June 14th, 2013 Bob
From the National Center for Science Education weekly update, June 14, 2013
KANSAS ADOPTS NGSS
The Kansas state board of education voted 8-2 to accept the Next Generation Science Standards on June 11, 2013, despite protests over their treatment of evolution and climate change as central scientific topics. According to the Lawrence Journal-World (June 11, 2013), Ken Willard, a member of the board, complained in a lengthy prepared statement that “both evolution and human-caused climate change are presented in these standards dogmatically,” adding that the standards amount to “little more than indoctrination in political correctness.” Willard, along with John Bacon, voted against the adoption.
But science educators at the meeting spoke in support of the NGSS. Julie Schwarting, president of the Kansas Association of Biology Teachers, was quoted in the Journal-World as saying, “When I first read the NGSS, I was very excited to see it was just a clear description of what I’ve been striving toward for the past 10 years.” Cheryl Shepherd-Adams, a physics teacher who also serves as vice president of Kansas Citizens for Science, was quoted by the Associated Press (June 11, 2013) as saying that with the NGSS, “I can concentrate on teaching processes—teaching kids how to think like scientists.”
A petition signed by over 2500 Kansans organized by Climate Progress urged the adoption of the NGSS particularly because of its treatment of climate change, telling the board, “Our students deserve a 21st[-]century science education, and that includes learning about climate change.” After the board’s vote, Fred Heeren, who presented the Climate Progress petition to the board, told the Associated Press, “Climatology and climate change should be prioritized because of the condition of the world and because of our contribution to a changing climate.”
The NGSS, as NCSE’s Mark McCaffrey explained at LiveScience (April 5, 2013), are a new set of state science standards based on the National Research Council’s A Framework for K-12 Science Education and developed by a consortium including twenty-six states. When they were released in their final version, The New York Times (April 9, 2013) observed, “The climate and evolution standards are just two aspects of a set of guidelines containing hundreds of new ideas on how to teach science. But they have already drawn hostile commentary from conservative groups critical of mainstream scientific thinking.”
Kansas is the second state to adopt the NGSS, following Rhode Island, which adopted the NGSS on May 23, 2013, according to Education Week’s Curriculum Matters blog (May 24, 2013), with no apparent controversy. Kentucky’s state board of education unanimously voted to accept the NGSS on June 5, 2013. Although there were complaints about the NGSS’s treatment of evolution and climate change in Kentucky, none were aired at the board’s meeting. The adoption still needs to be approved by committees in the state legislature, according to the Curriculum Matters blog (June 12, 2013).
For the Lawrence Journal World story, visit:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2013/jun/11/state-board-approves-new-science-standards/
For the Associated Press story (via SFGate), visit:
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Kan-school-board-approves-new-science-standards-4594375.php
For the Climate Progress petition, visit:
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/kansas-state-board-of
For McCaffrey’s discussion of the NGSS at LiveScience, visit:
http://www.livescience.com/28512-science-standards.html
For the NRC’s Framework, visit:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165
For the story in The New York Times, visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/science/panel-calls-for-broad-changes-in-science-education.html
For the two posts on Education Week’s Curriculum Matters blog, visit:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2013/05/science_standards_win_ok_in_fi.html
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2013/06/kansas_board_votes_to_adopt_co.html
And for NCSE’s previous coverage of events in Kansas, visit:
http://ncse.com/news/kansas
“DEMOCRACY AND SCIENCE”
Barbara Forrest, Philip Kitcher, and Michael Ruse are among the scholars contributing to a symposium on “Democracy and Science” published in the journal Logos—which seeks to foster a critical dialogue on modern politics, culture, and society—and available on-line.
