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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Ohio science standards earn a B
Ohio’s standards for teaching science in grades K-12 are described as “refreshingly strong, ” receiving a “B” grade, in a comprehensive look at state’s standards by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released today.
While Ohio ranks in the nation’s top quarter, receiving a score of 7 out of 10, the Fordham’s Institute’s latest assessment, The State of State Science Standards, finds that 75 percent of U.S. states’ standards for science are “mediocre to awful,” raising concern about national competitiveness in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
“Fordham’s assessment of Ohio’s science standards reinforces our commitment to preparing Ohio’s children to pursue careers and compete and win against anyone, anytime and anywhere in the world,” said Stan Heffner, Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Rigorous expectations, especially in the STEM subjects, are essential to restoring Ohio’s economic standing.”
Fordham’s critique found that Ohio has comprehensive standards that create a strong foundation in the early grades and increase expectations with each advancing grade level. Ohio also received high marks for the clarity of its standards.
Areas for improvement cited in the report include adding more specific content in high school physics and life science sections and reducing the overall length of the standards so they are more user-friendly.
Issued by the Ohio Department of Education in 2011, Ohio’s Academic Content Standards and Model Curriculum in Science were developed by both advisory and working committees consisting of practicing scientists, primary, secondary, and post-secondary educators with the goal of improving the content and rigor to better reflect expectations of universities and employers.
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TweetToday declared Digital Learning Day, February as Digital Learning Month in Ohio
This from the Ohio Department of Education today:
Governor John Kasich has declared today Digital Learning Day in Ohio, joining more than 30 states in recognizing innovative teaching and learning through digital media and technology that engages students and provides them with a rich, personalized educational experience.
Additionally, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and a host of partners will continue the initiative throughout February by providing daily examples of digital learning being used in Ohio classrooms and links to resources and tools that educators can incorporate into their lesson plans.
“Today’s reality is that students use technology for entertainment and social interaction, but the educational community is still catching up in providing opportunities for students to use that same technology to motivate their learning,” said Stan Heffner, Ohio Superintendent for Public Instruction. “By expanding digital learning options, school can happen anytime, anywhere and as often as students need.”
ODE will also use Digital Learning Month to launch the Ohio Teacher’s Homeroom page on Facebook. “Liking” the page will allow teachers to receive the daily digital learning updates throughout February and other valuable updates and resources from ODE throughout the year. Twitter users can get the daily resources at www.twitter.com/OHEducation or with the #DLMonth hashtag.
Digital learning is any instructional practice that is effectively using technology to strengthen students’ learning experience with high level and lower cost content and instruction, including use of online testing, increased focus on and quality of teaching resources and time, provision of online content and courses, application of real world technology in the classroom and school building, and use of adaptive software for students with special needs.
Digital Learning Month partners include eTech Ohio, INFOhio, provider of library automation software to more than 80 percent of Ohio school districts, and KnowledgeWorks, a Cincinnati-based social enterprise that supports innovative education initiatives.
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