Leading Change in Social Studies: TEKS and the 21st Century

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Leading Change in Social StudiesTEKS and the
21st Century

• George Rislov
• Director, Social Studies
• Division of Curriculum
• NCC- Continuing the Conversation
• San Antonio
• January 31, 2004

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Foreword

• . . . then a statement, somewhat in detail,
  of a course to be pursued, seemed fitting and
  proper. Now, at the expiation of. . . years,
  during which public declarations have been
  constantly called forth on every point and phase
  of the great contest which still absorbs the
  attention, and engrosses the energies of the
  profession, little that is new that could be
  presented. The progress of our arms, which upon
  all else chiefly depends, is as well know to
  you as to myself and it is, I trust,
  reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all.
  With high hope for the future, no prediction in
  regard to it is ventured.

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TAKS UpdateWinter 2004
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Phase-in of Panel Recommendation
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TAKS Primary Source Passages

• Some bracketed translation will be offered on the
  8th grade TAKS
• None will be offered on the 10th or 11th TAKS
  some contextual clues may be added in brackets
• A Reminder from the World History TEKS
• (26) Social studies skills. The student
  communicates in written, oral, and visual forms.
  The student is expected to
• (A) use social studies terminology correctly

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Example from Released 8th TAKSBracketed
Definitions

• With malice hatred toward none . . . with
  firmness in the right . . . Let us strive on to
  finish the work we are in, to bind up the
  nations wounds . . .

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Example from Released 11th TAKSBracketed Context

• We must protect not free thought for those who
  agree with us, but freedom for the thought that
  we hate.
• --Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes,
  Jr., 1929

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Released Tests

• HB 3459 reduced the frequency with which TEA can
  release TAKS tests
• For 2004, grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 will be released
• For 2005, grades 4, 6, 8, 10 will be released

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Where Have TAKS/NCLB Taken Us?

• Emphasis on Middle and HS programs
• 4 years of SS in the RHSP now required
• Benchmarking/ ongoing assessment
• Attention to special populations (NCLB)
• District scope and sequence
• Emphasis on programs rather than courses
• Vertical and lateral articulation
• Accountability, scrutiny

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Issue 1 with TAKS in Social Studies

• Scores were relatively high
• Social studies is mostly unaffected by the
  requirements of NCLB
• What happens to social studies when higher
  standards phase in?

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Group Performance Data
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Language Load-

• Refers to the linguistic complexity of test
  items. Some test items involve more English
  language demand than in other content areas.
• For all test takers, any test that employs
  language is, in part, a measure of their language
  skills.
• -Standards for Educational and Psychological
  Testing, 1999, p. 91

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Language Load includes

• Uncommon vocabulary
• Non-literal usage (idioms)
• Complex or atypical syntactic structure
• Uncommon genre
• Multi-clausal processing

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Will these terms, phrases, concepts be familiar
to 8th graders?

• Agricultural cooperatives
• Foreign investment
• Oligarchy
• Social contract
• Technological breakthroughs
• Factor

• Universal expansion
• Survival of the fittest
• Resumption
• Command economy
• Prohibition

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Will these terms, phrases, concepts be familiar
to 10th graders?

• Adjacent/adjoining
• Military occupation
• Political turmoil
• Beachhead
• Unalienable rights
• Fair compensation

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A Reminder from the World History TEKS(26)
Social studies skills. The student communicates
in written, oral, and visual forms. The student
is expected to (A) use social studies
terminology correctly
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Issue 2 With TAKS in Social Studies

• TAKS is taken at grades 8, 10, and 11
• All three have the same 5 objectives
• Objective 1 brings forward 8th grade content to
  high school- Early American history

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Issue 2 With TAKS in Social Studies

• Given that SOME review of 8th grade material
  will be appropriate for SOME students,
• How do we maintain the integrity of the other
  courses?

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Social Studies in the RHSP

• World Geography
• World History
• US History 1877-Present (yes, the PRESENT, not
  1960!!)
• Government
• Economics
• (no mandated sequence- but US History, WG, and
  WH are ALL assessed on TAKS)

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A Curriculum Issue or an Instructional Issue?
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We cant teach the 8th grade 4 times!
Then, simultaneously
First,
Teach the courses in a vertically articulated
sequence
Diagnose, using TAKS data and other measures of
prior year(s) performance
and
Intervene appropriately for at-risk students
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Solution(from the College Board)

• The state may want to promote the increase of
  social studies Vertical Teams and access to
  professional development for AP/pre-AP social
  studies teachers.

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Instructional Coherence

• Instructional coherence describes the
  relationship among curriculum, instruction,
  assessment, external mandates, and community
  context that teachers create and communicate to
  their students. In creating a coherent practice,
  the teacher intentionally brings these together
  with a focus on student learning to provide
  educational experiences that are clear, connected
  to each other, and worthwhile.

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Starting the VT Conversation

• Is there adequate social studies K-5 instruction
  in your district/feeder system?
• Is there a district-defined sequence of social
  studies courses at the high school level?