Forrest, in “Rejecting the Founders’ Legacy: Democracy as a Weapon Against Science,” compares “the Founders’ enthusiasm for science with Republicans’ current animosity toward it,” concentrating on her home state of Louisiana and the successful campaigns to undermine the teaching of evolution there. Kitcher, in “Plato’s Revenge: An Undemocratic Report from an Overheated Planet,” argues that “our current misconceptions about democracy, and about what a commitment to democracy requires of us, interfere with the global political discussions we so urgently need” in the face of global climate change. And Ruse, in “Democracy and Pseudo-Science,” urges tolerance for pseudoscience—but emphasizes that “tolerance about people’s beliefs does not extend to letting this sort of stuff [creation science] be taught in science classrooms in state-supported schools.”
Forrest, a member of NCSE’s board of directors, is Professor of Philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University. Kitcher and Ruse, both members of NCSE’s Advisory Council, are Professors of Philosophy at Columbia University and Florida State University, respectively.
For the issue of Logos featuring “Democracy and Science,” visit:
http://logosjournal.com/
A PREVIEW OF CREATION
NCSE is pleased to offer a free preview of Adam Rutherford’s Creation:
How Science is Reinventing Life Itself (Current/Penguin, 2013). The preview consists of chapter 3, “Hell on Earth,” in which Rutherford describes the early geology of the earth—“a picture of the Hadean earth is crucial to understanding the wild natural laboratory in which life contrived to be born”—and reviews the history of scientific work on the origin of life from Charles Darwin to Stanley Miller—
“Miller’s iconic experiment follows in the direct scientific lineage of Darwin’s warm little pond.”
Writing in the Guardian, Nick Lane praised Creation as “a brave and unusual book. Brave in its title and subtitles; unusual in its central conceit. It is two books in one, linked as the twin pillars of creation, natural and manmade—which calls for some delicate juggling of content. It is brave in this content, too: Rutherford is dealing with big questions, and he does not shy away from difficult and at times unfashionable material—from cell theory and entropy to the mechanics of DNA replication. And yet his writing is accessible and clear throughout.”
For the preview of Creation (PDF), visit:
http://ncse.com/book-excerpt
For information about the book from its publisher, visit:
http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781617230059,00.html
And for Lane’s review in the Guardian, visit:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/apr/06/creation-origin-life-rutherford-review
Thanks for reading. And don’t forget to visit NCSE’s website— http://ncse.com—where you can always find the latest news on evolution and climate education and threats to them.
–
Sincerely,
Glenn Branch
Deputy Director
National Center for Science Education, Inc.
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June 10th, 2013 Bob
Free Videos Bring Real-World STEM to the Classroom
A new free online resource called Spark 101 features interactive videos made by industry professionals on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics. Teachers can use these brief (about 10 minutes long) videos to engage students in solving real-world problems during one or two class periods. The content is directly connected to national curriculum from the College Board’s Advanced Placement, the National Academy Foundation, and Project Lead the Way, making it easy for teachers to integrate the videos in their classrooms. The videos have a three-segment format, with pauses for student dialogue.
Spark 101′s partners are employers from business, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors, who create and contribute videos highlighting real-world applications of STEM coursework. These partners include Lockheed Martin, NASA, Proctor and Gamble, PepsiCo, Deloitte, and the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to helping teachers bridge the gap from the classroom to the workforce, the videos are intended to inspire students to consider STEM careers.
While the website is free to all teachers nationwide, some regions are using Spark 101 locally to serve targeted student populations. For information on upcoming educator or industry training webinars, e-mail Spark101@114th.org.
Visit NSTA’s Freebies for Science Teachers website for other free teaching resources.
Start Your Summer PD with Free NSTA Web Seminars
Log on for a free NSTA web seminar in June and get a jump start on your summer professional learning. You can find out about creating a digital professional portfolio, discover strategies for implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and get tips for implementing STEM lessons with an exciting NASA connection.
Get details on these web seminars, view the full calendar of upcoming programs, and register in the NSTA Learning Center.
