Developing a Common Exam Blueprint

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Developing a Common Exam Blueprint

• Fifth Grade Science Trial
• February 20, 2007

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Purpose

• To save individual districts time and energy by
  pooling our resources.
• To experiment with a possible format/template for
  curriculum documentation that is driven by
  standards and assessment.
• Create documents that are practical, usable, and
  teacher-friendly.

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Activities

• Background on the project
• Describe the process
• Pair up to create the 5th Grade Science blueprint
• Debrief
• Plan for the future

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Background

• State released the new standards last
  spring/summer
• Districts started revisions
• Regional professional development conference
  (Dec. 12)
• Regional curriculum meetings
• January 23, February 8

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What are our NEEDS?

• REAL
• PRACTICAL
• USABLE
• standards documents
• and ECAs

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But we also need to

• Maintain local autonomy
• Accommodate for a variety of different schedules
• Address various textbook differences
• Allow teachers flexibility to teach creatively,
  yet provide sufficient structure for new or
  struggling teachers.

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State Standards

• New Standards on Web Site
• Features
• Common structure of standards
• Standards consistent across grade levels
• Goals consistent
• Fairly specific objectives
• Content limits for ISAT

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Standards Format (5th Science)
Standard 1 Nature of Science Goal 1 Understand Systems, Order, and Organization Objective 1 Compare and contrast different systems. (603.01a)
Goal 2 Understand Concepts and Processes of Evidence, Models, and Explanations Objective 1 Use observations and data as evidence on which to base scientific explanations and predictions. (603.02a)
Objective 2 Explain the difference between observation and inference. (603.02.b)
Objective 3 Use models to explain or demonstrate a concept. (603.02.c)
Goal 3 Understand Constancy, Change, and Measurement Objective 1 Analyze changes that occur in and among systems (603.03.b)
Objective 2 Measure in both U.S. Customary and International System of Measurement (metric system)
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Standards Format (5th Science)
Standard 3 Biology Goal 1 Understand the Relationship between Matter and Energy in Living Systems Objective 1 Communicate how plants convert energy from the sun through photosynthesis. (608.01.a)
Goal 2 Understand the Cell is the Basis of Form and Function for All Living Things Objective 1 Compare and contrast the structural differences between plant and animal cells. (606.01.b)
Objective 2 Explain the concept that traits are passed from parents to offspring. (606.01.c)
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Now What?

• We have standards, with goals and objectives.
• How do we convert them into usable, testable
  items?

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The Process (Unpacking)

• Start with
• A table of specifications
• A list of instructional objectives
• Carefully analyze the objectives
• Identify a sample of the most important elements
  of knowledge understanding
• Create Propositions
• clearly stated sentences that reflect important
  elements of content and stipulate the kind of
  cognitive operation respondents must carry out.
  (Stiggins, p. 132)
• Develop test items. (Easy if you have good
  propositions)

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Writing Propositions
Objectives Propositions/Learning Statements Sample Test Items
Objective 1 Communicate how plants convert energy from the sun through photosynthesis. (608.01.a) Photosynthesis is the process
Objective 1 Compare and contrast the structural differences between plant and animal cells. (606.01.b) Plant cells
Animal cells
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Examples

• American Government
• Government Standards Alignment
• Final Exam Blueprint
• 100 Concepts PowerPoint

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Time to Practice
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Suggestions? Ideas?

• (positive)
• Made standards more teachable
• Dialogue between districts
• Consistency across districts
• More efficient
• Quick
• Locally created, more buy-in
• End result is useful for new teachers
• Usable format, easy to follow
• Lends itself to EECAs (easy ECAs)
• Leaves flexibility (not overkill)
• Helps set pacing, priorities

? (change) Involve more teachers,
stakeholders Need computers set up Have samples
of textbooks Process for editing ISAT
vocabulary Finalize layout Many content
areas/grades dont have content limits Can this
process, format, document work across grade
levels and content areas?
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Whats Next?

• Short Term (today)
• Finish Standard 1, review, edit, etc.
• Medium (by April 1)
• Posted on site
• Show your 5th grade teachers
• Send feedback to davidm_at_sd215.k12.id.us

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Whats Next?

• Long Term
• Talk to the State
• Continue work (summer?)
• Assign team leadership to different districts for
  different content areas?
• Provide credit