Introduction to Surveys of Enacted Curriculum

Tools for School Improvement

Oregon SEC CollaborativeSEC 101a

Think for a moment about the curriculum work that has been

done in your school and/or district

• What grade levels have been involved?

• What subject areas?

• What has been the result of these efforts?

— Carl Glickman, 2002

Research has found that faculty in successful schools always question existing instructional practice and do not blame lack of student achievement on external causes.

What if…• You could use data to guide professional

development?

• You could have consistency across grade levels?

• You could compare how you teach content compared to how others in your school or district teach?

• You could use anonymous teacher data to start a powerful school discussion about what the teacher needs are?

What are the SEC?

• Practical, reliable set of data collection tools used by teachers

• Online web-based surveys in Mathematics, Science, English Language Arts and Social Studies

• Group and individual teacher data that is reported in user-friendly charts

• Assists in facilitating group discussions related to practice across classrooms, schools and districts for the purpose of data based decision making

The SEC is not…

• a silver bullet

• “the” answer

• only an administrative tool

• just an alignment tool

• for teacher evaluation

SEC OverviewThe Surveys of Enacted

Curriculum (SEC) provide teachers and others a comprehensive set of indicators to facilitate teacher reflection and curriculum planning. The primary purpose of the SEC data-set is to support conversations among teachers about instructional practice and content.

Survey results offer teachers an opportunity to compare their own practice with results for their school, district, and state.

SEC Overview

Teacher and composite reports generated after taking SEC provide an easy and powerful means for analyzing curriculum alignment.

SEC data are never used for teacher evaluations. Individual teacher responses remain confidential and teacher ID information is never reported.

How Can the SEC Be Used?

• Align instructional practice to state standards • Improve instruction• Interpret student assessment results• Assess needs and evaluate programs• Monitor instructional change and progress• Deepen teachers’ disciplinary knowledge• Identify future steps for professional

development

The SEC provide valid, reliable data to:

Surveys of Enacted Surveys of Enacted CurriculumCurriculum2. The

intended curriculum: State content standards—What students should know and be able to do

3. The enacted curriculum: What teachers teach

1. The learned curriculum: Student outcomes based on school learning

4. The assessed curriculum: State (and other) assessments—tested learning

The SEC provides a neutral, research-based language to describe content of English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

NCLB anyone?

The SEC Content TopicsMathematics, Science,

English Language Arts, Social Studies

Grade 8 Mathematics (detail)

The SEC depict in detail the content that teachers teach, the level of cognitive demand to which the content is taught, and the amount of time spent in each area.

This example uses eighth grade mathematics.

The Enacted Curriculum

Enacted (3rd Grade Teacher Reports) Intended (3rd Grade Math Indicators)

Tile Chart- ELA

Survey Sections School & Class

Description Instructional Activities

GeneralProblem Solving

Activities: Pairs & Small Group Work

Use of Hands-on Materials

Use of Calculators/ Computers & other Ed. Tech.

Assessment Use Instructional Influences

Instructional Readiness Teacher Opinions Professional

DevelopmentTypesContent FocusActive LearningCollegial ParticipationCoherenceTime Span

Teacher Characteristics Instructional Content

ELA Content Strands

Math Content Strands

Science Content Strands• Nature of Science• Measurement & Calculation in

Science• Components of Living Systems• Biochemistry • Maintenance in Plants• Animal Biology• Maintenance in Humans• Genetics• Evolution• Reproduction & Development• Ecology• Energy• Motion and Forces

• Electricity• Waves• Kinetics and Equilibrium• Properties of Matter• Earth Systems• Astronomy• Meteorology• Elements & the Periodic

System• Chemical Formulas &

Reactions• Acids, Bases, & Salts• Organic Chemistry• Nuclear Chemistry

Social Studies Content Strands• Social Studies Skills• Human Culture• Innovation & Cultural Change• Multicultural Diversity• Social Problems• Foundations of Government• Principals of American

Democracy• American Constitutionalism• Political & Civic Engagement• Limited Resources & Choice• How Markets Work• Economic Systems• Economic Interdependence• Personal Finance• Map Skills

• Places & Regions• Physical Geography• Human & Cultural Geography• Human/Environment Interactions• The Uses of Geography• State History• US History (People, Events &

Documents)• US History (Growth &

Development)• US History (Other Themes)• World History (Pre-History)• World History (Early Empires &

Religions)• World History (Emergence of the

Global Age)• Psychology• Sociology

What’s Required of Schools/Districts

• Link SEC to district /school improvement goals

• Establish leadership structure

• Determine purpose and plan

• Develop an administrative and teacher commitment

What’s Required of Teachers

• Tools - information about their instruction

• Time - approximately 2 hours to take survey, scheduled time to analyze reports

• Preparation - How, why, when to take surveys

• Ongoing Follow-up - Opportunities to use reports to improve instruction

Online Survey Administration

• Approximately 1 ½ - 2 hours to complete

• May be completed in multiple sittings

• Data is saved as each section is completed

• Can go back and change answers as much as you like

• Once you view your results, no more changes can be made

Relationships Between TaxonomiesEnglish Language Arts and Reading

Bloom Webb SEC

Knowledge Recall Memorize/Recall

Comprehension Skills & Concepts Perform Procedures/Explain

Application & Analysis Strategic ThinkingGenerate/Create/Demonstrate

Synthesis Extended Thinking Analyze/Investigate

Evaluation Evaluate/Integrate

Tile ChartInstructional Content: Mathematics

Relationships Between TaxonomiesMathematics

Bloom Webb SEC

Knowledge Recall Memorize Facts, Definitions & Formulas

Comprehension Skills & Concepts Perform Procedures

Application & Analysis Strategic Thinking Demonstrate Understandingof Mathematical Ideas

Synthesis Extended Thinking Conjecture, AnalyzeGeneralize, Prove

Evaluation Solve non-routine problems/Make Connections

SEC Project Planning Guide

• Determining purpose and the plan for using SEC prior to taking the survey will allow for more targeted and effective analysis of the data provided by the survey.

http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/standards/alignmenttools/district-planning-guide.doc

Gauging Readiness for SEC1-2-3

1. A Continuous Improvement Plan is in place that includes a goal in alignment of instruction to state standards.

•Derived from Recommendations for Best Practice Implementation of SEC for School Improvement and Improved Student Success.

http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/standards/alignmenttools/seccriteria.rtf

Gauging Readiness for SEC 1-2-3

2. Leadership structure to facilitate school improvement already exists: curriculum cabinet and council; professional learning communities

Leadership shares a common definition of the school improvement process.

Gauging Readiness for SEC1-2-3

3. Proactive administrative commitment, leadership, and partnership is developed including superintendent, principals, curriculum director, and school board members. Administrators are:

– allocating resources: time, materials, facilitation,

– actively involved in continuous learning about school improvement and data analysis,

– supportive and encourage their teachers in actively using data for instructional improvement,

– modeling use of data as part of the district’s and school’s continuous improvement process.

Questions?