The courses developed by NAF are provided as “one size fits most” since they are used in dozens of states across the country. This session explores various approaches for customizing NAF courses to meet particular district, school site and student needs without missing the key learning objectives. Learn strategies for using NAF curriculum with online tools to minimize the need for paper and photocopying. Please note: this seminar does not apply to AOE.

1. NAFNext2014

2. Making a NAF Course Your Own
Peter Weinstein
Pearson Foundation

3. Welcome
Who’s with us today?

4. Let’s do a “Think, Pair, Share”
1. Complete the Curriculum Needs Survey
individually
2. Discuss your answers with a tablemate
or two
3. Share key findings with the whole room

5. Each NAF course is provided as
“one size fits most”
Challenges
• Not a perfect fit for any
class/academy/state
• Fitting everything in one
semester
• Finding time to make
teacher/academy
modifications
Benefits
• It’s free!
• Complete standalone
package
• Customizable
• Can be used paper-based
or electronic
• Updated every year

6. For success, focus on the Key
Learning Objectives
• Of the 50 - 60 learning objectives covered
in every course, 16 have been identified as
“key”
• The SCAS EOC evaluates proficiency based
on these 16 learning objectives. The CPAC
also has its own small set of LOs.
• As you make course modifications, keep
these in mind

7. Where Can You Find the 16 Key
Learning Objectives and CPAC?
Appendix F of the Student Certification
Assessment Guide for each course

8. Where are the NAF courses
and associated SCAS Guides?
10

11. Why Educators Modify the
NAF Curriculum
 To increase relevance for students
 To target the needs, skill levels, and knowledge
levels of students
 To comply with local or regional mandates
 To improve usability with available technology
 To adjust it to their teaching style

12. Ways to Strengthen Relevance
 Replace examples with ones that your students will
relate to: a local business, a current event in the news
 Bring in guest speakers help students see why it’s
important in the real world
 Use project advisors/supporters to help students
build relationships and learn to network

13. Targeting Student Skill and
Knowledge Levels
Edit student readings and notetaking
sheets
Edit PPT presentations (and use the
associated teacher resource to make your
own lecture notes)

15.  Add vocabulary activities. See the NAF Learning
Handbook (download from the NAF Curriculum
Library)
Targeting Student Skill and
Knowledge Levels

16.  Customize for English Language Learners using your
preferred strategies
 Use the Enrichment extensions provided in each
lesson (some are advanced and some are remedial)
Targeting Student Skill and
Knowledge Levels

17. Targeting Student Skill and
Knowledge Levels
 Use activities from other courses/academy themes
Example: Principles of IT has lessons on word processing,
presentation, and spreadsheet applications
Example: Hospitality Marketing has lessons on marketing
basics that apply across any product
Example: Ethics in Business has lessons that apply across
themes

18. Complying with
District & State Needs
Consult with NAF’s Instructional managers:
Laura Fidler: Northeast Region
Brooke Rice: Southeast Region
Kevin English: West Region
Andy Rothstein: All Regions
 Crosswalk your course to your state career
education framework or standards

19. Complying with
District & State Needs
 Substitute activities preferred by your team or district
to deliver content
 For Linked-Learning cohorts: use the Cross-Curricular
Integration section at end of each lesson plan

20. Technology can help improve usability

21. Going Paperless with
Resources and Assignments
• Load resources on to your district’s LMS
• Distribute student resources and collect
assignments on your school network
• Create a secure online space for your class using
shared folders with Google Drive or DropBox
• Sign up for an online “LMS” using a service such
as Edmodo, Moodle, Schoology, or Haiku
Learning

22. Planning & Staying Organized
 Highlight the 16 essential learning objectives on your
Scope and Sequence
 Use your Semester Planning Table to note where and
how you modified lessons, whether it worked, and
what you want to try next

23. How would you modify this lesson to
make it more:
• relevant for your students?
• targeted to your students’ skill &
knowledge levels?
• compliant with district or state
mandates?
• synergistic with your teaching style?
Let’s Practice

24. Thank You!
What Questions
Do You Have?