Download ODE`s Glossary of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction Terms

ODE’s Glossary of
Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction Terms
Academic Content Standards
Statements of what students are expected to know and be able to do in particular
subjects and be able to do at specified grade levels. Academic Content Standards are
developed through the standards setting processes established in ORS 329.045. The
State Board of Education has adopted content standards for social sciences, the arts,
second languages, physical education, and health education, and grade-level standards
in English language arts, science, and mathematics.
Alignment
The process of linking assessment, instruction, and instructional materials to content
and achievement standards.
Benchmark Standards
A specific statement of knowledge and skills to be demonstrated at the end of a
specified grade or range of grades. In social sciences, the arts, physical education and
health education, a student’s progress can be checked at or about grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.
Career Related Learning Standards
(CRLS)
Fundamental skills essential for success in employment, college, family, and community
life. They include: personal management, communication, problem solving, teamwork,
employment foundations, and career development.
CRLS will transition to Essential Skills in 2012.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2097Common Core State Standards
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are sets of student learning expectations
developed through a collaborative, state-led process. The standards were created by
writing teams consisting of representatives from higher education, content experts,
researchers, national organizations, classroom teachers and community groups. They
are informed by national and international content standards models and are designed
to provide consistent benchmarks for all students, regardless of which state they live in.
Common Curriculum Goals (CCGs)
Broad goal statements that describe the knowledge and skills expected of all students as
a result of their educational experience in Oregon schools from kindergarten through
grade 12. The Common Curriculum Goals include the academic content standards. This
term is currently used in the content areas that have not been revised using the core
standards structure.
Core Academic Subjects
The core academic subjects include English, reading or language arts, mathematics,
science, second language, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and
geography.
Core Standards Structure
A small, focused, coherent set of core standards and supporting content standards at
each grade level. Core standards provide the major concepts that are the primary focus
of teaching and learning at each grade. Underneath each of these core standards are
content standards, which provide the details necessary for curriculum and assessment.
The core standards structure emphasizes key ideas that are of value for students over
the long-term, across the curriculum, and for success in school, work, and life.
Credit for Proficiency
Proficiency-based Teaching and Learning
Units or part units of required and elective graduation credit awarded to students who
demonstrate proficiency or mastery of recognized standards through sufficient and
appropriate assessment evidence. Students may demonstrate proficiency inside the
traditional classroom, outside of the traditional classroom where hours of instruction
may vary, through documentation of prior learning, by appropriate examination, or by
any combination thereof.
Proficiency: Demonstrated knowledge and skills that meet or exceed defined levels of
performance
Recognized standards: state content standards and essential skills, locally identified,
industry-based or other national or international knowledge and skill statements
Sufficient and appropriate assessment evidence: quantity and quality of student work
which demonstrates what students know and are able to do (e.g., tests, work samples,
projects, daily assignment, etc.)
Criterion- Referenced Assessment An assessment that uses specific criteria, such as
achievement standards, as the measure for student knowledge and skills. It measures an
individual’s performance relative to specific criteria (i.e. achievement descriptors in
OAKS).
Curriculum
Planned course of study aligned to the state academic content standards adopted by
the State Board of Education. In Oregon curriculum is determined, by law, at the local
level. (ORS 329.045, OAR 581-022-1210)
Cut Scores
The minimum scores associated with achievement standards established by Oregon
educators and other stakeholders and adopted by the State Board of Education that
mark where Oregonians believe a critical difference in levels of performance is
demonstrated. These scores must be reviewed when content standards or test
specifications are changed.
Eligible Content
Statements related to the content standards that are eligible for inclusion in the
statewide knowledge and skills assessment. The eligible content in science and social
sciences is italicized. Note: Eligible content is only indicated in the content standards for
science and social sciences, which have not been revised using the grade-level or core
standards structure.
Essential Skills
Process skills that cross academic disciplines and are embedded in the content
standards. The skills are not content specific and can be applied in a variety of courses,
subjects, and settings. The Essential Skills include reading, writing, listening and
speaking, applying mathematics, thinking critically and analytically, using technology,
civic and community engagement, global literacy, personal management, and
teamwork.
Formative Assessment
A type of classroom assessment used by teachers to help guide instruction by
highlighting a student’s academic strengths and weaknesses. Formative assessment is
referred to as “assessment for learning” rather than “assessment of learning.”
Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS)
Official name for Oregon’s statewide Knowledge and Skills Tests in Reading/Literature,
Mathematics, Science, and Social Sciences. OAKS also includes performance assessment
in Writing Proficiency. OAKS provides comparable testing to students through online,
Braille, and extended formats. Online resources provide enhanced resources for
students with special needs (such as large print, print option, and varying background
colors). Operational use of OAKS informs decisions based on students’ test scores.
Personalized Learning
Processes schools develop to help each and every student create and pursue an
increasingly clear purpose for learning. A personalized learning environment helps
students assess their own talents and aspirations, plan a pathway toward their own
goals, demonstrate learning against clear standards, and maintain a record of their
accomplishments all with the support of adult mentors and guides.
Proficiency
Demonstrated knowledge and skills which meet or exceed defined levels of
performance. Proficiency can be measured through statewide assessments and/or
classroom evidence or other identified equivalent work. Districts must have identified
proficiency levels for each learning option that is clearly reflective of state, local, or
national criteria.
Standards-based
Curriculum and instruction that targets required student knowledge and skills as
reflected in local, state, national, international or industry standards.
Summative Assessment
A type of assessment, such as the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS)
and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), that generally occurs after
a period of instruction as a measure of learning; often referred to as “assessment of
learning” rather than “assessment for learning.”
Work Sample
Representative samples of individual student work, research papers, statistical
experiments, or speaking presentations that are scored using official state scoring
guides in those subjects for which one has been adopted (i.e., writing, speaking,
mathematical problem solving, scientific inquiry, and social science analysis). A student
work sample may be scored using any combination of scoring guides.
For the complete Glossary go to http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2412