Week 2 Assignment 21st Century Skills and Standards

Week 2 Assignment

21st Century Skills and Standards

In this assignment, you need to think about 21st century support systems, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and International Society for Technology in Education Student (Links to an external site.) (ISTE-S) standards and their relationship with quality instructional planning, delivery, and learner achievement. Using the Framework for 21st Century learning (Links to an external site.) as a resource, you will redesign or modify a prior activity, such as a lesson plan or curriculum project, that you created in a prior course. If you do not have previous work to use for this assignment, please contact your instructor for guidelines on how to proceed. As needed, refer to your program learning outcomes (PLOs) list (MACI, MAECEL, MAED, MASE, MATLT).

NOTE* Before you select the PLO’s you will highlight in this assignment, be sure to read the final assignment for this course to ensure that you will cover each of your programs PLOs adequately.

Create your assignment to meet the content and written communication expectations below.

Content Expectations

The Redesign expectations explain what you are required to do with the prior coursework you choose to redesign. The Summary expectations are for the separate written portion of this assignment.

· Redesign – ISTE-S Standard (1 Point): Redesign a lesson plan or curriculum project that reflects a minimum of one ISTE-S standard labeled with number, title, and objective(s). For example:

· Creativity and Innovation

· Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products and processes.

· Redesign – Grade Level / CCSS Alignment (1 Point): Redesign a lesson plan or curriculum project that clearly labels a grade level and content specific CCSS (Links to an external site.) (Math or English Language Arts) which is aligned with a minimum of one Core Subject and 21st Century Themes (Links to an external site.) and a minimum of one Learning and Innovation Skill (Links to an external site.), one Information, Media, & Technology Skill (Links to an external site.), and evidence of at least one Life and Career Skill (Links to an external site.).

· Summary – Introduction/Conclusion (1 Point): In one paragraph, provide an introductory summary that concisely presents the scope and organization of the summary writing and a one-paragraph conclusion that summarizes the key points of your summary.

· Summary – Modification (2 Point): In one paragraph, summarize the changes you made to address ISTE- S, CCSS, and 21st Century Skills and how your activity addresses each. Explicitly state how your redesign assignment provides evidence of at least two PLO’s from your master’s program.

· Summary – Evaluation (2 Point): In one paragraph, evaluate the appropriate 21st century support system components that align with your redesigned activity and, using examples, evaluate how each influences learner-centered instruction and the creation of a technology-enriched learning environment promoting learner achievement and innovations. 21st century support systems include: 21st century standards, assessment for 21st century skills, 21st century curriculum and instruction, and 21st century learning environments.

· Summary – Reflection (2 Point): In one paragraph, summarize your experience with the redesign in terms of challenges you encountered and how you overcame those challenges.

Written Communication Expectations

· Page Requirement (.25 points): Two to four pages, not including title and references pages.

· APA Formatting (.25 points): Use APA formatting consistently throughout the assignment.

· Syntax and Mechanics (.25 points): Display meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics such as spelling and grammar.

· Source Requirement (.25 points): Reference three scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook.

All sources on the references page need to be used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

For information related to APA style, including samples and tutorials, please visit the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).

Next Steps: Review and Submit the Assignment

Review your assignment with the Grading Rubric to be sure you have achieved the distinguished levels of performance for each criterion. Next, submit the assignment for evaluation no later than Day 7.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric  (Links to an external site.)for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Standards and Assessment

Learning Outcomes

This week students will:

1. Evaluate how purposeful planning of differentiated instructional strategies promotes student learning.

2. Describe how embedding evidence-based assessment in the curriculum can help guide teachers and learners in decision making.

3. Evaluate how designing instruction aligned to CCSS, ISTE-S and 21st century skills promote learner achievement and growth.

