Flat Classroom: Challenge #11: Align Your Project to Standards

Challenge #11: Align Your Project to Standards


Do after: Module 5 Choice and Creation

Do: Using the project you created in Challenge #10, revise the project plan based upon what you have learned and to align the project objectives with your course or another set of standards such as the ISTE Nets standards or the 21st Century Learning Literacies.

Share: Update your posting on Curriki or your blog to include standards alignment and revisions. Reflect on your blog on the process of aligning with standards and what you have learned from this process.

tag: fcc11_align

www.flatclassroombook.com/challenge11/


To be honest, there were not any revisions made to this project. The project was designed with the standards and benchmarks in mind. In our ELP program (gifted and talented) we use the George Bett’s Autonomous Learner Model. The final piece to the model is an independent study portion where students pursue their passions. This project is used in grades 4-8. As they progress through the years they are expected to continue to pursue higher levels of engagement.

At the elementary level we tailored the independent study to the Quad Cities. This gave the students a focus, but allowed them to still learn about their passions and interests. The whole project can be found here: http://coffeechug.wikispaces.com/2010-2011+4th+and+5th+Grade+Independent+Study+-+Exploration+of+the+Quad+Cities


Here are the standards used for the 21st Century Skils for this unit

IA_Core_Curriculum (Science_Social Studies_21st Century) - 21st Century Skills (2010) - Primary

21st Century Skill 2 Employability Skills

Concept or Skill 2.1 Communicate and work appropriately with others to complete tasks.

Details and Examples 2.1.1 Work appropriately and productively with others.

2.1.1.a Set goals.

2.1.1.c Share thoughts and ideas with others.

2.1.1.d Work positively and effectively with others.

2.1.1.j Cooperate with others.

2.1.1.k Acknowledge own and other’s good efforts.

Concept or Skill 2.3 Learn leadership skills and demonstrate integrity, ethical behavior, and social responsibility.

Details and Examples 2.3.2 Leverage the strengths of others to accomplish a common goal.

2.3.2.b Share tasks necessary to complete a group task.

2.3.2.c Understand others may have different ideas and opinions.

Concept or Skill 2.4 Develop initiative and demonstrate self-direction in activities.

Details and Examples 2.4.3 Assess mastery of skills.

2.4.3.a Identifies the task.

2.4.3.b Becomes aware of skills needed to complete the task.

2.4.3.c Shares knowledge.

Details and Examples 2.4.5 Engage in effective problem solving process.

2.4.5.b Become aware of resources and partners that may be useful in solving problems.

2.4.5.c Practice problem solving techniques.

2.4.5.d Generate potential solutions to the problem.

2.4.5.e Implement solution.

In my district we are in the process of having every single unit taught uploaded to this massive online program called Instruction Planner which is part of this district wide model where we can see what every subject and at any grade level is working on. This will allow us to work on vertical articulation across the schools to ensure there are not gaps. It is a very tedious process and time consuming in addition to everything else we have to do, but in the end it will be worthwile.


Because of this professional development that we are doing I already had most of this in place. As we plan our unit, we have to know our standards and benchmarks ahead of time to make sure that as we teach we are hitting upon the necessary ones in our classroom.