The test used varies by school district when considering standardized
tests like the Iowa. Other places use the CTBS, which is similar. At
grades 3, 5, 8 and high school English & Math, there are required
testing under No Child Left Behind. They are adding grades and tests to
this even as I type. I believe grades 4 & 6 or grades 2 & 4 will soon
be testing (if not already... I teach high school, so I'm not sure of
the elementary information), plus they are adding science as a content
area for testing. Virginia is already testing in nearly every grade
level, and at every subject for NCLB. My district also uses the PSAT as
a benchmark test for all high school 9-11th graders.
Perhaps we could look at the SCANS skills that employers want and use
those to develop the skill list for the games? SCANS is definitely
accepted across the country, and is certainly looked at frequently in
general and special education classes. It includes some skills that are
pretty easy to use games for, and is the reason I typically cite when
people ask me why my students get to play Uno in class because SCANS
includes team building and social skills requirements.
Magi
Carol Townsend wrote:
In some ways, it's just a huge task to FIND the standards for each
state. I've found (www.edstandards.org ) and it seems to be a pretty
good, up-to-date site... or at least as up-to-date as the associated
links are. But yes... this would be huge task.
Let me ask: how many states use things like the Iowa Test of Basic
Skills? Having grown up in Iowa, I know what they're like, having
graduated from HS in New York, I know they're given all the way out
there and having taught in MN and IL, I know they're here too. So,
are they pretty ubiquitous? Do many states use them? Are there other
tests that are more widely used?
Benchmarks for the ITBS are here:
http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ecese/nclb/doc/ccsb.html . Would it be
good to use these instead of national standards since many schools use
tests - and therefore if our games help reach test benchmarks they're
going to help in classes?
Am I just beating around the same bush?
Carol
On 5/30/06, Pat Fuge - Gnome Games <pat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I agree with Laurie - each game should have a way to relate to every
specific state that there are standards for so that teachers can grab
and
play and ensure the games meet their state standards, allow them to
improve
their students benchmark performance etc.
But this is a monumental task - 49 states per game with ever-changing
verbage can be more than a full time job. (Iowa doesn't have
standards yet
as that is a local government responsibility)
Perhaps there is a way that someone in each state can work backwards
to LL
to help you guys out? I know we do lesson plans for many of the games
already but they are WI specific.
Pat Fuge
Gnome Games
(920) 499-4263
_______________________________________________
Edu mailing list
Edu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/edu
_______________________________________________
Edu mailing list
Edu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/edu