The Making of Georgia Standards

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The Making of Georgia Standards

• Academic Standards
• for
• Technology Education

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• Since technological issues and problems have more
  than one available solution, decision making
  should reflect the values of the people and help
  them reach their goals.

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• Such decision making depends upon all citizens
  acquiring a basic level of technological literacy
  - the ability to use, manage, and understand
  technology.
• A Rationale and Structure for the Study of
  Technology

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• The Standards for Technology Education Content
  for the Study of Technology (Content Standards)
  provides a coherent vision for what it means to
  be technologically literate.

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• The Content Standards represent a national
  consensus and will be a catalyst for change,
  bringing technological studies to the forefront
  of the educational reform movement.
• Technology for All Americans

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What are Academic Standards?

• Academic standards specify
• what students should know and be able to do
• what students may be asked to provide to show
  evidence of knowledge
• what level of performance are expected from
  students

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Academic Standards Include

• Content Standards
• what students should know and be able to do
• Performance Standards
• how students will show that they are meeting a
  standard
• Proficiency Standards
• how well students must perform

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Why are Academic Standards Necessary?

• Standards serve as rigorous goals for teaching
  and learning.
• High standards enables students, parents,
  educators, and citizens to know what students
  should have learned at a given point in time.

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Why are State-Level Academic Standards Important?

• Public education is a state responsibility
• State superintendent and legislature must ensure
  that all children have equal access to high
  education standards
• Academic standards form a sound basis on which to
  establish the content of a statewide assessment
  system

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Why does Georgia Need its Own Academic Standards?

• While educational needs may be similar among
  states, values differ
• Standards should reflect the collective values of
  the citizens and be tailored to prepare young
  people for economic opportunities that exist in
  Georgia, the nation, and the world

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How Were the Standards Developed?

• Analysis of professional literature, existing
  state curriculum goals, national standards, and
  various standards documents from other states
• Two Focus Group meetings were conducted to
  ascertain standards recommendations

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• Development of Academic Standards Survey
  Instrument
• analysis of Focus Group recommendations
• instrument developed
• pilot testing of instrument
• Survey of technology educators in GA
• survey sent to total TE population 549
• Analysis of returned surveys 139
• identifying content performance standards

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The Results

• 4 Content Standards Identified
• 5 Performance Standards for each level
  (Elementary, Middle, High) identified under each
  Content Standard (see hand out)

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Where Do We Go From Here?

• Teacher Needs
• examples of instructional activities that would
  meet state standards
• teacher workshops on impacts of standards
• Evaluation Criteria
• specific criteria for evaluating TE programs
• identification of exemplary TE programs
• justification of quality programs for future
  state funding

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Questions

• And Maybe Answers