Professional Development from NSTA for New Science Teachers
Plan for the next school year before the summer has begun. New science teachers can take advantage of NSTA’s finest offer—cost free, yearlong professional development for those educators during their most vulnerable career years, their second through fifth year of teaching. The New Science Teacher Academy, a career-enhancing program for middle and high school science teachers in their second through fifth year of teaching provides mentoring with unique support and resources intending to heighten teaching skills and content knowledge, and ease the often difficult initial years as a novice teacher. Hundreds of teachers will be chosen to participate in the 2013–2014 Academy and take advantage of cost-free, consistent online professional development activities along with face-to-face educational experiences. A simple application is all it takes. Middle and high school principals should consider making this a top priority for their newest science teachers.
The Academy provides each teacher with:
To find out more about the Academy and how to apply for a scholarship, visit www.nsta.org/academy. The application deadline is August 1.
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April 16th, 2013 Bob
Join us for a free web seminar on Tuesday April 16—Introducing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Be the first to get an overview of the new science standards from Achieve’s Stephen Pruitt, learn more about the conceptual shifts and dimensions, and discover how NGSS will shape science education for years to come. Also hear from NSTA executive Director, David Evans about NSTA’s outreach and support for science educators around the NGSS. To accommodate the large number of participants expected for this web seminar, NSTA will hold two sessions. The first session is scheduled from 5:30–7 p.m. ET, a second session will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. ET.
Participants are asked to register for one session only. To register:
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NGSS/webseminar26.aspx.
Cindy Workosky
Communications Representative
National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
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April 9th, 2013 Bob
State-created standards for science education in the 21st Century
WASHINGTON – April 9, 2013 – On Tuesday, April 9, the final Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a new set of voluntary, rigorous, and internationally benchmarked standards for K-12 science education, were released.
Twenty six states and their broad-based teams worked together for two years with a 41-member writing team and partners to develop the standards which identify science and engineering practices and content that all K-12 students should master in order to be fully prepared for college, careers and citizenship. The NGSS were built upon a vision for science education established by the Framework for K-12 Science Education, published by the National Academies’ National Research Council in 2011.
The lead state partners include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
“The NGSS aim to prepare students to be better decision makers about scientific and technical issues and to apply science to their daily lives. By blending core science knowledge with scientific practices, students are engaged in a more relevant context that deepens their understanding and helps them to build what they need to move forward with their education -whether that’s moving on to a four-year college or moving into post-secondary training,” said Matt Krehbeil, Science Education Program Consultant, of Kansas.
“This blending of the dimensions described in the Framework for K-12 Science Education aligns with what research has shown are the most effective practices in teaching science. Students who experience quality instruction based on the NGSS will be prepared to understand the world around them and will be college and career ready.”
“As emphasized in the Framework, an active learning of scientific practices is critical, and takes time. A focus on these practices, rather than on content alone, leads to a deep, sustained learning of the skills needed to be a successful adult, regardless of career choice,” said Bruce Alberts, PhD, who is Editor-in-Chief of Science and served two six-year terms as President of the National Academy of Sciences. “We must teach our science students to do something in science class, not to memorize facts.”
The creation of the NGSS was entirely state-driven, with no federal funds or incentives to create or adopt the standards. The process was primarily funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a leading philanthropy dedicated to improving science education in the U.S. The NGSS are grounded in a sound, evidence-based foundation of current scientific research-including research on the ways students learn science effectively-and identify the science all K-12 students should know.
“In Michigan, our conversation about education always includes workforce training. Whenever we adopt a new set of standards we make sure to promote the opportunities the standards afford, not just in terms of college readiness, but in terms of workforce readiness. That’s particularly relevant with the NGSS,” said Susan Codere, Project Coordinator for the NGSS in Michigan.
“The Next Generation Science Standards are going to pull together inquiry and practice, and recognize the role of engineering. Pulling together the cross-cutting concepts is going to be a challenge, but it’s really effective pedagogy,” said Ellen Ebert, Washington State’s Director of Science for Teaching and Learning at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. “In Washington State we’re looking at the NGSS to propel students into 21st century-we’re looking at college and career readiness. This is a real opportunity to help students see the potential of science in their lives.”
