MISIC Science Gap Analysis Project
Updates and Timeline
Actions and Key Findings
People and Resources
Web Links

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Welcome!

Most Current Update of the MISIC Science Standards/Benchmarks, 3/4/08

1) The Team has completed their response to the document that compared the Iowa Model Core Curriculum (Gap Analysis Results on the Extraction/Consensus Table) to the MISIC Standards and Benchmarks (9-12). The responses range from creating a new benchmark to make sure the MISIC standards include the content of the Iowa Model Core to merely noting that terms used in the MISIC Standards and Benchmarks were synomyous with the Iowa Model Core's terms.  In other cases where gaps were thought to exist, the content was found in the Des Cartes descriptors. 

To Find It: The completed alignment document can be found on the Member's Documents link on the MISIC home page. Use the navigation bar on the left side of this page, click on People and Resources and scroll down to "Completed Gap Analysis Results on the Extraction/Consensus Table" and follow the directions.


2) The Team has completed the necessary revisions to the 9-12 MISIC Science Standards and Benchmarks and posted them on the MISIC home page.

To Find It: The revised 9-12 MISIC Science Standards and Benchmarks can be found on the Member's Documents link on the MISIC home page. Use the navigation bar on the left side of this page, click on People and Resources and scroll down to "MISIC Science Standards/Benchmarks by HS Course, (9-12)" and follow the directions.

3) The Team has completed a tool that a district's 9-12 teachers could use to do a comparison of the district standards and benchmarks with MISIC's.

To Find It: The revised 9-12 MISIC Science Standards and Benchmarks can be found on the Member's Documents link on the MISIC home page. Use the navigation bar on the left side of this page, click on People and Resources and scroll down to "Text Ready Table for Comparison of Local S-B and MISIC Science S-B ('08)" and follow the directions.

4) The Team is nearly completed with the process of re-creating the descriptors that accompany the MISIC science standards and benchmarks (9-12), that were lost during the electronic transfer from our original internet provider to Eclipse.  The Team has targeted the end of April for that work to be completed.

5) The Team has concurrently been working on writing 'essential questions' that will accompany the descriptions.  No target date has been determined as of yet for that part of the work.

If you have any questions, please email Nancy Lockett, nlockett@aea267.k12.ia.us, MISIC Science Ladder Leaders Project Chairperson.


Background in a Nutshell: Historical Timeline of MISIC Science S/B
 
1999 --Drafted MISIC Science Standards and Benchmarks
MISIC member schools' teachers drafted science standards and benchmarks (charter members of Mid Iowa Schools Consortium)
2001- Revised MISIC Science Standards and Benchmarks
2004- Wrote Science Test Items
MISIC member schools' teachers assisted NWEA Science consultants in drafting additional test items.  About 50+ MISIC schools' teachers were given training on designing quality test items.
2006- Designed the first MISIC Ladder Resources for Science
MISC member schools' teachers (40+), worked to break down the Des Cartes skills to align with MISIC standards and benchmarks and link that work with teacher tips, web sites, lessons, graphic organizers, etc.  For a full history of this work, click on, http://nancy.iowapages.org/misicscienceladderproject/ . Originally, the Ladders Work was supported by a single individual's web resource, but due to a variety of circumstances from illness to web capacity, the work was moved to a company web site (Eclipse).  During the move, the content suffered, some was lost and some was altered.  Before the Gap Analysis work could proceed, some of these problems had to be addressed. 
2007- Conducted MISIC's Response to the Gap Analysis with Iowa Model Core Curriculum (Science: Extraction & Consensus Document)
Science content specialists from participating AEAs and LEAs worked to answer the question, "What's MISIC is take on the alignment study conducted at MISIC's request by alignment experts and ICC writers that would provide useful information to MISIC member school leaders?"
2008- Updating the Science Ladders, a work currently in progress...
Make available most current edition of MISIC science curriculum, add/redo Des Cartes descriptors on the Ladders site, add essential questions, descriptions and teaching resources.