Common Core Myths, Challenges and Solutions
description
Transcript of Common Core Myths, Challenges and Solutions
The Common Core State Standards
Myths, Readiness,Challenges and Technology Solutions
[email protected]: @openedio
Agenda
What are some myths about the Common Core?
Showing some readiness data
What are the big remaining challenges?
What are some technology solutions?
Myths About the Common Core
It’s a federal government plot and a “national curriculum”
The standards are too easy
The standards are too hard
It creates “cookie-cutter courses”
It forces teachers to teach outside their expertise
It’s a Federal Government Plot
The Common Core State standards were developed by the National Governor’s Association
But its tied to No Child Left Behind act right? But CCSS predates NCLB
Oh well its Race to the Top then? Race to the Top provides incentives for adopting internationally
recognized standards of which CCSS is one
But the federal government will take them over There are no such plans
This is our federal tax dollars being misused. Initial work was funded by both the states and the Gates
Foundation and others. With no federal funding
“It’s Too Hard Core”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmarshallcrotty/2013/08/16/is-common-core-too-hard-core/
“31% of New York students in grades three though eight met or exceeded math and English competency standards on tests given over six days this past April. In 2012, under the older, far easier, standards, 65% of New York students were proficient in Math and 55% proficient in English.”
Rigorous Standards Matter!
Is It Really Too Hard?
Yes there is a deeper conceptual base Word problems demonstrating full understanding
are important
The CC standards build on each other Fractions -> Algebra Algebra -> Statistics
And there are far fewer individual items than previous efforts e.g. California State Standards
CC Forces Teachers to Teach Outside Their Expertise
No doubt due to the “Common Core Literacy Standards”
I have seen “English teachers will be forced to teach Science and Social Studies” Not true
Science and Social Studies teachers will be called upon to teach reading and writing skills Presumably they were already but it is no longer
enough to be a “subject matter expert” there
Challenges of the Common Core
Most teachers self-assess as not knowing all the mandated material for their subjects
All students are expected to be exposed to their grade level standards
Especially in math, emphasizes conceptual understanding which can be more challenging to teach
It is by definition more interdisciplinary
It can be difficult to engage students in the nonfiction language content
Contrary to some perceptions, CC is LESS prescriptive, putting the burden on the teacher of “what to teach”
Technology Solutions
Flipping your classroom with video lectures and games can resolve an expertise problem
Videos can make nonfiction language content more engaging
We still need more video content: needs tools to enable easy content creation
Automated quizzing and games can get all students to basic standard mastery
The Ed Content Ecosystem
Edmodo
MoodleInstructure
CreateResourc
es
CompileCourses
ChooseResourc
esConsume/Use
Assess
Analyze
OpenEd Curriki
WatchKnowLearn
OERCommons
KhanAcademy
EdCanvas
Knewton
Agilix
adaptive learning
LMS studentinterfaces
BrightStorm
HippoCampus
LearnZillion
creationassistance
tools
HoodaMathMathChimp
catalogs LMSes
XPMath
Shmoop
BrainGenie
LRMI
Gooru
Knowmia
content sites
analytics and metrics Themeef
yUClass
asessmentproviders
EdCite
HippoCampus
Choose ResourcesFind Common Core videos, games and assessments by standard, grade, or subject in the largest K-12 ed resource catalog.
Take/Make CoursesStudents/Parents: signup for public or teacher assigned courses. Teachers: clone public courses to make them your own. OpenEd recommends resources for all your topics. Create classes of students.
Use/LearnWatch videos, play games, take quizzes assigned for courses. From the web, or our iPad or Android apps. Take assessments to determine mastery.
Assess/Analyze Students take assessments at end of topic. Track students progress on course topics. View resource usage for topics. OpenEd suggests resources based on results… * Requires subscription
OpenEd Addresses Several Parts of theCourses and Content Process
Some of the Interesting Remaining Problems
Content from the ground up focused on standard
Best ways to use class time when flipping (projects, problems, teams, questions)
How to find the best content for your topic and standard
Mapping between standards, to leverage content internationally
How to assess effectiveness of content in addressing standard
How to deal with SBAC/PARCC without “teaching to the test”
Questions for Teachers
What is the content needed for your students?
How do you find it?
How will you organize it?
How will your students get to it?
How will you assess its effectiveness for your students?