“The Next Generation of Science Standards promise to help students understand why is it that we have to know science and help them use scientific learning to develop critical thinking skills-which may be applied throughout their lives, no matter the topic. Today, students see science as simply a list of facts and ideas that they are expected to memorize. In contrast to that approach education researchers have learned, particularly in the last 15 to 20 years, that if we cover fewer ideas, but go into more depth, students come away with a much richer understanding. Unlike previous standards, where you have separation of inquiry and ideas that students should know, in the NGSS they are now together,” said Joseph S. Krajcik, Professor of Science Education in the College of Education at Michigan State University and a member of the writing team.
Achieve, a non-partisan nonprofit education organization, coordinated the states’ efforts.
About NGSS
Next Generation Science Standards for Today’s Students and Tomorrow’s Workforce: Through a collaborative, state-led process, new K-12 science standards were developed that are rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education. The NGSS are based on the Framework for K-12 Science Education developed by the National Research Council. For more information, please visit our website at www.nextgenscience.org.
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March 11th, 2013 Bob
Two Ways to Get Involved…
1 Register for the May 2013 Science Assessment Workshop
With the release of the new Next Generation Science Standards just ahead, it’s a great time to find out more about AAAS Project 2061’s standards-based approach to designing science assessments. Join us for our popular three-day professional development experience focused exclusively on assessment—from high-stakes testing to classroom diagnostics—and its role in helping all students achieve important science learning goals. Register now for our May workshop and take advantage of discounted Early Bird rates. Team discounts are also available.
| Workshop: |
Developing and Using Assessments Aligned to Science Learning Goals |
| Dates: |
May 15–17, 2013** |
| Who should attend: |
Educators involved in the assessment of student learning in science, including middle school science teachers, science specialists, assessment directors and coordinators in states and school districts, assessment and curriculum developers, university science education faculty, education researchers, and informal science educators. |
| Where: |
AAAS Headquarters, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC |
| How to register: |
Go to http://www.project2061.org/events/workshops/assessment-overview.htmfor a description of the workshop, sample agenda, and details on workshop fees and registration. |
** Registration also open for additional workshops to be held August 7–9, 2013, and October 9–11, 2013.
2 Participate in Pilot Testing of Elementary, Middle, and High School Science Assessment Items
AAAS Project 2061 is developing assessment items to measure students’ understanding of ideas about energy and evolution. The research team is now recruiting teachers willing to pilot test multiple-choice test items with their students in Spring 2013:
ENERGY ITEMS
- Students must be in 4th–12th grade.
- Test may be administered online or in paper format.
- Test should take no more than a single class period.
- Registration deadline is April 14, 2013.
- Go to http://register.p2061.org/energy-invite.html for information.
|
EVOLUTION ITEMS
|
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February 16th, 2013 Bob
The latest review of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) coincides the beginning of a series of meetings to write the latest version of the C3 State Standards for Science.
The NGSS represents a significant effort on the part of scientists, educators, industry leaders and policymakers to define and organize the best scientific understandings in combination with the best instructional practices with an eye toward integration with the Common Core State Standards.
In anticipation of this important work, the OSTA Board has approved a position statement indicating the Boards support for those NGSS and it’s use in developing the new C3 Science Standards.
NGSS Position Statement
The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA) is a membership organization for professional science educators that develops, promotes, and supports science education in the state of Oklahoma by providing training opportunities to teachers. Our training emphasis assists teachers in implementing the science education standards set forth by the Oklahoma State Department of Education; facilitates the dissemination of scientific knowledge; encourages scientific thinking and the utilization of the practices of science through the teaching of science; makes information available to teachers concerning the selection, organization, and presentation of scientific materials; stresses the interrelationships of the sciences and to other educational experiences; plans, organizes, and administers projects for the advancement and utilization of knowledge in science education; and advocates for high quality science education at all levels and education venues within Oklahoma.
