What does Depth of Knowledge Look Like @FHS?

As we head into our fourth week of school it is increasingly important that ALL lessons contain rigor. At times, it can be hard to decipher between the difficulty of a task and the rigor of a task. Just because something is a difficult task, does not mean that it is rigorous. Many of you had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Tamara Hall present last Thursday on Depth of Knowledge. Her presentation broke the concept down quite easily.

Depth of Knowledge or DOK, is a measure of the cognitive complexity of a task.  The complexity level of thinking required by a standard, task, or test item.  Why do we need to know the DOK level? There must be alignment between the intended depth of the standard, the depth of instruction, and the depth of assessment.

I have created a quick visual for you here using a FREE iPad app called Skitch.

DOK Levels I-IV:

DOK Level I: Recall and Production

DOK Level II: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts

DOK Level III: Strategic Thinking

DOK Level IV: Extended Thinking

Since we want to encourage and support our students to be problem solvers and critical thinkers, we need to provide many opportunities through lessons planned at DOK Levels II and III. We can "visit" Levels I and IV. 

Here are two student created videos. The first link is a video from Rancho Minerva Middle School that shows each of the four DOK levels in action. http://youtu.be/VW7mSAAuFM0  The second video is a student created video from Kings Canyon Middle School. Let's have our students create and demonstrate what DOK looks like in the classroom! Here is to you planning many more rigorous lesson plans where ALL students are engaged, ALL students are challenged, and ALL students are learning!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!