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Process Used to Determine Depth of Knowledge in the Iowa Core Literacy and Mathematics Standards

In 2012, the Iowa Department of Education decided to add cognitive complexity/demand codes to the Iowa Core Standards for Literacy and Mathematics as a service to the field, choosing Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) framework to accomplish this goal. DOK codes for the Standards were determined by two primary means: A national study of the Common Core Standards, and a local study of the Iowa Core Standards.

A study of the Common Core State Standards completed by WestEd in 2011 included assigning cognitive complexity codes using Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) to Standards for English/Language Arts and Mathematics for grades 3 through 12.

A study was completed in Iowa that examined the cognitive complexity using Webb’s DOK for the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts and Mathematics for grades kindergarten through 2, and the Iowa-specific additions for grades K-12. That Executive Summary and full report can be found at these links:

Executive Summary: Determining the Cognitive Complexity of the Iowa Core in Literacy and Mathematics

Full Report: Determining the Cognitive Complexity of the Iowa Core in Literacy and Mathematics