Standards-based education

Definition

Standards-based education is an educational approach that focuses on defining and measuring specific learning goals and outcomes for students, ensuring that all learners achieve a consistent level of proficiency. This method emphasizes the importance of setting clear expectations and using assessments to evaluate student progress, which can be particularly beneficial in dance education to establish benchmarks for skill development and artistic expression.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Standards-based education promotes consistency in teaching practices by aligning lesson plans and instructional methods with specific learning goals.
2. In dance education, it allows educators to create structured programs that focus on essential skills, techniques, and artistic expressions defined by national or state standards.
3. It encourages continuous feedback through formative assessments, helping students identify their strengths and areas for improvement.
4. This approach can foster accountability among educators, as they must demonstrate that students are meeting established benchmarks for performance.
5. Standards-based education also supports differentiated instruction, allowing teachers to tailor their teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of students while still adhering to the same learning goals.

Review Questions

• How does standards-based education impact teaching strategies within dance education?
  • Standards-based education impacts teaching strategies in dance by providing clear guidelines for what students should learn and achieve. Educators use these standards to shape their lesson plans, ensuring that they focus on developing essential skills and techniques. By having defined benchmarks, teachers can tailor their instructional methods to meet the needs of all students while maintaining consistency in the learning objectives.
• Discuss the role of assessment in standards-based education, specifically in the context of evaluating student progress in dance.
  • Assessment plays a crucial role in standards-based education by providing a systematic way to evaluate whether students are meeting the established learning goals. In dance, assessments can include performance evaluations, skill demonstrations, and self-assessments that help gauge a dancer's progress over time. This ongoing evaluation not only informs teachers about student development but also allows dancers to understand their growth and areas where they can improve.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of standards-based education in promoting artistic expression and creativity among dance students.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of standards-based education in promoting artistic expression reveals both benefits and challenges. While it provides structure and clarity around essential skills, it can sometimes limit creativity if overly rigid standards are enforced. However, when implemented thoughtfully, it can encourage students to explore their creativity within a framework that values skill development alongside personal expression. By balancing technical proficiency with opportunities for creative exploration, educators can cultivate well-rounded dancers who are both skilled and expressive.

Related terms

Learning Objectives: Clear statements that outline what students are expected to learn and achieve by the end of a lesson or program.

Assessment: The process of evaluating student performance to determine if they have met established standards or learning goals.

Curriculum Alignment: The process of ensuring that educational content, instruction, and assessments are all aligned with the set standards and learning objectives.