Missing Link: A Guide for Success Criteria Aligned to the Objective
Most educators do not understand the significance of setting clear objectives for our lessons. It seems to be more of a nuisance and compliance factor. But how often do we find ourselves grappling with vague or ambiguous objectives? It happens to the best of us. However, what we are not talking about when it comes to objectives, is the missing link. What is mastery or how do you ensure that students grasp the goals we've set for them? This is why deciding what to grade or put in the grade book is also ambiguous and inconsistent.
This creates a gap between teaching and learning. This blog will review a scaffold for planning clear objectives and a guide for creating success criteria. A structured approach that brings clarity to our teaching objectives that aligns with explicit student mastery.
Enter the "I can (Skill) (Knowledge) by (Strategy)" structure, a tool that can transform your teaching objectives from murky to crystal clear. In this blog post, we'll explore how this structure reinforces teacher clarity and aids in identifying success criteria, using the objective: "Students will describe the relationship between ideas by using a Tree Map" as our guiding example. (For more on how to use the Skills-Knowledge-Strategy Model, please refer to this blog post)
The Anatomy of Clarity
Let's dissect this objective using the "I can (Skill) (Knowledge) by (Strategy)" structure:
Reinforcing Teacher Clarity
Now, let's see how this structure reinforces teacher clarity:
Precision: By breaking down the objective into skills, knowledge, and strategy, the structure compels us to be precise. We are forced to clearly define what students need to do, what they should know, and how they should do it.
Alignment: It ensures alignment between skills, knowledge, and strategies. When all three components work together cohesively, the objective becomes a well-rounded learning goal.
Transparency: The structure makes our expectations transparent to both us and our students. Everyone knows what the target is and how to reach it.
Assessment: When it's time to assess student work, the structure provides a clear framework. We can assess whether the specified skills have been demonstrated using the required knowledge and strategy.
Empowering Learning
Using the "I can (Skills) (Knowledge) by (Strategy)" structure isn't just a teaching tool; it's the foundation that helps us and our students succeed. It ensures our teaching goals are crystal clear and easy to measure, but it's not just for us—it's a powerful tool for our students too.
Now, let's dive into something crucial for us teachers: determining success criteria. It's like setting up signposts on the learning journey so we know we're heading in the right direction. Let's break it down together.
Determining Success Criteria
Now, let's see how to determine the success criteria for this objective:
Step 1: Break Down the Objective
Begin by breaking down the objective into its core components:
Objective: Students will describe the relationship between ideas by using a Tree Map.
Now, let's dissect it:
Key Skill: The primary skill students need to demonstrate is "describing."
Relevant Knowledge: They must possess the knowledge required to understand the "relationship between ideas."
Strategy: The strategy involves "using a Tree Map."
Step 2: Define the Success Criteria
Now that we've identified the key components, let's define the success criteria based on these components. Success criteria should answer the question, "What does success look like?" for each component.
Let's use the framework you provided to describe the process of identifying success criteria for the objective: "Students will describe the relationship between ideas by using a Tree Map."
Step 1: Understanding Success Criteria
Imagine success criteria as your lesson plan's GPS—it guides you to your destination of student mastery. It's like a checklist that lets you know you've hit the teaching bullseye. Just as we want every piece in our lesson plan to fit seamlessly, success criteria ensure our teaching components align perfectly.
Step 2: Identifying Success Criteria
Read and Understand the Objective: Start by reading the objective carefully, just like you're setting your course on a GPS for a specific destination.
Think about What's Important: Ask yourself, "What's crucial to achieve this objective?" It's like making sure you have the right route on your GPS, avoiding detours.
Break It Down: Think about the individual steps needed. Similar to planning a road trip, you need to identify key waypoints.
What Does Mastery Look Like?: Imagine you are the GPS expert, and you're planning the ideal route. What would that route look like to them?
Step 3: The Success Criteria
Now, let's craft success criteria for your objective: "Students will describe the relationship between ideas and concepts by using a Tree Map."
Success Criteria:
Utilize a Tree Map: Develop an organized tree map that visually represents the relationships between ideas and concepts.
Identify Central Concepts: Recognize and document the central ideas and concepts at the top of the tree map.
Incorporate Key Details: Populate the branches of the tree map with pertinent key details from the text.
Prioritize Clarity and Neatness: Ensure that your tree map is presented in a clear and well-organized manner for others to follow.
Establish Clear Connections: Use lines or arrows to establish clear connections between the central concepts and the key details.
To recap, we've discovered the missing link – identifying mastery with success criteria. This realization, a true "aha!" moment, has been blocked by years of emphasizing content over learning in professional development. Let’s shift to focus on learning so students can make sense of content as it is constantly being reinvented with the power of the internet.
Success criteria transform objectives into tangible, student-friendly outcomes, making teaching purposeful and objectives indispensable. In the end, it's through success criteria that objectives become vibrant and relevant in the world of teaching and learning.
Reflective Questions for Teachers:
How clear and specific are my objectives for my students, ensuring they understand what is expected of them?
What steps have I taken to align my objectives with student mastery?
Why is determining success criteria important for my students to self-monitor their learning progress?
Reflective Questions for Coaches and Administrators:
How effectively and consistently are teachers communicating clear and specific objectives to their students? What expectations are currently in place to ensure clarity?
What measures have been taken to ensure alignment between instructional objectives and student mastery? Are success criteria being utilized to model and communicate expectations effectively?
Why is it crucial for teachers to model and communicate success criteria to students? What are the potential benefits for both teachers and students in terms of learning outcomes/mastery?
Ready to use these scaffolds and become the builder of your teaching career?
Join us for our free webinar, "EMPOWER: Strengthening Effective Teaching Habits." 🗓️
📅 Date: October 19
🕟 Time: 4:30 to 5:15 (Arizona Time)
🌐 Location: Online via Zoom
Together, we'll unlock the scaffolds using the SKS Model, ensuring your teaching stands tall and strong!
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