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During 2006, the Iowa Department of Education enlisted the talents of science specialists
from Iowa universities/colleges, AEAs, and school districts to assist in articulating and disseminating what a model core
high school science curriculum should include. School
districts were asked to review their local science curriculum using the Iowa Core Curriculum as a reference point, to
provide assurance to staff members, school board members, administrators, students and parents that a quality science
program was being provided. Since
many MISIC member schools had either adopted or modified MISIC's Curriculum Standards and Benchmarks, MISIC leaders felt
the need to request an alignment study be conducted. The process would identify gaps that might exist between the Iowa
Core Curriculum and the MISIC Standards and Benchmarks. This work was to be done by non-MISIC people. MISIC's interest
in doing this was to provide all member schools a resource from which to start their own science curriculum review. A group
was convened and created a document entitled Iowa Core Curriculum- Science Extraction and Consensus Table. That document
was sent to MISIC leaders in October, 2007. MISIC leaders then organized a small group of AEA and LEA science specialists to review the document
and address the gaps that had been identified. This group was referred to as MISIC Science Ladder Leaders.
The gap analysis work would be the first of many tasks requested of this group. At their first meeting in November, 2007 the Science Ladder Leaders developed a series of steps to
guide their work in providing 'proof' of the quality of the MISIC high school science standards and benchmarks
and making 'improvements' if necessary. Step 1. Become familiar with three documents - Extraction/Consensus Document
- MISIC's 7th-12th
Grade Science Standards and Benchmarks
- Iowa Model
Core Science Curriculum
Step 2. Look for the gaps (blanks cells) on the Extraction/Consensus document... Make a decision--
agree/disagree? Step 3. Ask, 'Is the gap
a result of something... a. included in the 7th/8th benchmarks,
but not in 9th-12th, if so, note it." b. included
in the description of the MISIC benchmark, if so, note it."
c. included in the RIT descriptors on the Ladders site, if so, note it." d.
if it was not found to be included in any of the above locations, then make a decision to either edit a current MISIC benchmark
to include it or write a new benchmark to be added and note it." Step 4. Create a summary of the findings and finalize the Science Extraction and Censensus Table,
make copies available to MISIC members at the next Regional General Meetings (Feb. 2008) and create a link on the MISIC
web site for future use by districts. Key Findings - It is worth
noting that the Iowa Core Curriculum - Science Extraction and Consensus table given to the MISIC leaders for the
Gap Analysis work was the result of an exact word match, not a concept match. Therefore, when the team used synonyms
and/or concepts there were fewer gaps than had been initially reported to MISIC Members.
- There were 30+ MISIC benchmarks not idenitied by
the DE Alignment. Several may be accounted for due to the level of specificity of the MISIC benchmarks rather than additional
content. An example would be, "knows that throughout the rock cycle the total amount of materials stays the same
as its form changes" or " uses mass-mole relationship in calculations.
- In general terms, as the gap analysis work proceeded, the
Ladders group sensed that the areas of Scientific Inquiry that references to student
skills in conducting a scientific argument maybe in the MISIC Lang Arts Standards and Benchmarks but that it
may also be included in the Science S/B to make sure it's not overlooked. As well, the Ladder Leaders suggest that teachers
may want to updating what they want students to know and be able to do in regards to DNA, genetic coding
and bioinformat, in the Life Science. And, nuclear forces, organic chemical reactions and
biochemical reactions in the Physcial Science area. Of all of the major areas in the Iowa Core Curriculum,
MISIC's Earth and Space had the most consistent expectations for essential topics and key concepts.
- The Iowa Model Core Curriculum resources contains
much more than the list of Essential Topics used for the Extraction and Consensus Table. To give a few examples,
it contains tips on organizing work teams, overviews of research supported best practices in delivering quality curriculum,
and even samples of 'D quaderant' work for students. It brings together in one place best practice in teaching,
curriculum and assessment design, as well as summarizes the current status of such things as the economy and work place needs. Check
it out. http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/674/1023/. You may also want to watch a Podcast about the Iowa Model Core Curriculum that is available at
http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/category/27/639/1157/, a more detailed description of this resource is provided on Web Links page.
- The Team discovered a web site that was linked to
the DE web site that articulated and described the essence of the Core Curriculum's Essential Topics. Science teachers
might greatly appreciate the opportunity to check out the site. http://www.iowamodelcore.org/content/Science, click on 'Earth and Space', 'Life Science' or 'Physical Science'
in the left hand navigation bar, then on 'details'.
- It might be worth noting that the DE has organized a group of science specialists to address issues
about whether the Iowa Core Curriculum should be expected of all students. The original group that authored the Iowa Model
Core Science Curriculum, have regrouped and are making modifications to their original document and are currently circulating
drafts to science specialists aroung the state for review. We'll let you know when that work is finalized.
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