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OMSC Meeting Announcement
Bethel International United Methodist Church 1220 Bethel Road Columbus, OH 43221 Please join us for this important meeting. In addition to the usual updates on state-level education activity, Greg Young, Superintendent of Ross School District, will present "Standards Based Instruction Instruction in a Personalized Setting." Ross is a district that is having success in implementing standards and on state assessments. The information in this presentation will provide background for small group work. We will ask participants to work in one of four small groups to develop products designed to advance mathematics and science teaching and learning in Ohio. The working groups are:
The Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition has recently developed and disseminated a position statement that has been endorsed by several mathematics and science groups in the state, including the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Science Education Council of Ohio. This paper is part of a larger agenda that focuses on helping policy makers and others understand the need to delineate the purposes for assessment and is the first example of our efforts to coalesce the mathematics and science education communities to speak in one voice to our policy makers about important issues. It is intended that the working group efforts will result in concrete products, either position statements or communication materials. OMSC Principles from Finding the Solution
May 15, 2015 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bethel International United Methodist Church, 1220 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH Meeting Theme: Mathematics and Science in Ohio: Sturm und Drang (Storm & Stress) Whether or not the phrase “May you live in interesting times” is actually an old Chinese curse, it is the case that those of us in Ohio who are interested in mathematics and science education live in interesting times—times of storm and stress. Both Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 74 have important implications for mathematics and science education—are you aware of them? It is essential that during times such as these we keep abreast of what is happening and work together to try to assure positive outcomes. We hope that you will be able to attend this meeting. As always, we will try to arrange for sharing of the latest news from the field. We hope to have representatives from the mathematics and science curriculum and assessment legislative review committees, the senate assessment committee, the Ohio Standards Coalition, the Standards Taskforce of OCTM, and those working on higher education issues. We will share progress on dissemination of the OMSC position statement on Uses of Large-Scale Assessment, and consider the endorsement and development of other position statements. Janet Herrelko will provide the primary presentation, drawing upon her recent international experiences: Is U.S. Educational Technology and Professional Development Keeping Up with the Bongiornos, Bhargavas, and Quirozes? Her thought provoking presentation will be but one catalyst for the always useful small group discussions that will help OMSC formulate action steps focused on providing information to policy makers. The small groups will be focused on professional development, parental communication, and formative assessment. The meeting will be from 10:00 to 3:00. As usual, there will be a $10.00 charge for lunch. We ask that you let us know if you will be attending so that we have an accurate lunch count. RSVP to Peggy Kasten as soon as possible at mkasten@columbus.rr.com. Please join us. Please join us at Bethel International United Methodist Church, 1220 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220 from 10:00am to 3:00pm for this important meeting. The group will vote on the final position statement on Uses of Large-Scale Assessments in Mathematics and Science. The recent release of the Ohio Department’s recommendations on the reduction of testing makes the timing on the approval and distribution of this document important. Assessment continues to be an important issue. OMSC must contribute to the dialogue and advocate for educationally sound assessments.
We will hear from Annika Moore from the Ohio Department of Education about the work of the Regional Network Leaders and from Carl Jones and Karen Irving who are members of the Ohio Senate Curriculum Review Committees. Much is happening in Mathematics and Science Education in Ohio, and there are indications that there will be more impactful legislation introduced in the new legislature. It is crucial that those interested in and knowledgeable about mathematics and science be heard by policy makers. OMSC is working to make that happen. OMSC is an advocacy group. It is important that as a group we dialogue about the advocacy positions that should be taken in order to support and advance mathematics and science education in Ohio. Please Join Us. Agenda Highlights:
In order that we might have the correct number of lunches please RSVP to Peggy Kasten at mkasten@columbus.rr.com by February 1. There will be a $10.00 charge for lunch. When you RSVP that you are planning on attending I will forward the draft of the position statement so that you may become familiar with the statement before discussion and voting. Assessment continues to be controversial-
"I had never imagined that the test would someday be turned into a blunt instrument to close schools — or to say whether teachers are good teachers or not — because I always knew children's test scores are far more complicated than the way they're being received today. ~Diane Ravitch Arne Duncan on PISA Exam: We’re Seeing a “Picture of Educational Stagnation” The 45th PDK/Gallup Poll reports:
Why should you come? One of the single most important issues in education today is assessment. It is not only discussed and debated in professional journals and newsletters, faculty lounges, and in on-campus seminars—it is a big topic in the popular media. What is the truth? What tests are given? What do we learn from them? Who thinks they are necessary? OMSC is an advocacy group dedicated to the continuous improvement of mathematics and science education in Ohio. Should OMSC take an advocacy position about assessment in Ohio? What should that position be? As professionals interested in and knowledgeable about assessment, what information can we provide to policy makers? At the May 30, 2014 meeting, presenters will look closely at some of the most important tests, PISA, TIMSS, NAEP, PARCC, SAT/ACT, ACCUPLACER/COMPASS, that some Ohio students take—or could take. For each test they will explain what is tested, who is tested, examine the results of the tests and most importantly, talk about what the results mean. Many of us are generally familiar with tests but may not understand fully all of the details. There will be opportunities for questions and discussion – and these will help OMSC develop an advocacy position to be shared with policy makers. |
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