Understanding and Applying Standards

In this module, I learned how to unpack a standard and the theories and mechanics behind backwards mapping, writing lesson plans and objectives. I also learned that the Arizona Department of Education provides a comprehensive curriculum guide which includes standards, objectives and lesson plans. For example, when I reviewed the Accounting standards, I found objectives, content, implementation (lesson plans), terminology and whether or not the objective was a testing item. In the curriculum guide, I only saw flexibility in regards to creating activities and learning experiences, but nothing else. Thus, I will not be writing my own objectives but I will be following the curriculum guide. And, I will be allowed to create activities which will supplement existing lesson plans.

Since I will be teaching Business Education subjects, I wanted to learn about their respective standards to become familiar with what I need to know in the Fall. And, I wanted to stay with my subjects and not veer off into a subject I won't be teaching as it has no value to me. Finally, the teacher I do classroom observation with told me to study the curriculum guide, so I'm following her instructions.

What this week's work taught me is how to find the objectives and how to see the backwards mapping and construction of lesson plans. Prior to studying backwards mapping and writing lesson plans, I wouldn't have understood the curriculum guide, how it was created or what I was supposed to do with it. For example, I did not know that column heading "Implementation" contained the lesson plans I was to use for teaching. I also didn't know that the State's lesson plans do in fact correlate with the information in Fink and Bloom's taxonomy. Prior to studying Fink and Bloom's taxonomy, I didn't know the origins of the State's curriculum guide. What I discovered is that the State followed Fink and Bloom's taxonomy to the letter. They used the same words, designed lesson plans according to the taxonomy and suggested activities and learning experiences which corresponded directly to the taxonomy. Before this week's activities, interpretation of the curriculum guide would have been difficult.

After completing this week's activities, I realized that in order to use the curriculum guide, I needed to understand it and this week's activities accomplished that goal. Now that I understand the curriculum guide, I can use it and I'll be prepared for teaching these courses in August.