College Access Summit Curriculum Alignment Working Group A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP OF CENTRAL FLORIDA K-12 SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND UCF
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERS
History of Curriculum Alignment • Sponsored by UCF Regional Campuses, Undergraduate Studies, and Interdisciplinary Studies. • Started with a need to look at digital media – which lead to a Banner Center being awarded to Seminole State College. • The Chief Learning Officers of the consortium colleges saw a need to address math, then chemistry, physics, and biology. The most recent addition was computer programming through the awarding of a National Science Foundation grant in 2010 • On October 27, 2010 first regional Curriculum Alignment conference was held at Valencia Community College. – First time to include K-12 schools in the alignment discussion
Curriculum Alignment Work-To-Date 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Begin align Regional Begin align Begin align Begin align Digital Media Digital Media Physics Math Biology Between Education And CC and UCF CC, SC, CC and UCF CC’s and UCF Workforce and UCF Development Initiative Begin align Chemistry CC and UCF
2011 Continue align STEM Disc CC, SC, UCF Math Begin Multidisc Align CC, SC, UCF Begin Explore Ways for PreK-12 to Work with CC, SC, UCF
Key Successes • Alignment of topics and learning outcomes across the 7 educational institutions. – Changing courses to improve student success. – Mutual agreement on topics covered in key courses.
• Sharing of best practices: – Discussions at the workshops. – Postings on the web site.
• Changing curriculum and courses. – Changing 4 UCF Digital Media courses from 3xxx to 2xxx so that the community college partners had a common set of transferrable courses. – Adding MAC1140 at UCF.
Curriculum Alignment Conference October 27, 2010 • Purpose: To bring together instructors and administrators from K-12, Community Colleges, State Colleges, and UCF to begin working together on curriculum alignment from K-20 • • • •
Meet each other and determine to work together Identify concrete goals for the upcoming year Discuss next conference scheduled for October, 2011 Set long term goals
• Special guest Mary Jane Tappen, Deputy Chancellor for Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services from DOE
Goals and Action Items • Biology – – – – –
Improve biology lab skills for entering freshman. Standardize HS biology curriculum beginning with labs. Improve pedagogical and content knowledge of MS/HS teachers. Increase ongoing support from CC/Univ to MS/HS. Improve general college readiness of HS Students.
• Chemistry – Academic transition readiness - Students will be prepared to enter the next level of the chemistry curriculum – Students will demonstrate mastery of core concepts and skills, eg. scientific method, experimental design, data collection and analysis, results communication (written and verbal), inquiry labs are a tool for accomplishing this – Students will demonstrate strong problem solving and critical thinking skills and scientific curiosity – Students will have established successful learning strategies including basic study, note taking, and time management skills – Establish and maintain a supportive communication, resource network, and meeting schedule for K-16 and industry
Goals (continued) •
Math – Continue and initiate more dialogue between high school and college levels. – Provide constant communication of course descriptions and ongoing assessments between levels. – Discuss and align placement process from secondary to post secondary (6-20). – Develop a consistent alignment of concepts taught and tools used in the K- 20 levels. – Share data to modify instruction to achieve desired learning outcomes.
• Physics – – – –
Develop a Lab Curriculum/List of Suggestions Clear communication between K-12 , colleges, and FDOE Improve Public Relations Implement STEM Competition (JETS, Physics Olympiad) hosted by the regional college – Align physics curriculum (middle school – college)
Curriculum Alignment Future Work 2010
2011
First Joint K-12, CC, SC, UCF Meeting Begin align STEM Disc HS,CC, SC, UCF
2012
2013
2014
2015
Cont. align Cont. align Cont. align Cont cross STEM HS,CC, STEM MS, HS, STEM ES, MS, Disciplinary SC, UCF CC, SC, UCF HS, CC, SC, alignment UCF Incorp. Incorp. Begin cross Middle Elem Disciplinary Schools Schools alignment
2020
More Information • http://www.curriculumalignment.ucf.edu