Teacher's Net
Lesson 6: Instructional Design2, Part Two
The Standards and Curriculum Alignment
Curriculum Alignment With Learning Standards
"Curriculum alignment can be defined as the degree to which espectations and assessments are in agreement and serve in conjunction with one another to guide the system in ensuring that students learn what they are expected to know and do." (see source 1)
Alignment with Learning Standards can be achieved through the establishment of:
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Content: Clearly defining and making available what students should know and be able to do (taken from the State Learning Standards, or Standards of Learning).
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A curriculum developed specifically to address each set of the content of the Learning Standards.
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Pre-arranged systems for assessing the learning, matched with the content and Learning Standards.
In this Aligned Curriculum system, all content standards must be addressed and accounted for in some manner. This establishes clearly defined goals, for us as teachers as well as our students. It should go beyond "teaching the test"- we can't possibly achieve good retention of knowledge if all that we allow ourselves to teach is the content of what students will be tested on, but by combining this into an integrated whole that includes student-directed research and project-based outcomes, we are addressing the test as well as confirming the student's right to learn what most interests them.
Nearly every state has its own set of Learning Standards, a few of which I've listed by state below. If your state isn't listed, (or if you don't live in the U.S.) begin by quoting a search in Google; for example, "Colorado Learning Standards" or "Colorado Standards of Learning". If, by some chance, this doesn't return results, you'll have to adapt one of the other state's learning standards (which are pretty universal anyway) into your own work.
State Learning Standards:
New York State Learning Standards
Colorado Performance-Based Standards
Nevada Content Standards and Learning for Life
Reading the Standards
Every set of standards tends to be laid out differently. However, they all contain some basic components which will help us locate the information that most pertains to our subject(s):
- Look for Subject Standards.
- Note which specific sets of knowledge the state expects students to learn.
- Note the specific resources that may be listed.
- Take particular note of assessment techniques.
Using the Standards
Once you have found the standards you are likely to use over and over, look at it as a game: "How many standards can I put into one lesson plan?"
Remember that spot on the lesson plan template, "Learning Standards Addressed"? This is where you're going to get the information to fill that space. If I were to create a lesson plan that uses the computer to research and create mini-books offering information about STD's for distribution to the community... I've justified the lesson with many learning standards already! Specifically, technology and english standards, health and science standards, community service standards... I can list a ton of standards which my lesson plan addresses, right into its spot, and know that I'm preparing my students for what they need as well as involving them in a project that is likely to interest them and help them retain that information.
The last step you take in the creation of any lesson plan should be the listing of Standards Addressed. At the end of the lesson plan, you know all of the steps your students will take and what information they'll be using- which will let you go down the line of your Standards and list them, separated by commas, and finalize your lesson plan.
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