Exploring Alberta’s Curriculum

RedesignLakeland Catholic School Division

March 25, 2014

Presenter: Dan Nash

Why Change?

Session Goals1. Review the foundational understandings driving Alberta’s curriculum redesign process

2. Explore learner competencies defined in the Ministerial Order (#001/2013)

3. Introduce Alberta’s curriculum design model

4. Review resources for creating awareness of Curriculum redesign

5. Explore resources for moving from awareness to readiness

6. Inform of upcoming events to assist Districts prepare for curriculum redesign

Discussion Topics for today:Part 1: Foundational Understanding;• Inspiring Education and Alberta’s Ministerial Order on Student

Learning• SHIFTS: 3-2-1 Cross-Curricular Competencies • Understanding Alberta’s Curriculum Design Model

BREAK

Part 2: Updated Alberta Education Awareness Phase Resources• Alberta’s Curriculum Redesign – At a Glance• Curriculum Redesign Overview and Timeline• Curriculum Prototyping Overview and Timeline

Part 3: From Awareness to Readiness• Shifting: “To what extent will the Provincial Shifts affect our school and

school district?”• Research Base• Resources• In the works

Part 1:Foundational

UnderstandingsVideo

We are Inspiring Educationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ksQSAUkEM

Honourable Jeff Johnson, Minister of Education - Inspiring Education http://youtu.be/fe0KUSrMXeY

Andreas Schleicher - Strong performers and successful reformers http://www.youtube.com/watchv=OxFnmiDlXS4&list=PL_Z2seQOmf0ugHyJ7053MBhZZCInVfgpD&feature=share&index=1

Honourable John Manley, P.C., O.C., - Jobs, skills and opportunities http://youtu.be/R_ksxbaxNcg

Dr. Glenn Feltham - The Task Force for Teaching Excellence http://www.youtube.com/watch=H7LujQkkcF0&feature=share&list=PL_Z2seQOmf0ugHyJ7053MBhZZCInVfgpD&index=3

Print About

Curriculum Redesign

What's New Curriculum Redesig

n Update newsletters

Curriculum Development Prototyping

Student Learning Assessments

Research Communication Too

lkit

Alberta’s Curriculum Redesign – At a Glance

VISION – Engaged, Ethical, and Entrepreneurial citizens

VALUES – Opportunity, Fairness, Citizenship, Choice, Diversity, Excellence

POLICY SHIFTS- Focused on Education, Centered on the Learner, Building Competencies, Technology to support the Creation and Sharingof Knowledge

Minister Johnson: Backgrounder to Inspiring Education

CASS Inspiring Education Symposium, Calgary March 2014

GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EXCERPT FROM MINISTERIAL ORDER (#001/2013) The goal of this Student Learning Ministerial Order for an inclusive Kindergarten to Grade 12 education is to enable all students to achieve the following outcomes:

(1) be Engaged Thinkers and Ethical Citizens with an Entrepreneurial Spirit;

(2) strive for engagement and personal excellence in their learning journey;

(3) employ literacy and numeracy to construct and communicate meaning; and

(4) discover, develop and apply competencies across subject and discipline areas for learning, work and life to enable students to:

(a) know how to learn: to gain knowledge, understanding or skills through experience, study, and interaction with others; (b) think critically: conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate to construct knowledge; (c) identify and solve complex problems; (d) manage information: access, interpret, evaluate and use information effectively, efficiently, and ethically; (e) innovate: create, generate and apply new ideas or concepts; (f) create opportunities through play, imagination, reflection, negotiation, and competition, with an entrepreneurial spirit; (g) apply multiple literacies: reading, writing, mathematics, technology, languages, media, and personal finance; (h) demonstrate good communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others; (i) demonstrate global and cultural understanding, considering the economy and sustainable development; and (j) identify and apply career and life skills through personal growth and well-being

EXCERPT FROM MINISTERIAL ORDER (#001/2013 Cont…contined(Competencies)

Overview and Timeline

Why change?

What will change?

What are the competencies?

How will it change?

Timeline

Competencies 3-2-1

Cross-Curricular Competencies Overview

3. Create a 3 word description of the competency 2. Give 2 examples of this competency in a classroom 1. Share 1 new way you will try to incorporate this competency even more into student learning.