 

Introduction

During Week One, you discussed diversity in the classroom and how to support diversity through 21st-century teaching and learning. During Week Two, you will discuss differentiated instruction in the classroom as it relates to promoting student learning and the use of Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Additionally, the Week Two Assignment will require you to think about 21st century support systems, CCSS, the International Society for Technology in Education Student (ISTE-S) standards, and their relationship with quality instructional planning, delivery, and learner achievement. Similar to Week One’s Assignment, this week you will redesign prior coursework to include in your Folio.

Required Resources

Text

Burnaford, G., & Brown, T. (2014). Teaching and learning in 21st century learning environments: A reader. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

· Chapter 3: Assessment in the 21st Century

Web Pages

Framework for 21st century learning (Links to an external site.). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/our-work/p21-framework

· This web page presents an all-inclusive view of 21st-century teaching and learning. It includes a focus on student outcomes and support systems that help students’ master skills they will need in the 21st century. This resource will support student completion of the discussions and assignment for this week. Accessibility Statement does not exist. Privacy Policy does not exist.

ISTE Standards for Students (Links to an external site.). (2012). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/for-students

· The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) web page provides a way for educators to connect with peers and share knowledge and ideas. ISTE also offers innovative educational technology resources to support professional learning in the education field. This resource will support student completion of the discussions and assignment for this week. Accessibility Statement does not exist. Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Read the standards (Links to an external site.). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

· This web page provides information on how the standards communicate what is expected of students at each grade level. The focus of CCSS is on core conceptual understandings and procedures starting in the early grades, providing teachers a timeline needed to teach core concepts and allowing each student the time needed to master the concepts. This resource will support student completion of the discussions and assignment for this week. Accessibility Statement does not exist. Privacy Policy does not exist.

Website

Folio. (https://ashford.instructure.com/users/893/external_tools/2653)

· This website provides a Folio resource. This resource will support student completion of the final project, as well as discussions and assignments throughout the course. Accessibility Statement does not exist. Privacy Policy does not exist.

 

Recommended Resources

Text

Marzano, R. J. (2006).  Classroom assessment & grading that work [Electronic version]. Retrieved from the ebrary database.

Articles

Phelps, P. H. (2008). Helping teachers become leaders. The Clearing House, 81(3), 119-122. doi:10.3200/TCHS.81.3.119-122.

· Phelps discusses the need for school improvement is based on the idea that more teachers need to function as leaders. When we understand the various dimensions of teacher leadership, we can fulfill multiple roles at the school. This resource will support student completion of the discussions and assignment for this week. The full-text version of this article is available through the EBSCOhost database in the Ashford University Library.

Roby, D. E. (2011). Teacher leaders impacting school culture. Education, 131(4), 782-790. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database.

· Roby discusses how teacher leaders have the ability to shape the culture of the school when given the right opportunities. This resource will support student completion of the discussions and assignment for this week. The full-text version of this article is available through the EBSCOhost database in the Ashford University Library.

 

EDU696

Welcome to Week 2

As Week Two begins, you are encouraged you review the Week Five homepage to prepare for when you work in a mock Professional Learning Community (PLC) and complete a team assignment. Start thinking ahead now about your role and responsibilities during Week Five and contact the instructor for clarifications on any expectations. In Week One, diversity through 21st Century Teaching and Learning was investigated. During Week Two, one discussions and an assignment are included, focusing on the Common Core State Standards and 21st Century Skills and Standards.

Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI)

CCSS is an initiative in the United States that outlines what every K-12 student should know and be able to do in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics at the end of each grade level. The CCSSI seeks to establish consistent educational standards across the nation to ensure students are prepared for success after graduating from high school, be it going into a college program or entering the work force. The goal of CCSSI is to provide more depth and breadth of learning across the grade levels, where students can explore concepts at a deeper level than before. For more information, view this approximately three-minute video from DCPublicSchools  (Links to an external site.)(2012), which provides a look at why the CCSS were created. When viewing the video think about how you do or intend to incorporate CCSS into your classroom.

Remember, the current focus of the CCSS is on two content areas, ELA and Math. This week, you focus on both sets of standards and how these relate to technology to enhance differentiated instructional strategies to support all learners. However, before we can begin to talk about technology and differentiated instruction in regards to CCSS, it may be helpful for us to review the two subjects.