At the core of OSTA’s mission are the Oklahoma science standards set forth by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. From the original Suggested Learner Outcomes (SLO’s), to the Priority Academic Student Skills(PASS), to the current College, Career, Community(C3) standards, these documents have directed the course of OSTA staff development as we work with the science educators of Oklahoma to bring those standards to life. Beginning almost twenty years ago, the current PASS and subsequent C3 Standards were developed in reference to the best science education content and processes skills as defined by the National Research Council’s National Science Education Standards and the American Academy for the Advancement of Science’s Benchmarks for Science Literacy. Needless to say, major advances have since taken place in the world of science and in our understanding of how students learn science effectively.
Now, through a state-led process where state policy leaders, higher education, K–12 teachers, the science and business community, and others are completing work on the development of the Next Generation Science Standards for Today’s Students and Tomorrow’s Workforce (NGSS). The process for the science standards development takes into account the importance of having the scientific and educational research communities identify core ideas in science and articulate them across grade bands. Managed by Achieve, Oklahoma’s long-time education partner, these new K–12 science standards are written to be rich in content and practice and arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education. The work undertaken by Achieve is being supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. No federal funds have or will be used to develop the standards.
The NGSS lays out the core ideas and practices in science that students should master in preparation for college and careers. They clarify for students the relevance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (the four STEM fields) to everyday life. NGSS describes a vision of what it means to be proficient in science. It also presents and explains the interrelationships among practices, cross-disciplinary concepts and disciplinary core ideas. Engaging in these practices help students become successful analytical thinkers, prepared for college and careers.
The goal of the Next Generation Science Standards is to create robust, forward-looking K–12 science standards that all states can use to guide teaching and learning in science for the next decade. Many national and local organizations, including the National Academies for Science, Achieve, the National Science Teachers Association, and the American Academy for the Advancement of Science are working collaboratively with states and other stakeholders to help ensure the standards are of high quality, internationally benchmarked, rigorous, research-based and aligned with expectations for college and careers.
The Next Generation Science Standards were also developed to make the best use of the Common Core State Standards that have already been implemented in Oklahoma to help students meet the particular challenges of mathematics, reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language in their respective fields—in this case, science. Oklahoma educators and policymakers can use the NGSS, as we work to use the CCSS in English language arts and mathematics, to align curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional preparation and development in a seamless, efficient manner.
In the end, the decision to adopt the standards and make them consistent between states will lie in the hands of the states themselves. But already, science education materials developers, curriculum writers, textbook authors, education vendors, and assessment specialists are developing materials and products for use by the majority of states and schools in the United States that will adopt and implement the Next Generation Science Standards. States that do not utilize NGSS for one reason or another will be left with a mish-mash of standards and objectives developed without the research basis that is at the foundation of the NGSS and without alignment to materials, supplies, or assessments that will be in use by the majority of schools and states. It will be difficult for such non-adopting states and districts to compare or contrast their education efforts and even more difficult for them to assert they are developing a workforce ready to compete in the global market or develop students for STEM careers. In short, they will disarm while adopting states are preparing to do battle in the global marketplace.
In 2013 the Oklahoma State Department of Education begins the process of reviewing and developing new C3 standards for science and approving those standards for official use by Oklahoma school districts as the pre-K – grade 12 science curriculum. It is the position of the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association that in order to reap the benefits of the science standards, Oklahoma should adopt the Next Generation Science Standards in whole, without alteration, as the Oklahoma C3 Standards for Science.
- Approved by the OSTA Board of Directors, February, 2013.
Download a copy of the statement here.
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January 31st, 2013 Bob
Application Deadline Extended to February 4th, 2013
The deadline for applications for the Oklahoma C3 Science Standards Review Committee is fast approaching! Thank you to everyone who has already submitted an application, I have received several to date.
Applications can be downloaded from the Science Webpage.
The Oklahoma C3 Science Standards Review Committee will consist of two teams:
(1) Writing Team: As a participant of the Writing Team, individuals will be required to attend on-site meetings and will participate in the writing of the revised Oklahoma C3 Science Standards.
