Using the Rigor/Relevance Framework in Unit Design

Orion Teachers' colleagues, Dr. Joe Gallegos and David Singleton, recently attended the Advanced Education International Conference, held in Chicago, Illinois.  Advanced Education is the parent organization of the Southern Association of Colleges and the Schools and the Northcentral Association of Colleges and Schools, both of which are Department of Education accrediting bodies.

The International Conference's theme, 'The Power to Transform', drew educators from accredited schools in the USA and abroad.  Orion's session, 'Online Mentoring: Building Relationships through Rigor and Relevance' focused on transforming good teaching into great teaching and learning.  The session utilized the Rigor/Relevance framework as a mechanism by which teachers can develop online modules for use with their students.

The Teacher Professional Development session is a one-month opportunity that begins with studying of the curriculum standards, and ends with vetting a Unit of Study through the Rigor/Relevance Framework, in order to determine which of the lessons (within the unit) are ready to be created a the teacher's online hybrid classroom.

The Power Point presentation is attached, as are some of the tools utilized in the online session.  For more information about the session, please log in, go to the Sessions area and register to attend the next session which begins April 1, 2011.