ELA includes six categories; reading, writing, speaking and listening, language, media and technology and cursive and keyboarding. View this approximately six-minute video from the Professional Educators Association (Links to an external site.) (n.d.) about ELA where they explain the movement of CCSS and the creation of ELA standards. While viewing this video, think about your former or current classroom setting or any exposure you have to the classroom and how the ELA standards were, or are being used within the ELA curriculum. If you are not currently in the classroom, consider how you might ensure that you include CCSS within your ELA curriculum. Consider sharing your thoughts on the video as part of your discussions for the week or in the Ashford Café!

The Common Core Mathematics Standards consists of two sections; practice and content. In practices, there are eight set principals revolving around modeling, constructing arguments and critiquing math reasoning skills to name a few. In the content area, the CCSS are in four domains of mastery learning for grade levels kindergarten to fifth grade, middle school six and seventh grade and high school ninth thru twelfth grade. View this approximately seven-minute video from Dr. Raj Shah, owner and founder of Math Plus Academy (Links to an external site.) (2015) where the movement of the CCSS and the creation of Math Standards are explained. While viewing this video think about your own math experiences in grade school: how is teaching and learning different now than it was while you were in school? Consider sharing your experiences in our Ashford Café!

Now that the CCSS have been revisited, evaluation of how the CCSS (Math and English Language Arts) can be used to influence the use of technology-enhanced differentiated instructional strategies can occur.

Technology and the CCSS

Upon review of the ELA CCSS, you will notice that technology is embedded into most of the standards. For example:

RI.3.5 Grade 3 students: Use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.

RI.1.5 Grade 1 students: Know and use various text structures (e.g., sequence) and text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text.

When considering the context of technology, a connection can be made with how utilizing technology can enhance differentiated instructional strategies, thereby supporting the needs of all learners. For example, the two standards listed above clearly demonstrate how students should know how to look up information using key words. Teachers could provide opportunities for students to meet these standards through library and internet related activities. One could also use web based student anthologies to look up key words while reading a story. All of these methods represent differentiation instruction through the incorporation of technology.

Week Two Assessments Overview

Always review the complete instructions for each assessment on the week’s homepage in addition to viewing this additional guidance.

Discussion 1 – Common Core State Standards

In part one of  this discussion, you summarize your understanding of the foundation of the CCSS (Math and English Arts) and evaluate how CCSS (Math and English Language arts) can be used to influence the use of technology-enhanced differentiated instructional strategies to support the needs of all learners. You will also attach a link to your Folio and reflect on your redesign activity from the Week One assignment. Think about how the incorporation of technology is used to enhance instruction. All too often technology is an afterthought when creating lessons. Connect the idea of how can you intertwine technology to ensure that the needs of diverse learners are being met. Part two of the discussion you will provide a link to your Folio and a one paragraph reflection about your experiences with the redesign assignment from Week One.

Assignment – 21st Century Skills & Standards

This assignment requires you to think about 21st Century Support Systems, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and International Society for Technology in Education Student (ISTE-S) Standards and their relationship with quality instructional planning, delivery, and learner achievement. In this assignment set up the case for why the redesign meets the relationships between instruction planning, delivery and learner achievement. As well, discuss what you are teaching in the lesson plan or curriculum project and how it aligns to the components of 21st Century Support Systems, CCSS and ISTE-S.

 

References

Common Core State Standards Initiative (2012). Read the common core standards: The standards (Links to an external site.) .  Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RL/3       

DC Public Schools (2012, Nov 2) Three-min video explaining the common core state standards (Links to an external site.) . [Video file] Retrieved from http://youtu.be/5s0rRk9sER0

Professional Educators Association (n.d.) ELA and literacy (Links to an external site.). [Video file] Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHo0jg6FwjI#action=share

Shah, R. (2015, Jan 6). Common core math explained (Links to an external site.). [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/X_CK1e0Lmxw