Look Backward and Downward to Merge High School and Postsecondary Success

Using State Math Standards to Identify the Skills for Quality Transition Presented by: Alice Davis, Director, Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center James Gregory, Director Northern Tier Tech Prep Consortium Daniel Perna, Ed.D., James Daniel and Associates

Academic Standards and Technical Task Expectations Need to use academics as part of learning technology. Need to use academics as part of learning technology. Technology requires higher level thinking and application of academic principles. Technology requires higher level thinking and application of academic principles. Academics can be learned through contextualization. Academics can be learned through contextualization.

Hands on learning IS NOT hands on learning

Learning can be Brain to Hand Hand to Brain

What was the problem? Students have good grades in high school, but they are not passing college placement tests. WHY?

Questions to answer Do high school grades correlate with freshmen year performance? Do high school grades correlate with freshmen year performance? Do teachers cover a textbook or focus on achievement of standards? Do teachers cover a textbook or focus on achievement of standards? Do textbooks seek achievement of standards or list standards as corollary concepts found in text? Do textbooks seek achievement of standards or list standards as corollary concepts found in text? Have academic teachers viewed a task list or have they viewed standards? Have academic teachers viewed a task list or have they viewed standards?

What did we hear and think? If standards are the focus of instruction and learning, the students should be going to college with consistent background. What could be reason that students are not prepared for college material?

What could be possible solution? The standards must be clearly merged with scope and sequence courses that lead to college entrance. How?

Discussion 1. How do we merge the standards, high school courses, and college courses? 2. What information do we need to make this merger? 3. Can we get people from all levels to the table?

Starting the process 1. Focus on an articulation of PA academic standards. 2. Use an outside consultant to bring the players in the process together. 3. Collect college course descriptions.

Design For Success In The 21 st Century. Which Way?

The research says there is only one way to go

The Process 1. Find the course descriptions or syllabi from the post secondary institution. 2. Review the course descriptions or syllabi for key words and terms. 3. Discuss with teachers of the subjects. 4. Use the backward design (design down) concept to define standards.

Stage One

Models of the Concept

Models English, Math, Anatomy and Physiology English, Math, Anatomy and Physiology Tools Used: Verb Matrix, Concept of Criterion Standards Tools Used: Verb Matrix, Concept of Criterion Standards

Stage Two

Where Did We Go Next? Massaged these documents. Massaged these documents. Presented to guidance counselors: Presented to guidance counselors: They need supportive evidence to show instructors, students, parents.They need supportive evidence to show instructors, students, parents. Introduced to administrators: Introduced to administrators: Determine if there is a way to implement the standards competency model. Determine if there is a way to implement the standards competency model.

Consensus of needs in Math Teachers need to see this. Teachers need to see this. Teachers from sending schools must talk with technical teachers. Teachers from sending schools must talk with technical teachers. Teachers must develop the classroom application of the standards model. Teachers must develop the classroom application of the standards model.

Classroom Application Develop Units of Instruction Develop Units of Instruction Use standards as the frame of reference for Units of Instruction. Use standards as the frame of reference for Units of Instruction. Focus standardsFocus standards Supportive performancesSupportive performances Derive units for each college entry course. Derive units for each college entry course.

Next Stages Work with Language Arts Work with Language Arts Work with Science Work with Science Review applications of the units in the classroom Review applications of the units in the classroom Massage and refine Massage and refine

Questions and Comments

Mrs. Alice Davis, Administrative Director, Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, Mr. James Gregory, Director of Northern Tier Tech Prep Consortium, Dr. Daniel Perna, James Daniel & Associates and Wilkes University,