Download Contextual Factors

Contextual
Factors
Educ 3100
Contextual Factors
• Everything but the teaching process
that influences the teaching process.
– Student characteristics
– Materials and supplies
– Physical environment
– Teacher and Classroom
– Collegiality
– Administration
– Political mandates
Student Characteristics
• Physical, emotional, and social
development
• Exceptionality
• Language barriers
• Home effects
– Income
– Parent availability
– Family turmoil
• Relationships
Materials and Supplies
• Textbooks
• Maps
• Paper
• Technology
• Art supplies
• Manipulatives
• What else?
Physical Environment
• Space
• Air quality
• Temperature
• Noise level
• Location
• Distracting materials
• . . . . .?
Teacher and Classroom
• Helpful
• Willing to work with students and
parents
• Likes kids
• Invigorated about subject matter
• Inspiring
• Interesting but organized classroom
Collegiality
• Community of learners?
• Competition
• School goals
• Common purpose
• Kindness and helpful
• ....?
Administration
• Collaborative or authoritarian
• Hidden administration
• Formative
• Common goals
• Fair
• Focused on students
School Level Information
• Most districts have school
information posted at their web site
• Generally, web sites follow a
standard:
– www.<district>.k12.ut.us
• Examples:
– www.davis.k12.ut.us
Political Mandates
• U-PASS
– Utah Performance Assessment System
for Students
– Requires LOTS of testing
• CRTs at each grade and subject
• NRTs at 3, 5, 8, 11
• Direct Writing at 6 & 9
• BSCT beginning at 10
– Requires LOTS of reporting
Political Mandates
• NCLB
– Not new: Reauthorization of Elementary
And Secondary Education Act of 1965
– All children will
• Be proficient in language arts and
mathematics
• Be proficient in the English language
• Be taught by highly qualified teachers
• Learn in a safe and drug free school
• Graduate from high school
– Uses existing tests for students
– New demands of teachers
Political Mandates
• And if not . . .
– Failure to make AYP – Annual Yearly
Progress (Title 1 School)
– 1st year – warning
– 2nd year in a row (same subject)
• In need of improvement, offer school choice
– 3rd year
• Supplemental services
– 6th failing year – alternative governance
For next class
• Look at the websites listed on the
website under Objectives
• Print out the three Bloom’s handouts
from the website.