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The EdGate Observer
CONNECTING PUBLISHERS AND
EDUCATORS TO WHAT WORKS
February 2012
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Top Stories
eLearning 2012 Conference The most comprehensive annual distance learning conference you will find for eLearning practitioners. It is the one place where you will learn who is doing what, what technologies they are using, what works, and what doesn't. 22 E-learning Tips & Ideas to Kick Off the Week Each week the team shares freely their winning playbook of e-learning shortcuts, techniques and creativity to help you create better e-learning. Obama wants schools to speed digital transition Obama's goal: an e-textbook in every student's hand by 2017. USA Today Center for Digital Education 2011-12 Digital School Districts Survey The purpose of the survey is to showcase exemplary school boards and districts' use of technology to govern the district, communicate with students, parents and the community and to improve district operations. Deadline to submit survey responses online is Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Seven Myths About Learning 1. Basic Facts Come Before Deep Learning 2. Rigorous Education Means a Teacher Talking 3. Covering It Means Teaching It 4. Teaching to Student Interests Means Dumbing It Down 5. Acceleration Means Rigor 6. A Quiet Classroom Means Good Learning 7. Traditional Schooling Prepares Students for Life Preparing for Change - A National Perspective on Common Core State Standards Implementation Planning The EPE Research Center is reporting that, of the 46 states and D.C. that have adopted the Common Core State Standards, only seven have fully developed plans to put them into practice in the three key areas of: instructional material, professional development, and teacher evaluation systems. Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, West Virginia, and New York have reported finalizing plans across all three areas, but other states are reporting only partial completions. As the report notes, budget cuts and funding issues are most likely the cause of the delay in most states. With the new assessments scheduled to be released for the 2014-15 school year, let's hope those plans are implemented soon.
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About Us 
Founded in 1997, EdGate Correlation Services (EdGate) is a leader in the field of alignment solutions for educational companies around the world.
The EdGate Standards Repository is the most comprehensive collection of national and international educational standards containing 1.8 million most recently adopted standards in all subject areas.
Through the power of our technology and the professional experience of our subject-area specialists, EdGate provides more than 150 educational publishing clients with accurate and continually updated correlations, on-demand correlation reporting capabilities, and effective website integration options.
EdGate can also provide standards licensing, customized taxonomy solutions, correlation to assessment standards, and more.
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Welcome to The EdGate Observer!
Greetings everyone,
In this month's newsletter, we focus on the most recent educational news pertaining to the Fordham Study on State Science Standards (Hot Topic), Do Common Core Standards Address Cultural Diversity? (Burning Question), Developing Custom Courses (Client Solutions), International Standards Repository (EdGate Services) and following up with new additions to the EdGate Standards Repository (Standards Update).
As always, EdGate is your source for staying abreast of any new developments in education and specifically the impact of educational standards.
Regards,
Sandra Schugren, EdGate General Manager
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Hot Topic
Science Standards Scrutinized
In the US, a new study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute has brought to the forefront an analysis of science standards and whether each state is setting appropriately clear, rigorous, and specific expectations. The focus is all about the standards themselves. They applied a 10-point, two-part scoring rubric: zero to seven for "content and rigor," and zero to three for "clarity and specificity". This 2012 publication is the third such study by the Fordham Institute; the first was in 1998, and the second was in 2005.
The study cites four areas of weakness: 1) evolution is minimized or non-existent, 2) vague standards, 3) lacking enough specific content, and 4) math application / knowledge particularly with physics and chemistry. Unfortunately 'vagueness' was widespread among states. Overall, more than 75% of the states received a grade of C or lower; 17 received D's and 10 received F's. Only six states received 'A' grades (CA & Washington D.C., followed by IN, MA, SC, & VA), and only seven states earned B's (NY, followed by AR, KS, LA, OH, MD, & UT). Doing the math, 13 states is only about 25%, and less than their 2005 study.
