Program Models Overview
The State Board of Education adopted Ohio's Academic Content Standards K-12 Social Studies in December 2002. Since that time, work has continued at the state level to develop assessment instruments to measure student learning against the requirements of the standards and work continues in school districts to align curricula at each grade level to the benchmarks and grade-level indicators in the standards.
One approach to help districts accomplish this is to use the program models to demonstrate how the standards might be organized for instruction. A model clarifies how the social studies standards can be packaged into courses and how courses can be sequenced. Program models provide the framework for curricular decision-making at the local level. More specifically, program models provide rationales and course descriptions as well as clarity about course content and the sequencing of topics within the courses. They offer districts alternative ways to address the state's rigorous academic standards while at the same time providing effective tools for the development of essential workplace and citizenship skills, and preparing students for higher education.
Exploring the OSSRC Program Model Pages
Presently three social studies models, or frameworks, have been developed as guides for grade 9-12 social studies teachers. These models are the guided inquiry model, the integrated model and the thematic model. In partnership with the Ohio Department of Education the OSSRC has developed dynamic web pages that outline the program model course frameworks for World Studies and U.S. Studies. Additionally, the OSSRC has identified quality web-based resources that align to the Ohio Academic Content Standards and that support the ninth and tenth grade course curricula for each of the three social studies models. 28 units of study are outlined in the program models. The OSSRC has created a data file for each one of these units. While exploring the data files users will find assigned social studies benchmarks, as outlined in the program models, OSSRC reviewed resources, and teaching strategies, created by qualified Ohio social studies teachers. These strategies take the form of skill connections, critical thinking questions, cross-curricular connections, and 21st century connections. These strategies have been developed as general tips that can be incorporated into teachers lesson planning. Educators have the option to use the "search strategies" function when exploring content that overlaps throughout the models.
