prompts (What I am doing well is…What I need to work on is…). This helps confirm that all involved understand the common goals the teacher, students and parent are working together to achieve throughout the learning process. Creating a quite Seesaw recording area is perfect for this! You can even prompt students to self-record their own responses to your EQ to get a quick measure of progress. Working with the standards in mind to ask students to demonstrate exactly what they are expected to know is a great way to know if future lessons require some remediation or reinforcement of concepts. And by taking a picture of standard assessments along the way, parents and students can see their growth over time; never again will that last test never make it home for parents to view!
In this selfie driven digital age that we live in, the options for learning and demonstrating what students have learned using Seesaw are almost endless! Why not use it to your advantage, empower students by giving them a chance to demonstrate what they know in a way they understand and connect them to the technology that is drives their interest while providing a great way to show off what they have learned with the world at the same time! Please see your KSU coach, Instructional Technology Specialist or the following resources to help you get started today!
Seesaw Resources
Important Announcements
Celebrating our PL "Bright Spots!"
Upcoming Professional Development
Hack the Classroom Microsoft Event
Sparking creativity and curiosity
Get inspired and discover new ways to empower the students of today to create the world of tomorrow.
Tune in live!
Hack the Classroom is a live, online event that inspires educators and provides new ideas of what you can do in your classroom today with Microsoft technology.
Broadcasting live on October 14th, this online event brings together the latest teaching methods, tools, and technologies to spark creativity and curiosity in students and educators alike. Along the way, we will share tips, tricks, and inspiring stories from across the globe, unlocking new ways to empower the students of today to create the world of tomorrow.
Join us for an inspiring keynote by Alan November and visit Tammy Dunbar’s classroom to see how she inspires creativity and curiosity in her students daily, and learn from Microsoft Innovative Experts across the globe.
Saturday, Oct 14, 2017, 11:00 AM
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EdTech Team Virtual Summit
Hosted by @followmolly
Join EdTechTeam for our first Virtual Summit to Make it your #BestYearYet! Schedule will include strands on:
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
And, of course, we’ll have a Demo Slam at the end and prizes through out. RSVP now!
Saturday, Oct 14, 2017, 11:00 AM
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Edcamp Fulton
WHAT IS AN EDCAMP?
An organic, participant-driven professional learning experience.
A community created by educators, for educators.
The leading edge of professional development in education.
TENETS OF EDCAMP
- Free
- Open to everyone
- Created by participants on the day
- Sessions facilitated by anyone
- Reliant on the "rule of two feet” that empowers everyone to find session that meet their needs
- Vendor-free events
Saturday, Oct 21, 2017, 08:30 AM
Autrey Mill Middle School, 4110 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta, GA, United States
Helpful Links
Questions?
Heather Van Looy, Ed.S.
Fulton County Schools
Email: vanlooy@fultonschools.org
Website: https://employees.fultonschools.org/academics/Personalized%20Learning/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 6201 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: 470-254-6899
Twitter: @heathervanlooy