Educational Transformation in BC
- 2. Presentation Outline Why the changes? o who is today’s learner? o what are the research and literature telling us? What’s been done to date? o curriculum redesign o core competencies o feedback What's next? o Graduation Program and requirements o continuing work on core competencies o reporting: Communicating Student Learning
- 4. Educational Transformation Transformation towards a learner-centred education is a global phenomenon. BC wants an education system that: • develops proficiencies in thinking, communication, and personal and social competence for our students • is engaging, and responsive to student’s interests and passions • uses assessment for learning and provides descriptive feedback
- 5. Foundational Principles Guiding Curriculum Redesign Consultations with educators and the public in BC resulted in recommendations for change: • reduce the amount and specificity of current curricula, with a focus on essential learning • make curriculum more flexible to better enable teachers to be creative and innovative • support teachers in using teaching and learning practices that better meet the needs of students
- 6. Foundational Principles Guiding Curriculum Redesign • focus on deeper learning • develop core competencies that support life-long learning • emphasize key concepts and big ideas that students need to succeed in school, careers, and beyond • integrate the First Peoples Principles of Learning and Aboriginal ways of knowing • align reporting (Communicating Student Learning) with the redesign of curriculum
- 7. What are Core Competencies? Core Competencies are: • the intellectual, personal, and social proficiencies needed for success in school, careers, and life • key to the development of educated citizens • central to the transformation efforts • clearly reflected and embedded in curriculum
- 8. Core Competencies Provincial consultation and extensive research identified these categories of core competencies that support life-long learning: • Thinking Competency o Critical thinking o Creative thinking • Communication Competency (oral, written, visual, digital; includes collaboration and reflection) • Personal and Social Competency o Positive personal and cultural identity o Personal awareness and responsibility (includes self-regulation) o Social awareness and responsibility
- 9. Core Competencies Competency development is underway with teams of teachers from 9 SDs, under the guidance of Sharon Jeroski. The competency work will: • be an essential resource to support assessment of the competencies • describe the developmental nature of the competencies; they are not grade level expectations • contain descriptions that represent phases of growth and development
- 10. Competencies in Science Thinking competency examples: Formulating questions based on observations or data generating alternative experimental procedures identifying weaknesses in their own inferences, analysis, or arguments Personal and social competency examples: Identifying their personal and cultural attitudes, assumptions, and ways of thinking that shape how they approach science Expressing empathy for other living things Justifying their ethical position and decisions Communication competency examples: Using scientific terminology with accuracy and precision Using numbers and symbols to record data and communicate scientific information
- 11. Draft material to be posted soon for review and feedback Critical Thinking underway January 2014—new expression of interest for other aspects of Social and Personal Competencies Core Competencies: Next Steps SD 62 – Sooke Critical Thinking SD 41 - Burnaby Critical Thinking SD 37 - Delta Critical Thinking
- 12. Concept-Based, Competency-Driven Curriculum Concept-based, competency-driven curriculum: • is founded on the core competencies • focuses on big ideas • changed from many specific PLOs to fewer, broader Learning Standards: curriculum competencies and concepts & content • uses concepts and content to build deeper understandings • enables students to apply knowledge and understandings in different ways and contexts • enables teachers to shape curriculum in innovative and more creative ways according to the needs of their students
- 14. Curriculum Assessment Graduation Requirements Communicating Student Learning Trades/Skills Reading Student Supports Aboriginal Education CompetenciesEducated Citizen Curriculum Assessment Graduation Requirements CompetenciesEducated Citizen Communicating Student Learning Trades/Skills Reading Student Supports Aboriginal Education
- 15. Development Process A transparent, collaborative process with close connections to BC educators: regional sessions on curriculum redesign, Core Competencies, and reporting held in Spring 2013 have shaped directions BCTF appointed teachers to the curriculum development teams draft curricula posted on the Ministry web K-9 in ELA, Social Studies, Science, Math, and Arts Education Graduation Program consultations are in process reporting (Communicating Student Learning) consultations are also in process
