NOTES:

Building Aligned Curriculum
Implementing a New Curriculum Unit
Step 4:
Facilitate a Looking at Student Work Protocol to Assess Effectiveness of the Unit
Video: Building Aligned Curriculum Toolkit
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Introduction:
This toolkit is designed to help a district or a team of teachers customize and implement new curriculum units in ways that address their learning goals for students. We suggest that you watch the video in its entirety first. Then, as you focus on each step, use the related handout and review the specific video segment.
Step 4 Video Segment: Begin at 6:15.
Rationale:
The fourth step in the process is to evaluate the effectiveness of the unit based on an assessment of student work. By looking at evidence of understanding in student work, you can see where unit goals were met and where students struggled. These discussions will help you, as a team, to make adjustments to the unit and your practice.
Time: Several 1–2 hour sessions
Directions:
  • Use the student work from the Curriculum Embedded Performance Assessment (CEPA) to Conduct a Tuning Protocol to determine if you are meeting the goals of the assignment.
  • Conduct a Calibration Protocol to determine if you are all assessing the work in the same way.
  • Take notes on how you would further adapt the unit to better meet students’ needs when you use it again in the future.
  • You may also want to identify ways for students to reflect on their own learning to inform your conversation.
Suggested Questions for Discussion:
  • What does the student work show about students’ understanding?
  • How does this understanding compare with the goals for the unit?
  • What information do the students’ reflections/self-assessments add?
  • How should the unit be revised to better meet students’ needs?
Suggested Materials and Resources:
  • Tuning Protocol for Looking at Student Work
  • Calibration Protocol
Product at the End of These Sessions:
  • Notes on how to further adapt the unit to better meet students’ needs in the future
Connections to the Massachusetts 5-Step Educator Evaluation Cycle:
  • Formative Assessment/Evaluation: A formative assessment/evaluation is most valuable when it is used to prompt reflection; promote dialogue between educators and evaluators; and discuss changes to practice, goals, or planned activities when adjustments are necessary.
  • Discussion Questions:
  • By this step, you have piloted the adapted unit. Look back at your Professional Practice Goal. Are you making the progress you expected? Do you need to adjust the goal or strategies?
  • Could the results of the LASW protocol be shared with your evaluator during your formative assessment/evaluation to support a conversation about goal progress and student learning?