(2) Draft Team: As a member of the Draft Team, participants will be asked to review drafts of the standards developed by the Writing Team and provide feedback. Reviews will be conducted electronically and will not require on-site meetings.
You will find a copy of the application attached to this message. You may complete the application digitally and submit it to me by e-mail by clicking on the submit button on page 4 of the application.
You will need to attach the application as a document to the e-mail as the submit button just provides a direct link to my e-mail.
The committee will be composed of science educators, scientists and engineers, and business, industry, and community members.
If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to contact me.
Teaching Current Events in Science: Strategies and Resources
Bringing current events into the science classroom can be an engaging way to expand upon students’ interests in science. Current events can also be utilized to reinforce concepts students gain through explorations in the science classroom.
I often watch videos on The Teaching Channel to see what strategies teachers are using in their classrooms and I stumbled upon the video below. The video showcases a science teacher’s use of current events in science in his classroom.
The Teaching Channel: Making Science Relevant with Current Events
· Documents utilized in the video can be accessed on the sidebar of the webpage under supporting materials.
- Current Science Events-Science Events Lesson Plan (includes a document that can be utilized for citations and document analysis)
- Science Tweets Worksheet
Websites for Current Events in Science:
· http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/
· http://www.sciencenews.org/
· http://www.sciencedaily.com/
· http://news.discovery.com/
· http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
· http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
· http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/cool-jobs-delving-into-dung/
Accountability & Assessment Resources:
Accountability & Assessment Resources page for the SDE website has been updated.
Science Teachers will find the resources listed below on the SDE website by clicking on this link.
· http://www.ok.gov/sde/accountability-assessment-resources
- Science Standard Flip Charts | Grade 5 (pdf) | Grade 8 (pdf)| EOI Biology I Content and Process (pdf)
- Science Depth-of-Knowledge Transition Chart, 2010-2013 (pdf)
- Science Formula pages | Grade 8 (pdf) |
Educator Opportunities:
Oklahoma State Department of Education Common Core Regional Meetings:
· Union for Elementary Teachers (February 20) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Union for Secondary Teachers (February 20) 8:00-11:30 am
· Hugo for Elementary Teachers (February 22) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Hugo for Secondary Teachers (February 22) 8:00-11:30 am
· Weatherford for Elementary Teachers (March 29) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Weatherford for Secondary Teachers (March 29) 8:00-11:30 am
Register for all Regional Meetings at: http://osde-regionalmeetings.eventbrite.com/
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Read about it here .
Nominations period is open! Nomination Deadline is April 1, 2013.
Start considering great 7-12 science teachers now!
Oklahoma Environmental Education Expo: February 1st
The Oklahoma Environmental Education Expo is being held at Rosser Conservation Education Center, at the Oklahoma City Zoological Park from 8:00 am -4:00 pm.
Mammals from Head to Toe: A Skins, Skulls, and Tracks Workshop February 12th, 2013
Join the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the Rogers County Conservation District for a one-day workshop to learn how to identify some of Oklahoma’s most common mammals from clues they leave behind.
Registration Deadline: Friday February 8th, 2013 Location: Hackberry Flat Center, Frederick, OK Time: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm See attached flyer here for details.
Deadline for Reviewing the Next Generation Science Standards: January 31st
Last week Achieve released the second (and final) public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All science educators, administrators, and other stakeholders are strongly encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback online to Achieve during the comment period, which ends January 29. Review the draft here.
NSTA has a vast collection of materials organized by topic and disciplinary core ideas to help you study the second public draft of NGSS. Find them here.
Take a look at the short video developed by Matt Krehbiel, Science Education Program Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education, that will help you to navigate the Next Generation Science Standards website and the Achieve survey.
Learn more and sign up for one of these upcoming NSTA webinars on Engineering Practices in NGSS (1/15); Using the NGSS Practices in the Elementary Grades (1/29); or Making Connections Between NGSS and Common Core Math and ELA (2/12).
