MED 703 - Teaching and Learning K-12 Mathematics
Standards & Assessment
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
(1.1) Review NCTM standards for middle school math.
(1.2) Review Colorado State standards for middle school math: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/documents/OSA/k12_standards.html
(1.3) Review Colorado State Assessment specifications for middle school math CSAP Assessment Frameworks ALSO see Released CSAP math items.
(1.4) In class: Begin aligning (1.2) and (1.3) to (1.1).
(1.5) In class: Choose 5 released CSAP items, DO THE ITEMS, and discuss how to assign Depth of Knowledge rating [.doc file] and how to align the items from CSAP to (1.1), (1.2), &/or (1.3).

HOMEWORK:
(a) Spend at least 2 hours continuing to work on (1.4) and (1.5) before class on Thursday.
(b) Read Beck, M. D. (2007). Review and other views: ``Alignment'' as a psychometric issue. Applied Measurement in Education, 20(1), 127-135.

Thursday, 28 August 2008
(2.1) Review Tennessee state standards for middle school math: http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/curriculum.shtml
(2.2) Review Tennessee Assessment specifications for middle school math, 8th grade, (TCAP): http://www.state.tn.us/education/assessment/tsachitems.shtml ALSO, for items, see Item Samplers and Practice Tests.
(2.3) In class: Discuss work/homework from Aug 26 (up to 20 minutes); begin aligning 5 middle school items from CSAP and 5 middle school items from TCAP to (2.1) & (2.2).

HOMEWORK: By the time class meets on Tuesday, September 2:

  • complete tasks (1.4) and (1.5) from Aug 26
  • complete task (2.3) from Aug 28
  • choose and read one full article from the special issue of Applied Measurement in Education, 20(1), on Alignment Methodologies -- this is the issue that Beck's (2007) commentary covered. Note, this journal is available electronically through the UNC library, EBSCO Host.
  • in preparation for class, review material in tasks (3.1) and (3.2) (see below).
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
(3.1) Review Hawai'i state standards for middle school math:
      (a)General Learner Outcomes (GLO) Rubrics
      (b)Grade 8 Math Content Standards
      (c)Benchmark map - Generate a Quick Report for Math, Grade 8.
(3.2) Review Hawai'i Assessment specifications for middle school math: http://standardstoolkit.k12.hi.us/index.html -- NOTE: use dropdown menus to choose Math, Grade 8, All (Benchmark, Samples, Rubric); then click Submit.
(3.3) In class: Discussion comparing and contrasting the states' content standards, assessment standards, assessment instrumentation and processes. This discussion is informed by the articles from the special issue on Alignment Methodologies of Applied Measurement in Education.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
(4.1) Write a report of 4000 to 7000 words, with illustrative test items, tables, and graphs, that explains the similarities and differences:
(a) among the standards for teaching and learning for NCTM, CO, HI, TN;
(b) among the Assessment specifications for CO, HI, TN;
(c) between (a) and (b).

Report is due ON PAPER to Dr. Hauk's box by noon, Monday, 8 September 2008. Suggested additional reading to inform your analysis: the English/Language Arts (ELA) standards for middle school for each state.

Tuesday, 9 September 2008
(5.1) In-class discussion of standards and assessment.
(5.2) In-class discussion of learning and teaching

HOMEWORK:
For discussion on Tuesday, 16 September, read Chapter 28 from Stanic, G. M. A., & Kilpatrick, J. (Eds.) (2003). A history of school mathematics, Vol.2 (pp. 1143-1164). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Thursday, 11 September 2008
(6.1) In-class discussion of alignment report format and task teams.
(6.2) In-class discussion of teacher education.

HOMEWORK:
Work on report to Colorado State Department of Education about the alignment of Grades 5-8 Colorado Model Content Standards in mathematics to standards from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Tennessee, and Hawai'i. Report due by noon on Thursday, 18 September 2008.