Proposed Revised PA Standards for Science & Technology Education
by admin on Nov.28, 2009, under Elementary Tech. Ed., PA Tech Ed News
For those of you who were unaware or unable to attend Judy Hawthorn’s Special Interest Session at this year’s TEAP Conference, the Pennsylvania Standards for Science and Technology Education have undergone a revision in the recent past. They are currently working through the approval process at the Pennsylvania Department of Education and are currently planned to be approved in January 2010 with implementation then occurring later in the Spring of 2010. You can view and download these documents here by clicking on the links below.
January 7th, 2010 on 3:10 pm
These revised standards are also found on the PED Standards Aligned System Portal (www.pdesas.org) which includes a Curriculum Framework. The Curriculum Framework specifies what is to be taught for each subject in the curriculum. In Pennsylvania, Curriculum Frameworks include Big Ideas, Concepts, Competencies, and Essential Questions aligned to Standards and Assessment Anchors and, where appropriate, Eligible Content.
Curriculum Framework Definitions:
• Big Ideas: Declarative statements that describe concepts that transcend grade levels. Big Ideas are essential to provide focus on specific content for all students.
• Concepts: Describe what students should know (key knowledge) as a result of this instruction specific to grade level.
• Competencies: Describe what students should be able to do, key skills, as a result of this instruction, specific to grade level.
• Essential Questions: Questions connected to the SAS framework and are specifically linked to the Big Ideas. They should frame student inquiry, promote critical thinking, and assist in learning transfer.
Technology and engineering is a part of the Standards Aligned System (SAS) and you should be aware of this. Also any district participating in the “Race to the Top†grant will have to utilize the SAS in their curriculum work.