Watch Montana teacher of the year Paul Anderson’s comprehensive video series on NGSS.
Take a peek at one of the eight webinars presented earlier this fall that focused on the Scientific and Engineering Practices described in A Framework for K–12 Science Education.
Read and download NSTA’s growing collection of monthly journal articles exploring the Framework. Articles examine the practices, crosscutting concepts, connections to common core, and more. Watch for upcoming articles on the core ideas by Rodger Bybee, Joe Krajcik, and Michael Wysession.
Stay Connected:
Follow me on Twitter: @tiffanyneill
Facebook: #OKSci
Hashtags: #oksde #OKSci #OKSTEM
Sign Up for a Twitter account: https://twitter.com/
OKSci Recources:
Classroom Strategies: http://www.scoop.it/t/oksci-classroom-strategies
Website Resources Elementary: http://bit.ly/OSDE-SciElemLinks
Website Resources Secondary: http://bit.ly/OSDE-SecScienceLinks
Accessing Archived Science Messages:
You can access Archived Science Messages I’ve sent out since March via the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA) website. Scroll down to see previous posts.
Science Listserv:
Please encourage others to register for the science listserv and pass along the following registration link:
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
Tiffany Neill, M.Ed.
Director of Science Education
Office of Instruction
Oklahoma State Department of Education
P: 405.522.3524
Tiffany.Neill@sde.ok.gov
@tiffanyneill
Science Webpage
PE & Health Webpage
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January 25th, 2013 Bob
For the last year, the National Center for Science Education has been advising an effort to produce modern and consistent Next Generation Science Standards. Dozens of states have committed to consider using these new standards instead of continuing to write their own state by state.
The effort to produce standards which can be widely implemented is coming to a close, and we want to be sure that you have a chance to weigh in. The final public review is under way now, and will close next week. The framework for the standards rightly grants evolution and climate change central roles, and we’re optimistic that the new standards will revolutionize American science education. We still worry about the harm that could come if these standards give any loopholes that can be exploited by creationists, climate change deniers, or other ideologues.
We’ve provided resources to help you share your thoughts on the standards at our website. Once there, you can learn more about how to file your own comments on the standards, how you can help make sure NCSE’s comments are taken seriously as the final revisions are made to the standards, and how you can stay involved as the finalized standards are sent to the states for adoption.
Please act by January 28 to ensure your voice is heard.
Many thanks for your help and support.
Sincerely,
Eugenie C. Scott
Executive Director
National Center for Science Education
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January 16th, 2013 Bob
Socioeconomic Inequality Skews U.S. Student Test Scores According to New Global Achievement Study
Rankings that show U.S. students lagging behind their international peers in academic achievement are misleading because they inadequately account for social inequality, according to a new report released this week by the Stanford Graduate School of Education and the Economic Policy Institute.
According to the report, American students would rise to fourth from 14th in reading and to 10th from 25th in math on the most recent international comparison if the U.S. had a social class composition similar to that of top-ranking nations.
“Errors in selecting sample populations of test-takers and arbitrary choices regarding test content contribute to results that appear to show U.S. students lagging,” the report says.
Click here to read the full report, “What Do International Tests Really Show About U.S. Student Performance?”
New Gallup Survey Finds Students Less Engaged Over Time
The longer students remain in school the less engaged they are, according to the Gallup Student Poll, released last month.
According to the poll, when students were asked if they were engaged with school, the percentage of students who said yes dropped steadily in relation to how far along they were in their academic careers.
The researchers surveyed the attitudes of nearly half a million students from 1,700 schools located in 37 states. The results show that while 76 percent of students said they were engaged with school while in elementary school, only 44 percent of those answering felt the same when in high school. Middle-schoolers fell smack in the center of both extremes with 61 percent engagement.
Download the report here.
Measures of Effective Teaching Project Releases Final Research Report
The Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project, a three-year study designed to determine how to best identify and promote great teaching, today released its third and final research report. According to the report—released earlier this month by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—student feedback, test-score growth calculations, and observations of practice can provide a balanced and accurate picture of teacher performance.
