Universal Constructs: Adaptive Competencies
Why the Universal Constructs?
As educators work to support students in their preparation for college, career, and civic readiness, they are increasingly interested in fostering what is called "deeper learning." While there are many definitions for this term, researchers agree that students "must be able to communicate their ideas effectively, think creatively, work collaboratively to solve problems, and manage their own learning. They need to develop dispositions — or mindsets — that empower them to confront new challenges, take initiative, and persevere through difficulties and setbacks." These skills come from practicing and mastering Iowa's Universal Constructs.
In a study conducted by the American Institutes of Research (AIR), test scores, graduation, and college enrollment were higher in schools that operated from a model of deeper learning. In fact, "Researchers found positive effects across all measures, including opportunities for complex problem solving, collaboration, communication, learning how to learn, creative thinking, assessments aligned with deeper learning, receiving feedback, interdisciplinary learning, and real-world connections. These effects were evident among a diverse group of students, including students who entered high school as either low or high achievers and students who did and did not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch." Read the research brief below for more information.
Deeper-Learning-Summary-Updated-August-2016.pdf
Iowa Core: The Universal Constructs
The Universal Constructs are defined in the Iowa Core as "competencies and habits of mind needed for future successes in careers, college, and citizenry."
According to the Iowa Department of Education's website, "The universal constructs were identified following an analysis of the competencies and habits of mind needed for future successes in careers, college and citizenry. A team of educators and business representatives conducted a literature review of multiple sources that included the P21’s 'Framework for 21st Century Learning,' the 'Definition and Selection of Key Competencies' by NCREL/Metiri Group, the cross disciplinary proficiencies in the 'American Diploma Project' by Achieve, 'The Global Achievement Gap' by Tony Wagner, 'Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives' by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser, and Discovering the Habits of Mind by Arthur Costa. The universal constructs apply all aspects of an individual's life across all curricular areas."
Universal Construct Competency Learning Progressions
The Center has worked with teachers, teacher leaders, administrators, AEA consultants, and business partners to create K-12 learning progressions for Iowa's Universal Constructs.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact us to find out how we can support you with professional learning.
K-12 Learning Progressions
Teacher Resources
Banded Gateways
The Center offers professional learning support for utilizing learning progressions for Iowa's six Universal Constructs, which are part of Iowa's required Iowa Academic Standards. Each progression includes "I can" statements that are developmentally appropriate for the associated grade band (e.g., the grade band above includes grades 3-5, and the progression on the top left includes all four grade bands including K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) across three core skills for that Construct. Also included in our support materials are teacher resources and professional learning sequences for your context. Contact us to learn more!
Universal Constructs_Collaboration copy.pdfCollaboration
Universal Constructs_ComplexCommunication copy copy.pdfComplex Communication
Universal Constructs_Creativity copy.pdfCreativity
Universal Constructs_Critical Thinking copy.pdfCritical Thinking
Universal Constructs_Flexibility and Adaptability copy.pdfFlexibility & Adaptability
Productivity and Accountibility copy.pdfProductivity & Accountability
Implementation Supports
BEST Self-Direction Toolkit-v1.pdfBEST Self-Direction Toolkit
Click the image to access the full PDF.
Click here to see the BEST Self-Direction Toolkit website with additional resources.
Exemplar Resource
The BEST Self-Direction Toolkit is a phenomenal resource for getting started at the classroom level with tools that support students' metacognition, goal-setting, feedback skills, and evidence collection. Currently, the only essential skill that has exemplar resources is Self-Direction, but additional resources for Collaboration, Creativity, and Communication are coming in 2021.
Note: Although Self-Direction is not an Iowa Universal Construct, that skill is within several of our constructs' learning progressions, and the tools within this toolkit can be applied to any Universal Construct.
The kit contains:
Rubrics
Self-assessments and peer feedback protocols
Roadmap and goal-setting templates
Sample tasks
Instructional supports, videos, webinars, and presentations
Links to professional learning supports
Iowa Model Universal Construct Competencies(1).pdfOptions for working learning activities into daily routines that incorporate the Universal Constructs include:
Creating student playlists
Combining these with flipped instruction to create a personalized learning model for secondary schools (see our Personalized Learning Toolkit page for the elementary model and other ideas for structural and procedural shifts)
Incorporating Google Applied Digital Skills as learning modules that combine the need for the Universal Constructs and SEL Competencies for students to be most successful with the learning tasks
Blending problem- or project-based learning into or across units
Use the learner agency continua The Center has collected to shift more of the cognitive calories, voice, choice, ownership, engagement, self-efficacy, motivation, and purpose for growing these competencies to the learners
Try these student question cards (embedded in learning sequences, during structured work time, via a Station Rotation model, or in think-pair-share or other partner work) to guide students toward Universal Construct learning targets and the co-created quality criteria.
Storing and Showcasing Student Competencies
Are you ready for students to demonstrate evidence of their competencies? Are they ready to share their learning with an employer, parent, college, or community member?
Creating portfolios to showcase student learning are an essential part of how we measure progress with Universal Constructs. It will be important for students to have space to store their processes and products, as well as for authentic audiences to see evidence of student demonstration of learning within and beyond the classroom.
What to learn even more about portfolio assessment? Click on the button!
Ideas for Getting Started
Develop student data literacy
Digital portfolios
Google Classroom and Google Sites
Portfolio defenses or demonstration of learning events
From EL Education: "Ajala, 6th grade student at the Odyssey School in Denver, shows evidence of her growth and achievement on the habits of collaboration and leadership, using data to defend her claims about working productively on a team. Cyndii Gueswel who recorded this video, prompts Ajala toward deeper reflection."