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The TEKS Way a 5-2-4 Orientation
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Next Steps

• Identify TEKS that are similar or identical
  across grade levels
• Establish performance benchmarks at each grade
  level
• Ensure that these benchmarks are met across the
  campus

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Next Steps

• Identify opportunities to reinforce/elaborate on
  8th grade TEKS eligible for assessment on TAKS in
  WG, WH, and the HS US History courses
• Establish performance benchmarks at each grade
  level
• Ensure that these benchmarks are met across the
  campus

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Example from World Geography

• 8.1 (B) The student is expected to apply absolute
  and relative chronology through the sequencing of
  significant individuals, events, and time periods

• WG2(A)The student is expected to describe the
  human and physical characteristics of the same
  place at different periods in history

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Example from World History

• 8. 4(A) The student is expected to analyze causes
  of the American Revolution, including
  mercantilism and British economic policies
  following the French and Indian War

• WH 8(A) The student is expected to identify
  causes and evaluate effects of major political
  revolutions of the 17th century, including the
  English, American, French, and Russian revolutions

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Cluster TEKS Strands, SEs
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Curriculum Process Management Model

• An undefined process cannot be measured
• An unmeasured process cannot be controlled
• An uncontrolled process cannot be improved
• Attempts to improve an unstable process yield
  further instability

Improve
Control
Measure
Define
Execute Process
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Optimizing Level
Managed Level
Defined Level
Improve Process Capability to Meet Curriculum
Goals
Repeatable Level
Initial Level
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Desired Curriculum Process Characteristics
Disciplined, low-risk process improvement with
predictable outcomes
Continuous Improvement based on processes already
mastered and in place mentoring new staff in the
processes and content
Level 5
LATERAL ARTICULATION AND PLANNING
A-B Unit C-D
A-B Unit C-D
A-B Unit C-D
A-B Unit C-D
Curriculum management for performance prediction
and objective decision making
IN
OUT
Level 4
Review benchmark data, prior yr. performance,
monitor and adjust, provide effective
intervention, EOY audit
VERTICAL ARTICULATION PERFORMANCE DATA
LATERAL ARTICULATION A-B-C-D
Process is standardized, supported, viable, well
understood, and used by the entire department
A-B Unit C-D
A-B Unit C-D
A-B Unit C-D
A-B Unit C-D
IN
OUT
Level 3
VERTICAL ARTICULATION
BENCHMARKS
Disciplined, reasonable series of activities with
benchmarks at the unit level- by some teachers
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Level 2
IN
OUT
BENCHMARKS
Amorphous process, not well understood. Some
teachers stand out, but even their processes are
ill-defined
out
Level 1 in
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Anticipating Change

• A History of the Future

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Four Trends Affecting Education

• Funding will become more limited
• The student population will grow and become more
  diverse
• Technology will continue to transform the
  workplace
• Tomorrows citizens will need and expect to
  engage in lifelong learning
• -Cetron and Cetron, Educational Leadership, Dec.
  2003/Jan 2004

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How do we respond?

• Specifically, what can Social Studies teachers do?

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Trend 1 Limited Funding

• This is new? ?
• Accomplish as much as possible on-line

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Trend 2 Student diversity

• Individualize instruction
• Flexible learning arrangements TAC 74.3
• Embed choice, collaboration, and performance into
  each unit of study- consistent with social
  studies skills strand and TEC 28.01

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Trend 3 Technology

• Texas eLearning Initiative
• Technology Immersion Pilot
• STAR Chart

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A technology immersed campus has been defined as
having the following characteristics

• Integrates evolving technologies that transform
  the teaching process by allowing for greater
  levels of interest, inquiry, analysis,
  collaboration, creativity, and content
  production
• Provides on-demand access for students to all
  appropriate technologies to complete activities
  that have been seamlessly integrated into all
  core curriculum areas
• Regular use of online diagnostic assessment
  instruments
• Promotes students to work collaboratively in
  communities of inquiry to propose, assess, and
  implement solutions to real world problems
• Ensures integration of appropriate technologies
  to maximize learning and teaching

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A technology immersed campus has been defined as
having the following characteristics

• Involves and educates the school community around
  issues of technology integration
• Creates communities of inquiry and knowledge
  building
• Anytime, anywhere learning available through a
  variety of delivery systems
• The campus technology plan is (1) actively
  supported by the local school board (2)
  collaboratively developed, guiding policy and
  practice and (3) updated at least annually
• Promotes the use of technology tools for
  administrators for planning and decision making
• Has dedicated campus-based technical support
• Has direct connectivity to the Internet in ALL
  rooms on the campus and
• Provides adequate bandwidth to each classroom
  over the local area network.

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Trend 4 Lifelong Learning

• K-16 Alignment
• Elements of 21st Century Learning

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6 Key Elements of 21st Century Learning

• Emphasize core subjects
• Emphasize learning skills
• Use 21st century tools to develop learning skills
• Teach and learn in a 21st century context
• Teach and learn 21st century content
• Use 21st century assessments that measure 21st
  century skills

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What Is 21st Century Content?

• Global Awareness
• Financial, Economic, and Business Literacy
• Civic Literacy

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Civic Literacy is

• Being and informed citizen to participate
  effectively in government
• Exercising the rights and obligations of
  citizenship at local, state, national, and global
  levels
• Understanding the local and global implications
  of civic decisions
• Applying 21st century skills to make intelligent
  choices as a citizen

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What Are 21st Century Skills?

• Thinking and Problem Solving
• Information and Communication
• Interpersonal and Self-Direction

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The illiterate of the 21st century will not be
those who cannot read and write, but those who
cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

• -Alvin Toffler

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Read Learning for the 21st Century at

• www.21stcenturyskills.org

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Now, lets look back on the old way again and
consider whether its relevant or even possible
in the new context
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The Old Way (?)
The student writes it/ reads it/ says it back
to the teacher
They read it in the textbook
and/or
The teacher says it/reads it to them
They are tested on it
They forget it after (and sometimes before!)
the test
On to the next thing
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The TEKS Way a 5-2-4 Orientation
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For assistance, contact
George Rislov Director, Social Studies TEA
Division of Curriculum 1701 N. Congress Austin
TX 78701-1494 512-463-9582 grislov_at_tea.state.tx.us