Best Practices Current Reality Standardized Test Prep Standardized

Best Practices Current Reality

Standardized Test Prep

Standardized Test Prep • Content separated into separate disciplines • Discrete steps delivered through lecture format • No time to apply skills to authentic activities

“Lots of brief lessons on multiple unrelated topics literally force shallow thinking. ” Richard Allington, Professor of Education

Students Struggle With: • Problem solving • Reading and following directions without support • Making connections to their world. • Inventing things for themselves, including games. • Finding different ways of doing things. • Lacking a road map for themselves with regard to their learning.

Solution Career Focus Expanded Worldview Critical Thinking Skills Interdisciplinary Curriculum Unit Context Based Cooperative Learning

Zapotec Trek Unit

Student Feedback You can learn a lot. It was fun and easy to use! The website was organized and clear. It had a lot of cool information. I had a good time learning about the culture!

Teacher Feedback • Organized and engaging • Website user-friendly and easy to navigate • Learning was embedded in technology with a lot of visual content. • Each lesson was different so the kids didn’t get bored. • Detailed and full of culture and history

Conclusion • Challenges • Impact • Acknowledgements

Questions?

Media Sources Tiamson-Saceda, R. (2010). Math Class. [Photograph]. Retrieved May 3, 2013 from http: //www. flickr. com/photos/usaid_images/6473477761/ Sessums, C. (2010). UF HHP Classroom Desks Desk Orange. [Photograph]. Retrieved May 3, 2013 from http: //www. flickr. com/photos/csessums/5009895781/ Muskopf, S. (2012). Standardized Test Close-Up. [Photograph]. Retrieved May 3, 2013 from ttp: //www. flickr. com/photos/40964293@N 07/7674804806/ Einalem. (2008). Monte Alban. [Photograph]. Retrieved May 3, 2013 from http: //www. flickr. com/photos/einalem/2189953874/