[Edu]State vs National standards

[Magi D. Shepley]

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 at gnomegames.com> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
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