New standards don't guarantee they are better, and old standards don't mean they need improvement. Point in case, the California Standards, adopted in 1998 (14 years ago), scored the highest, and Colorado adopted new standards in 2009, and they dropped from a 'B' (2005 study) to a 'D'. Since the 2005 Fordham study, Iowa has adopted its own standards and forty-two states and the District of Columbia have changed their standards! Overall though the US is still just an average 'C' grade.
On a positive note, 26 of the US states have signed on to improve science standards by creating a set of clear, rigorous, and specific standards that states will have the option to adopt as their own. Hopefully we'll see this 'rigor and clarity' reflected in the new "Next Generation Science Standards".
By: Larry Johnson
Project Manager
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Client Solution 
Custom Courses
Over the years we have received requests from publishers to create custom courses that will correlate with specific sets of state standards. Sometimes this has been packaged using an aggregation of content they already have by pulling sections from separate courses together while others have used a combination of previously created content and filling in content gaps by creating state standard specific content. This request just came up again recently with a client that combined several different sections of courses to meet a state's specific needs and the result was a really nice set of custom state packaged content that could then be marketed to correlate directly to that state.
If you find you may be interested in this service in the future, please feel free to contact your sales or project manager.
By: Jennifer Larson
Project Manager
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Burning Question 
Culturally responsive instruction, what does that mean and do Common Core Standards address the diversity, culture, history and ethnicity of individual states?
Culturally responsive (or relevant) teaching has been described as "a pedagogy that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills and attitudes" (Ladson-Billings, 1994, p. 382).
The Montana Common Core Standards include standards requiring students to familiarize themselves with varied literary perspectives, including those by and about American Indians. Minnesota also added literature, informational text, and research standards to their Common Core Standards that reference different cultures including Minnesota American Indians. These steps by Montana and Minnesota are headed in the right direction. Congratulations to these states for incorporating these cultural perspectives. For more information on Culturally Responsive Teaching, visit: http://www.intime.uni.edu/multiculture/curriculum/culture/teaching.htm
By: Jodi Waugh
Project Manager
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EdGate Services
EdGate's International Reach!
In January, Leslie Kolber attended the BETT Conference in London, which showcases the best in UK and international learning technology products and services.
Is your business in process of global expansion? EdGate can help!! We offer an international repository of 14 different countries. We have added standards in Spanish languages for both Mexico and Puerto Rico and are in the process of adding the Swedish National Curriculum. EdGate can translate educational standards, national curriculum, and correlate content in any language.
  The "EdGate Advantage is YOUR Advantage" |
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Standards Update
Updates to The EdGate Standards Repository include:
· ACT College Readiness Standards - Language Arts (2011)
· ACT College Readiness Standards - Science (2011)
· College Board AP World History Course Description (2011-2012)
· Georgia Common Core Standards - Language Arts (2011)
· Georgia Common Core Standards - Mathematics (2011)
· Iowa Common Core Standards - Language Arts (2011)
· Iowa Common Core Standards - Mathematics (2011)
· Montana Common Core Standards - Language Arts (2011)
· Montana Common Core Standards - Mathematics (2011)
· Montana Common Core Standards - Science Literacy (2011)
· Montana Common Core Standards - Social Studies Literacy (2011)
· New Jersey Personal Financial Literacy Standards - Social Studies (2009)
· Ohio 2014-2014 Standards - Social Studies (2011)
· Texas TEKS 2012-2013 Standards - Technology Applications (2011)
Common Core Update
The EdGate Standards Repository now includes the following state-specific Common Core Standards:
Alabama*, Arizona*, Arkansas, California*, Colorado*, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia*, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa*, Kansas*, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts*, Michigan, Minnesota*, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana*, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York*, North Carolina, North Dakota*, Ohio*, Oklahoma, Oregon*, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, US Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. (Note: states marked with an * indicate up to 15% additions).
If you have any questions regarding standards, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to assist you. You can always join us on Twitter and Facebook to receive notifications regarding state standards in the EdGate Standards Repository at:
http://twitter.com/EdGate http://www.facebook.com Kristie McCarley EdGate Standards Manager kmccarley@edgate.com
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