- 16. Status of Curriculum Development Areas of Learning (K-9): • English Language Arts • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies • Arts Education • Français Langue Seconde Immersion – in process • Français Langue Premiere – in process • Health and PE – in process • Languages – in process/under discussion • Applied Skills & Career – under discussion Grade 10-12 – under discussion; concept coming
- 17. Science Development Team Composition 8 BCTF teachers (includes 1 Aboriginal rep and the PSA president) 1 Independent school teacher 1 Retired teacher 1 Principal 1 Field consultant
- 18. Team members BCTF Teachers Ruth Bowman Paul Britton Heather Dean Virginia Ivey Stacey Joyce Nancy McAleer Grahame Rainey Stewart Savard Independent School Teacher Sukaina Jaffer Retired Teacher Barb McKinley School Principal Darlene MacDonald Field Consultant Anita Chapman
- 19. Work to Date Curriculum and Assessment Framework Advisory Group December 2011 to April 2012 Regional Sessions February to June 2012 Enabling Innovation document released August 2012 Curriculum design meetings with subject-matter experts Summer/Fall 2012 Curricular design to field for review and feedback January 2013 Overview paper on Competencies January 2013 Establish Standing Committee on Provincial Curriculum January 2013 Development with regions/educators Curriculum development Competency development Began spring 2013 (grades K-9) Post draft K-9 curriculum on website, including opportunities for feedback Fall 2013 and on-going Review process and field reviews leading to further refinement 2013/2014 school year (grades K-9)
- 24. What’s the same? What’s New? All areas of science are still represented (biology, physics, chemistry, earth/space science) Fewer concepts to allow for substantial inquiry time. Skills and processes remain integral part of competencies but (now introduced at K and grow in sophistication) Organizers have an inquiry focus (questioning and predicting, evaluating etc.) Updated to reflect new information (quantum physics) What’s the same? What is new?
- 25. Feedback and Review Curriculum will be revised based on feedback received: • See review process at: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/feedback o Public questionnaire o BCTF forum o Twitter hashtag #bccurric • Orientation and reviews occurring in schools and districts throughout the province • Feedback from public, organizations, groups, school/district-based teams and professional networks • Standing Committee on Provincial Curriculum
- 26. Feedback on science to date • Some feedback about the movement of topics • Conceptual topics may be too high level at some grades • Too much content at grade 8 • Not enough environmental/sustainability focus
- 28. Curriculum – Further Developments • K-9 curriculum drafts will be further refined; timeline for completion is dependent on the feedback received and work at grades 10-12 • Further website enhancements will be explored such as accessing curriculum by themes and big ideas • Additional support material (e.g., instructional models) to be developed
- 29. • Consultations are on underway regarding Applied Skills and Career education • The 2011 Core French curriculum draft will be restructured to align with the new curriculum design • Work is beginning on conceptualizing Grade 10- 12 curricula • Consultations regarding graduation requirements continue
- 30. Assessment • The Ministry is involved with 3 forms of assessment: o Classroom Assessment support o Provincial Assessments and Examinations o National and International Assessments • The Ministry is seeking input on all forms of assessment • Assessment will be revised to align with changing emphases: o Literacy and numeracy foundations o Core competencies o Learning standards/key concepts/big ideas o Flexible curriculum, supporting interdisciplinary, inquiry-based, and problem/project-based approaches
- 31. Provincial Assessment Consultations to date have suggested that provincial assessments should: • focus on literacy, numeracy, and core competencies • include exit demonstrations of learning that are more authentic In 2013, the Minister of Education convened an Advisory Group on Provincial Assessments (AGPA). Recommendations from AGPA will provide further guidance for provincial (large scale) assessment practices.
- 32. Reporting: Communicating Student Learning Consultations with BC educators and the public resulted in the following recommendations: shift language from “reporting” to “communicating student learning” include core competencies as a key element of assessing student progress focus on learning standards (curricular competencies and content/concepts) as identified in the areas of learning (subjects) maintain a formal, written summative report at key times in the year continue to use Performance Standards in assessment move toward meaningful descriptions/collections/demonstrations of student learning continue consultations regarding provincial guidelines in relation Communicating Student Learning Consultations on assessment and communicating student learning (reporting) will continue.
- 33. Share Your Thoughts What is a ‘resource’ in 21st century curriculum? How do resources fit in the new curriculum draft? What concepts will require additional material for teachers to teach? What concepts will easily make interdisciplinary connections?
- 35. THANK YOU! Angie Calleberg Ministry of Education Angie.Calleberg@gov.bc.ca Grahame Rainey BCSCTA grainey@bcscta.ca