SAS+Overview

Michal Horning, Jr.
[|PDE SAS Website]

Clear standards form the framework for having an aligned system

Six Standards:
 * Clear Standards
 * Fair Assessments
 * Curriculum Framework
 * Instruction
 * Materials & Resources
 * Interventions

Standards support student achievement

Website designed to allow seamless transition between areas of the website (get materials through standards)


 * Clear Standards:**
 * Backbone of the system
 * Highly interactive interface
 * Relational database
 * Use standards to find eligible content
 * Browse Standards --> Choose Subject Area --> ID standard area --> Grade Level -->Anchor --> Eligible Content
 * Link to Materials and Resources connected to eligible content
 * Materials and Resources will be updated as the project grows and further develops
 * Materials and Resources from non-profit organizations, museums, etc. from across the country
 * Simulations to reinforce learning - ex: simulation of electrical circuit
 * Can search by grade level and subject area
 * Vertical Viewer
 * Learning related to a specific standard across grade levels
 * Keyword Search
 * Great for curriculum analysis
 * Can find where keywords are used throughout standards, eligible content, anchor descriptors - link to materials and resources
 * Can find model lesson plans - objectives, essential questions, duration, materials referenced through lessons, details of instruction, assessments, etc.
 * Draft format currently - PDE wants feedback
 * Currently just for literacy and math


 * Curriculum Framework:**
 * Specify what should be taught by grade level in PA
 * Aligned to anchors and standards
 * For each big idea, related essential questions, concepts, competencies, and standards
 * From standards, can link to materials and resources
 * Gain access to primary documents/resources


 * Fair Assessments:**
 * Assessment Builder
 * Generation of an assessment through finding questions using different methods:
 * Keyword Search
 * Filter by Standard/Eligible Content (through Advanced Search)
 * Questions are loaded onto the screen - can edit order.
 * Student Version, Teacher Version, Answer Key
 * Can print, download as Word doc, download as pdf, or save to ePortfolio


 * ePortfolio:**
 * Teacher Tools
 * SAS version of an electronic filing cabinet
 * Unlimited space to store files, folders for personal account
 * Accessible from any computer with internet capability
 * Can save any materials and resources from SAS website (Click "Add to my ePortfolio")
 * Bookmark sites
 * Can also upload any file from your computer to the ePortfolio
 * Can share documents through the teacher webpage too
 * Creates unique URL: http://websites.pdesas.org/username
 * Can embed video, YouTube code through editor

Seen by PA government (Governor, Sec. of Ed) as the best way to develop a system aligned to standards and student instruction. Funding by PDE already appropriated, so the system will be in place for a long time. Goal of PDE - give materials and resources, assessments, frameworks to educators in a service-oriented manner
 * Will always change and grow
 * "Building the airplane in the sky"
 * Portal owned by PDE - will not go away (not purchased through a third party)
 * Curriculum Mapping tool will be one of the next to be added (June 2010)