What is standards based learning

Typically 4's are used for students who exceed targets. Figure 2 shows example traditional and SBG grading scales. Note: Even though is popular, SBG grading scales vary widely. Scales can be , , use half points, and use letters instead of numbers.

Yours may be different. In standards-based education, teaching is responsive to learning. When starting a new target, teachers present introductory lessons. As students progress, they are offered more complex material. They continue working and learning until they reach the target.

After receiving instruction, some students progress immediately, but most do not. SBG is powerful because it provides a framework to regularly measure student progress. This causes education to be more effective and engaging.

Many instructional changes improve student engagement and learning. In SBG environments, better feedback accelerates learning. This helps students understand their current areas of improvement, and helps them reach the next level. This positive environment speeds learning and students reach higher levels of achievement -- all while being deeply engaged and enjoying school.

Learning targets are typically written in student-friendly language, so they can understand the goals of instruction.

Targets may be further broken down by rubrics to map out the steps required to reach the "top of the ladder. When working on an activity, they can self-assess and reflect on their own performance. They can identify areas of improvement and self-direct their activities. This leads to greater ownership of their learning. A typical rubric is shown in Figure 6. In traditional classrooms, many teachers mechanically present curriculum to students -- lesson 1 on day 1, lesson 2 on day 2, etc.

While there are exceptions e. Because students learn at different rates, some are bored because the pace is too slow. Others are confused because instruction is too fast. This is a daily challenge in traditional classrooms. In SBG classrooms, teachers better understand student mastery. At any time, they know which students are at level 1, 2, or 3.

This helps teachers offer level-appropriate work. Students at level 1 get activities that help them reach level 2. Level 2 students get activities to climb to level 3.

Classrooms often break into smaller groups with students working independently on level-appropriate activities. For standards to work, we must clearly understand where students need to be by the end of the school year, and what concepts and skills they need to master before they get there. Every student has an educational journey from kindergarten to twelfth grade and, in some cases, beyond , from English to science to math.

Bringing those together in a coherent way is called alignment. Vertical alignment is all about how topics flow from one subject and grade to another within your school system; horizontal alignment is about making sure those grade-level standards are the same across teachers and schools. In either case, alignment across standards starts with sitting down, identifying where there are shared goals and working as a team to support those goals in a consistent way. We recommend curriculum mapping to help with the heavy lifting here.

Again, two very different things! To best support learning, consider a wide range of methods — from reading literature to conducting experiments, from individual written work to group work — to make sure you solidify not just the information but a deep understanding of the concepts and skills at hand.

How do you know if your students are learning the right things effectively? Another benefit of standards: they give us data we can use year-over-year or even within the same class to measure how things are really going in our classrooms. Are you missing your goals on trigonometry? Are your students particularly strong in local politics? Each assignment and each test is a goldmine of insights that can help teachers and schools make changes in the classroom in real-time… and build stronger curriculums next year, too.

Better data also means better feedback on a per-student basis. Knowing how far a student has progressed down their learning path means teachers can provide more directed suggestions for student performance and guide them more effectively to meet those standards.

Time for a quick example. In English class, students might write a story that includes a proportional relationship. At Marzano Resources, we are defined by our passion for high-quality teaching and learning. Every solution we offer is based on Dr. Robert J. Join live or receive a link to the recording and earn a CE certificate.

Thursday, August 5, pm - pm EDT. Presented by Tammy Heflebower, Ed. Get a CE Certificate for this edWebinar Learn more The implementation of standards-based learning is a transformational change that invites educators to rethink their beliefs and practices.

Viewers can expect to: Learn about the rationale for standards-based learning Understand how standards-based learning looks in hybrid, online, and in-person environments Discover tools that will help you successfully navigate the transition to standards-based learning Standards-based learning empowers students to set and achieve their learning goals, cultivating an attitude and mindset that promotes lifelong learning.