Winter Oregon GEAR UP Meeting January, 2004

1. 1 Oregon is entering the second decade of its journey to design and implement a standards-based system that connects student performance K-12 with college entry. The goal of our K-16 system is to increase student academic preparation for college, reduce the need for remediation, and increase the likelihood that students will continue beyond freshman year to successfully complete their degree. Oregon is entering the second decade of its journey to design and implement a standards-based system that connects student performance K-12 with college entry. The goal of our K-16 system is to increase student academic preparation for college, reduce the need for remediation, and increase the likelihood that students will continue beyond freshman year to successfully complete their degree.

2. 2 “Evaluation” Made Simple Some Examples: After School Enrichment After school enrichment (like SMILE) to promote academic improvement in science and math Focus Activity: Conduct Training for Staff - Implement SMILE Program - Design focus group questions - Produce work samples in classes Reflection: Conduct and discuss focus group Review work samples and scoring data - Design and conduct student/parent surveys - Produce “new” work samples Evaluation: Evaluate Surveys Score work samples in inquiry and problem solving - Consider results and plan next steps

3. 3 “Evaluation” Made Simple Some Examples: Performance Assessment Staff development to learn performance assessment practices to guide instructional improvement Focus Activity: Conduct workshop - Design assessments using the model in agreed upon standards (most easily done where common scoring criteria exist) Reflection: Conduct collegial review of assessment prompts - Refine assessments - Assign prompts - Gather samples Evaluation: Cross score work samples - Consider results and plan next steps

4. 4 “Evaluation” Made Simple Some Examples: Elementary School Science Pilot Pilot new science program to provide recommendations and training for full scale implementation in year 2 Focus Activity: Conduct collaborative planning sessions to design pilot sequences for testing. - Develop initial units Reflection: Conduct collaborative review of unit plans, suggestions for integration, and explore work sample connections - Teach units - Gather work samples, unit plans, teaching tips, etc Evaluation: Review work sample prompts and unit materials for final production - Consider results and plan next steps

5. 5 “Evaluation” Made Simple Some Examples: College Visitation Visit a campus to expose students to a college atmosphere and expectations Focus Activity: Visit a campus with students attending sessions and keeping a reflective journal - Meet with chaperones to discuss outcomes Reflection: Discuss chaperone perceptions Review student journals - Conduct informal lunch time focus group with some students who attended the trip Evaluation: Review student perceptions Evaluate student learning - Consider results and plan next steps

6. The scarcest resource we have is time. Unplanned processes become unfulfilled realties. When we don’t “know”, we must guess. We need to know!