From our friends at Rockyview School District

Moving Competencies from Theory to Practice

Thanks to Golden Hills School Division

Part 2: Introducing Alberta’s

Curriculum Design Model

Eisner and Vallance (1974) Generally, as a process, curriculum development is concerned with reviewing, planning, developing, implementing, and maintaining curriculum”

.

Curriculum Development Over TimeProgressing… from Product to Process

Trends?

Modern Curriculum Development has taken on a wider scope because our society has become increasingly complex; causing an increased need for curriculum to cease being a static product, and become a living process capable of adjusting to constantly changing times by being in continual contact with a broad segments of our society and a globalized world

Considering Alberta’s Curriculum Development Model

It’s the nature of the beast!

The nature of modern Curriculum Development is… that it comes together in bits and pieces.

Alberta’s Curriculum Development Model

Curriculum Development Prototyping and Timeline

Curriculum Development Prototyping Deliverables

• K-12 Scope and Sequence for Subject/Discipline Areas

• Learning Outcomes• Assessment• Learning and Teaching

Resources• Graphic Organizer• Processes (formative

summary of prototyping process)

Prototyping Partners

• School Authorities

• Educational Organizations

• Business and Industry

• Post-Secondary Education

• FNMI

Prototyping

What is Curriculum Development Prototyping?

Why is Alberta Education using the prototyping approach? Who is involved in Curriculum Development Prototyping?

When will Curriculum Development Prototyping occur?

How will the work that is developed collaboratively with the prototyping partners be used?

If selected programs of study are approved in March 2016, does that mean that provincial implementation will take place in September 2016?

How can teachers be involved in Curriculum Development Prototyping and Curriculum Redesign?

I am a student at a high school where prototyping is occurring. How does this affect me? Will I still earn my diploma? Will prototyping affect my entrance into a post-secondary institution in Alberta or Canada?

What will Alberta Education do regarding subject/discipline areas not addressed in Curriculum Development Prototyping?

How does prototyping affect my school authorities participation in provincial assessments?

My child is attending a school a school involved in Curriculum Development Prototyping. How will this affect my child’s learning? What should I be aware of as a parent?

Curriculum Development Prototyping Overview Curriculum Development Prototyping Timeline Questions and AnswersCurriculum Development Prototyping GuidePrototyping Partners 

Prototyping Support Materials

Part 3: From Awareness to Readiness

Thinking Ahead:As an instructional leader, Consider how the “shifts” might impact your school community, and School Division? Placemat Activity1. Create groups and record your shift

Topic in the center of your placemat. 2. Silently read, consider and record your

own thoughts on your segment of the placemat

3. Share your thoughts with your group partners

4. Identify and record the two most critical emerging “Shift” opportunities and challenges emerging from your group’s discussion in the center of the placemat

5. Choose a reporter who will speak for your group.

http://education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/curriculum.aspx

Chapter 1: Curriculum Development Processes Chapter 2: Competencies Chapter 3: Ways of Knowing

Chapter 4: Breadth and Depth Chapter 5: Interdisciplinary Learning and Interdisciplinary Curriculum Chapter 6: Flexible Timing and Pacing in a Variety of Learning Environments Chapter 7: Responsive Curriculum for a Digital Age Chapter 8: Student-Centered/Personalized Learning

Chapter 9: Assessment

Alberta’s Curriculum Development Research Base

Great Resources

Ning: Inspired Learning.ca

http://learningnetworkcommunity.wikispaces.com/Alberta+Curriculum+Redesign

Wiki: LearningNetworkCommunity.wikispaces.com

1.  Standards and Guidelines2.  Competency Indicators3.  Numeracy and Literacy Benchmarks4.  Building Assessment Capacity Project5.  Exploring Implications of Curriculum Redesign

The entire group would be together for #1 and #5 and that there would be ‘break-out’ sessions for the others.

May 22, 2014St Paul Regional High School

Alberta Education Focus Groups: INVITATION

District

stakeholder

teams of

parents,

teachers, admin,

and trustees are

invited.

Student Learning Assessments (SLA)Learning Network is currently planning sessions to introduce the new Student learning Assessments (SLA) initiative.

There will be two sessions, one in the north and one in the south of Zone 2.

Dates and Location TBD.

Thank you for your time and energy today

leaving with the end in mind…

Thank you for your attention and participation.

Dan Nash,Program Coordinator      The Learning Network    1-780-842-8806 Dan's email: dannash07@gmail.comDan's Virtual Office:  http://tiny.cc/s10wjwwww.learning-network.org