Posted by: Barbara Nye Posted on: May 23, 2001 at 5:00 PM Message: Dean, this is a really tough question. Teachers and PD personel brought multiple meanings to the words standards based. Right now the new school board thinks that this means meeting the standards of a test. WE attempted to involve some experts in brain research, curriculum, and assessment as well as our selves grappling with developing a common vocabulary. WE used the research at PD sessions and examples of student work to have conversations about standards. Then, we used the national standards and examined our curriculum through an inquiry process to try to get a common definition. Only last week, 5 years into the project, a teacher said I am just now understanding how standards-based links to curriculum and PD. So we are on the journey of understanding. In terms of our assessment, we have tried to use it as a driver of reform by relating objectives to the curriculum and looking at student's work to determine if the student could respond to the objective. WE have not done as much of that perhaps as needed. WE began by defining our beliefs about what children should know and be able to do. The first thing that we agreed on was we need to focus on learning, not teaching and schooling. That led to examining how the curriculum facilitated learning and what the role of the teacher needed to be. When we started to get the focus on learning, then people began to understand inquiry (which may be done in different ways), then teaching strategies became more appropriate. Also, we had to become focused on learning concepts not focused on activities and cute strategies. The greatest difficulty I have seen as a PI is people staying the course to focus on learning versus teaching/schooling. In terms of inquiry, I do think standards-based relates to inquiry. Standards-based to me means that learners have a deep or deeper understanding of content and concepts (approaching X standard)and can apply their knowledge or reflect on it in meaningful ways, therein lies the inquiry. One can not learn through inquiry if one is not able to apply their knowledge and if it is not deeper as a result of a learning experience. This movement through an inquiry process (investigative process)develops one's thinking toward some standard of knowledge. Wow what a tough question. I would really be interested in hearing your comments about the question you asked to me. You obviously have throught about it at a deep level.