For the competency “Demonstrate ability to describe common research methods in discipline,” I have chosen my second “Trend Analysis” from EDCI 52003 as an artifact. This paper allowed me to research articles on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). These articles gave me valuable information on the CCSS and that the standards and training do not always align. Teachers are to use the CCSS to provide a foundation for the content that is presented in the classroom. This information will appear on the state achievement and assessment tests. Some teachers use this as a guideline and bring in other concepts; others only teach the concepts that will be on the test to ensure that their students will pass. This artifact was built on my prior knowledge of standardized tests. My students took the standardized tests each spring, and I knew key concepts that we had learned throughout the year would be on those tests. This artifact gave me some background information to why the tests and standards were developed to help provide more consistency in education on a national level. This consistency also helps students and parents assess where they are nationally, especially when applying to colleges. This was an interesting paper to work on. I knew there were standards that we must teach, but one key takeaway was that the training does not always match the standards which can confuse. As education continues to progress and change, I do not see CCSS being the assessment standard of the future, but an assessment system that is more project-based to demonstrate competency.

 

For the competencies “Demonstrate ability to read and evaluate research related to discipline,” and “Apply knowledge of human learning, diversity, and effective pedagogy to the solution of problems in your discipline,” I have chosen my group project on “Educational Improvement Plan” from EDCI 52004 as an artifact. I completed this artifact with two other people as we researched a topic that we felt would be beneficial to schools. Most schools have had to be careful with funds. To keep the school functioning and profitable, some extras have been cut from the budget. In this presentation, we proposed a way for schools to keep extracurricular activities despite a lack of funds, staffing, and transportation, and how to provide for these expenses. All three of us in the group were involved in extracurriculars as kids so this project was close to our hearts. There is so much that students learn academically and socially, and extracurriculars is one area where students that are not as good in the classroom can shine. We did fundraisers in high school for the activities, but we wanted to see what other ways schools could bring in extra money and we were able to find some grants that schools can apply to for funds. We enjoyed researching some new extracurriculars and grants that could provide money to keep some of these extracurriculars still in schools for the students today. So the students today can develop friendships, skills, and experiences that would not be able to happen in the classroom.