Transcript Assessment Centeredness: Intelligent Tutor Systems

Texas Regional
Collaboratives for
Excellence in
Science Teaching
Annual Meeting
July, 2001
Promoting Excellence
Preparing Children
Chris Castillo-Comer
Director of Science
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Words to live by...
It is always darkest before… Daylight savings time.
A penny saved is… Not much!
Where there is smoke there is… Pollution!
If at first you don’t succeed... Get new batteries!
Better late than… Pregnant?
No news is... Impossible!
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What’s New?
• TAKS and Skills (2002: Science grade
5 (English and Spanish), grade 10, and
exit level grade 11--Accountability
System in 2004
 Certification changes by SBEC: master teacher
certification in technology and mathematics
 Legislation for Math Initiative, Retirement
changes, 1.24 Billion dollar health insurance
package, Repeal of retirement limitations,
Uniform school start date
 Graduation requirements: 3 years of science for
every Texas student (freshman class 2005)
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Why test science?
– In a society that increasingly involves science
and an understanding of scientific concepts and
processes, all citizens must have a common core
of learning in science to enrich their lives and
make informed decisions that will affect their
lives and our world.
– Science enhances:
 reading, mathematics,
language development,
problem solving and
critical thinking skills
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A Coherent System
of Teaching and Learning
Curriculum
Textbooks
Assessment
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Bracketed Items:
Elementary science test given at grade five:
Computers, critique, promotional materials,
cameras, sound recorders, hot plates
10th grade science assessment:
Critique, promotional materials
11th grade exit level science assessment:
 Mechanical Advantage
 Universal solvent
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Science can be proud of:
Higher Scores on Science TAAS
 Greater Physics Enrollment
 Increased AP Course completion
 Leadership in Science Safety
 Increased Funding for Professional Development in Science
 Forming NEW partnerships

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What you need to know
about TAKS
Learn about and teach the TEKS
understand unifying principles:
systems, models, etc.
integrate life, earth, and physical
science concepts
do vertical articulation maps to
ensure that students are provided
multiple opportunities to learn science
concepts in different contexts
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Not all TEKS are tested
but all the TEKS should be taught!
 Not
tested: 5.12(d) “identify gravity as the force
that keeps planets in orbit around the sun and
the moon in orbit around the earth”
 Tested:
5.12(a) “interpret how land forms are the
 result of a combination of constructive and
destructive forces such as deposition of sediment…..”
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What will TAKS look like?
– Items are multiple choice/ griddable /clusters
– Items incorporate reading and math skills
– Items are more challenging, tied to concepts and skills
– not a performance test but performance-linked
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What Are
[Bracketed]
Items?
“The student expectation has been presented in its
entirety for two reasons: to clarify the link to the curriculum
and to provide background information for test
items. However, bracketed text will not
be specifically tested on TAKS.”
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What do students need to learn?
– Students must do science!
– Students must learn the TEKS
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Elementary Science
TAKS
Textbooks and instructional materials are
only resources…the TEKS are the curriculum
framework
 Includes K-5 strand content: science will
need to be taught at each elementary grade to
ensure student success
 Time requirements: “teachers must have
enough time to teach the science TEKS and
students must have enough time to learn the
science TEKS”

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Grade 5 Science
TAKS









TAAS OBJECTIVES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
knowledge
& skills
Nature of science
Life science
Physical science
Earth science
Total
4
7
5
8
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student
expectations
10
15
12
17
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Bracketed items:
Computers, critique, promotional materials, cameras,
sound recorders, hot plates
“Such as” are only examples but “including” means that
these topics must be taught
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TAKS Elementary Science Test
Given at Grade Five

Not just a 5th grade science test: includes
TEKS from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades

Builds the foundation for Biology,
Chemistry, and Physics concepts tested in
TAKS 10th and the 11th grade exit level
TAKS in high school
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About Middle School Science...

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After spring 2002, there will not be an 8th grade science
assessment.
This does not mean that science at grades 6-8 is no longer
important! In fact, it will be even more important to
strengthen the the 6-8 program to ensure success at grade 10
and exit level grade 11 science assessments.
Middle school teachers must be aware of the middle school
science concepts and their connections to the TEKS tested at
grade 10 and exit level grade 11 assessments.
The strength of the 6-8 science program has a direct effect
on the student course selections.
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About the Grade 10 and Exit Level Grade
11 Science Assessments...

