Standards Based Assessment Project

This project was developed over the course of several weeks during the Standards-Based Assessment class. While it speaks to a number of different standards, T1 is specifically demonstrated throughout this project. Standard T1 shows that the work is “informed by standards-based assessment (analysis using formative, summative, and self-assessment.)” This project is based on the “Causes of Conflict CBA” for high school history from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. I spent a great deal of time researching both the CBA and different standards for the social studies as I started planning this project. Another helpful document in this process was the recommended rubric attached to the above-mentioned CBA; this helped me to plan out specifically what I expected of students. One of the important ideas that I kept in mind throughout this planning was the fact that I wanted to allow students the opportunity to do sufficient research for the project while giving them the tools to succeed. By giving students specific criteria, including a detailed rubric, they know exactly what to expect and know what they need to do to succeed. Not only is this project informed by standards-based assessments, but it was very intentionally planned in that the standards were deliberately chosen to help students create their own project and aligns with several state social studies EALRs.

Conflict in Africa – Classroom Based Assessment

Unit Plan

The attached documents are a unit plan written for an eighth grade social studies classroom. Studying indistrialization, urbanization, and immigration  is an important part of United States history, and this unit was designed to give students important information while encouraging them to make personal connections and think critically. The first document is the unit plan, which includes Desired Results, Assessment Evidence, and a Learning Plan. The second includes several corresponding lesson plans that include more detail about the specific lessons.

This unit plan was created using a backwards planning method, which we learned about in General Teaching Methods (EDU 6135) through our text, Understanding by Design. I started my planning with establishing clear objectives and defining the unit’s essential questions and enduring understandings. I then proceeded to create more detailed performance tasks and lesson plans.

Approval Standard S2 is “aligned with curriculum standards and outcomes,” focusing on “student learning targets and progresses to meet them.” My preparation of this unit plan demonstrates my competency in this area in that, first and foremost, I constructed this unit plan with specific standards and goals in mind. I chose several assessments and skills that students would know and be able to do by the end of the unit, and I create daily lesson plans to help accomplish that goal.

Unit Plan Part 1

Unit Plan Part 2