The academic standards for school subjects in Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana are crucial for shaping the educational framework in these two states.
Both states’ State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) have set academic standards across various subjects to ensure students receive a high-quality education.
Importance of Academic Standards
Academic standards are vital as they define what students should know and be able to do at each grade level in every subject.
These standards provide a framework for teachers to design engaging and practical lessons, helping students understand what is expected of them.
By establishing clear academic standards, SCERT AP and Telangana aim to enhance learning outcomes and prepare students for future success.
Academic Standards for School Subjects
SCERT has established academic standards for numerous school subjects, including:
- Telugu: These standards focus on developing reading, writing, and speaking skills.
- English: The standards emphasize reading comprehension, writing, and communication skills.
- Mathematics: Here, the focus is on problem-solving, critical thinking, and mathematical reasoning.
- Science: These standards aim to foster scientific literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
- Social Science: The emphasis is on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
Subject-wise Academic Standards
Academic Standards: The children are expected to achieve specific academic standards at the end of the academic year.
Everyday classroom transactions should ensure the achievement of academic standards among children. The following are the Subject’s Academic Standards.
a) Telugu Subject Academic Standards
- Listening, speaking with thinking, appreciation
- Read, understand and explain
- Self-writing
- Creative expression
- Vocabulary and grammar
b) English Subject Academic Standards:
- Listening, speaking
- Reading comprehension
- Conventions of writing
- Vocabulary and grammar
- Creative expression (Oral and written)
c) Maths Subject Academic Standards:
Academic standards are clear statements about what students must know and be able to do. The following are categories based on which we lay down academic standards.
- Problem Solving on Conceptual understanding
- Reasoning Proof
- Communication
- Connections
- Representation – Visualisation
(1) Problem Solving:
Using concepts and procedures to solve mathematical problems.
(a) Problems: Problems can take various forms, such as puzzles, word problems, pictorial problems, procedural problems, reading data, tables, graphs, etc.
(b) Stages of problem-solving:
- Reads problems
- Identifies all pieces of information/data
- Separates relevant pieces of information
- Understanding what concept is involved
- Selection of procedure
- Solving the problem.
(c) Complexity:
- The complexity of a problem depends on Making connections( as defined in the connections section)
- Number of steps in the problem
- Number of operations in the problem
- The amount of context unraveling required in the problem
- Nature of procedures in the problem.
(2) Reasoning Proof:
- Reasoning between various steps (involves conjuncture invariably).
- Understanding and making mathematical generalizations and conjectures.
- Understanding and justifying procedures.
- Examining logical arguments.
- Understanding the notion of proof.
- Using inductive and deductive logic.
- Testing mathematical conjectures.
(3) Communication:
- Writing and reading mathematical expressions like 3 + 4=7
- Creating mathematical expressions
- Explaining mathematical ideas in his/her own words, like- a square is a closed figure having four equal sides and all equal angles.
- Explaining mathematical procedures like- adding two-digit numbers involves first adding the digits in the unit place and then adding the digits at the tens place/ keeping in mind carryover.
- Explaining mathematical logic
(4) Connections:
- Connecting concepts within a mathematical domain, for example, relating adding to multiplication, parts of a whole to a ratio, to division. Patterns and symmetry, measurements and space.
- Making connections with daily life
- Connecting mathematics to different subjects
- Connecting concepts of different mathematical domains like data handling and arithmetic or arithmetic and space.
- Connecting concepts to multiple procedures
(5) Visualization and Representation:
- Interprets and reads data in a table, number line, pictograph, bar graph, 2-D figures, 3-D figures, pictures
- Making tables, number lines, pictographs, bar graphs, and pictures.
d) Health and Physical Education Academic Standards:
- Participation in sports and games, sportsman spirit
- Yoga and meditation, scouts and guides, NCC
- Personal and environmental hygiene and healthy habits
- Safety and first aid
- Health, Nutrition, and good food habits
e) Arts and Cultural Education Academic Standards:
- Coloring, drawing, decoration, making models and toys
- Origami, tangram, knitting, embroidery
- Action, drama, skits, role plays, choreography
- Singing and playing musical instruments
- Dance and performing local art forms
f) Work and Computer Education Academic Standards:
- Skills in making use of tools and making articles
- Participation in programmes, festivals and taking the responsibility
- Community work & Shramadhanam, Swachch Bharath
- Utilizing the computer
- Computer-aided learning
g) Value Education and Life Skills Academic Standards:
- Constitutional values (Brotherhood, equality etc.)
- Leadership, discretion power, good behavior
- Individual values- Compassion, empathy, honesty etc.
- Life Skills- Communication, social, emotional and intellectual, thinking skills
- Attitude towards teachers, schoolmates, school and public property.
Benefits of Academic Standards
The academic standards for AP and Telangana school subjects provide several benefits, such as:
- Improved Student Learning Outcomes: With clear academic standards, teachers can design practical lessons that cater to the needs of all students.
- Increased Teacher Confidence: Academic standards clarify what students should know and do, boosting teachers’ confidence in the classroom.
- Better Preparation for Future Success: These standards prepare students for future challenges by emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
The academic standards for school subjects in AP and Telangana play a vital role in shaping the educational landscape of these two states.
By establishing clear academic standards, SCERT AP and Telangana aim to enhance student learning outcomes, boost teacher confidence, and prepare students for success in their future endeavors.