The grade 10 and grade 11 exit level science
assessments are based on the TEKS for
integrated physics and chemistry (IPC) and
biology.
 The grade 10 and exit level grade 11 science
assessments are not identical.
 The differences are slight and based on further
science instruction and the ability for more
mature critical thinking.
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Grade 10 Science
TAKS
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TAAS OBJECTIVES:
Science processes:
1. The nature of science
Science concepts:
2. Biological concepts
3. Biology--ecological concepts
4. IPC--chemistry concepts
5. IPC—physics concepts
• Total
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
KS's
SE’s
3
7
4
4
3
3
6
6
6
6
17
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4 student expectations are in 10th grade only:
Bio 6(D); IPC 7(E); IPC 5(A); and IPC 6(F)
Bracketed items: critique, promotional materials
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Science TAKS at Grade 10 and Exit
Level Grade 11 Will Include:

Calculator: use of a four-function calculator or a
calculator that is used with the mathematics portion of
TAKS
 Metric ruler: a metric ruler will be provided for metric
measurement
 Periodic table: students will be provided a periodic
table
 Formula chart: students will be provided a chart that
includes necessary formulas for TAKS
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Grade 11 Science
TAKS
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TAAS OBJECTIVES:
Science Processes:
1. The Nature of Science
Science Concepts:
2. Biology Concepts
3. Biology--Ecological Concepts
4. IPC--Chemistry Concepts
5. IPC—Physics Concepts
• Total


KS
SE
3
7
4
5
3
3
7
8
7
7
18
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The following concepts are in the grade 11 exit level science
TAKS only: 1 KS--Bio 9;
8 se’s—Bio 6(B); Bio 7(A); Bio 9(D) IPC 7(D); IPC 9(B); IPC
4(D); IPC 5(B); IPC 6(D) no bracketed items in grade 11
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The Burning Question:
What’s the Best Course Sequence for
Science?

Biology is now a required course for all students in
Texas.
 Students are required to take the IPC course or the
Chemistry and Physics courses.
 For all graduation plans, students are encouraged
to take the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
sequence by the State Board of Education.
 Students are urged to take four years of science.
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Chris Comer
The Progress of Education in Texas
To make schools more effective and efficient,
many school reforms have been introduced…
Teachers making decisions about what and
how to teach have more to consider…For
schooling to improve teachers must be able to
make sense of the reform ideas, bring them
together in a meaningful way and construct a
coherent practice.
Chris Ferguson, SEDL
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Science Professional Development

New!!! Texas Science Center for Professional Development
– Bridging to TAKS Institutes
– Trainer of Trainer Model
– Administrator Overview
– Presented in five sites: Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, Houston,
and San Antonio
– Products to prepare for TAKS: 3 new charts
CATS Project: Comprehensive Assessment Training in Science
Teacher as Leader Model
Administrator Symposia, Parent Nights, Presented in ten sites:
Corpus Christi, Edinburg, El Paso, Houston, Kilgore, Lubbock,
Richardson, San Angelo, San Antonio, an Waco
Products to prepare for TAKS: Lesson Templates, A Guide to the
TEKS, Texas Atlas for Science Literacy, and Coherent Assessment
techniques
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Science Professional Development

Dana Center Science Professional Development
– Science Teacher Toolkit
– Science Safety Training
– Texteams: Trainer of Trainer Mega-Vistas“Constancy
and Change” presented at three sites: Fort Worth,
Houston, and Austin
– Biology Institutes
– Products to prepare for TAKS: Facilities Handbook, 2
TEKS charts
– Leadership Academies: TASEL
EXEMPLARY PROJECT: Texas Regional Collaboratives
for Excellence in Science Teaching
High quality, sustained professional development and
Technology training in 20 sites around the state;
Providing Science Leaders throughout the state!
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Who To Contact:
• CENTER FOR
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND
ASSESSMENT
Anna McClane
713-744-6565
texassciencecenter.org
• CATS PROJECT
Joan Drennan-Taylor
210-208-8133
accd.edu
• DANA CENTER
Mary Jane Schott
Jim Collins
Vanessa Westbrook
512-471-6191
tenet.edu/teks/science
TEXAS REGIONAL COLLABORATIVES
FOR EXCELLENCE IN
SCIENCE TEACHING
Jim Barifaldi
Kamil Jbeilly
Joel Blasingame
512-471-9279
regcol.edb.utexas.edu
TEA SCIENCE
Chris Castillo-Comer
Director of Science
Irene Pickhardt
Asst.. Director of Science
512-463-9556
[email protected]
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