Key findings from the report include:
- It is possible to develop reliable measures that identify great teaching. In the first year of the study, teaching practice was measured using a combination of student surveys, classroom observations, and student achievement gains. Then, in the second year, teachers were randomly assigned to different classrooms of students. The students’ outcomes were later measured using state tests and supplemental assessments designed to measure students’ conceptual understanding in math and ability to write short answer responses following reading passages. The teachers whose students did better during the first year of the project also had students who performed better following random assignment. Moreover, the magnitude of the achievement gains they generated aligned with the predictions. This is the first large-scale study to demonstrate, using random assignment, that it is possible to identify great teaching.
- The report describes the trade-offs involved when school systems combine different measures (student achievement gains, classroom observations, and student surveys). However, the report shows that a more balanced approach—which incorporates the student survey data and classroom observations—has two important advantages: ratings are less likely to fluctuate from year to year, and the combination is more likely to identify teachers with better outcomes on assessments other than the state tests.
- The report provides guidance on the best ways to achieve reliable classroom observations. Many school districts currently require observations by a single school administrator. The report recommends averaging observations from more than one observer, such as another administrator in a school or a peer observer.
Read the report here.
Teacher Education, Professional Development, and Grant and Award Opportunities
2013 Healthivores Video Game Contest—Simple and Rewarding Approach to Student Game Design
Are you a teacher with zero video game design experience? NO PROBLEM! This year’s Healthivores Video Game Contest has begun and it’s easier than you think. Check out the included lesson plan that will take teachers, even those with zero game design experience, step-by-step through the process of teaching your students to design games. You will have your students completing their video games in less than four weeks. This year we have added technology, science and math focused lesson plan options to the already popular nutrition and fitness lesson plan. Each winning team will receive one laptop for the teacher, one for the school and one for each student on the team (See 2012 Winners here). Deadline for entries is March 31, 2013. Get started now at the Healthivores Video Game Contest homepage!
Living in a Material World Grants
To help K–12 teachers bring the real world of materials science into their classrooms, the ASM Materials Education Foundation awards 10 grants of $500 annually. The purpose of the “Living in a Material World” grants, which recognize teacher creativity, is to enhance awareness of materials science and the role of materials scientists in society. Applicants must submit a two-page proposal describing a curriculum-based, hands-on project involving students’ observations, communication, and mathematics and science skills that will increase their awareness of the materials around them. Applications are due May 25. Click here for more information.
LifeChanger of the Year Program
National Life Group’s annual LifeChanger of the Year program recognizes and rewards school district employees and educators who make a positive difference in the lives of students. LifeChanger of the Year provides cash awards to the top 10 individual honorees and their schools. Anyone may nominate a K–12 education professional or school employee for the LifeChanger of the Year award. Students are welcome to submit nominations but must have support from a teacher or administrator. Nominees must be full-time educators, teachers, principals, or any member of the school’s staff who makes a positive difference in the lives of students . The nomination period runs through January 25, 2013. Winners will be announced in March 2013. Visit the program website for more information.
U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Seeks Mentors
College educators may apply for a position as mentor for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program. Duties during the three-year term include helping to conduct the two-week national study camp for high school students held at the U.S. Air Force Academy located in Colorado in June of 2014, 2015, and 2016. Generally, in their second and third year, mentors accompany four U.S. student competitors to the International Chemistry Olympiad. Successful applicants are expected to have background in one or more of the areas of organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, or biochemistry with classroom experience and should demonstrate involvement with students in special projects or activities. American Chemical Society pays all expenses and travel costs, as well as an honorarium. If you’re interested in mentoring, submit a completed Mentor Application Form no later than January 26, 2013 and three letters of reference by February 9, 2013. Click here for more information.
Teacher Resources
Museum in a Box
NASA’s Museum in a Box program brings the physical sciences of flight to K–12 students. These standards-based, aeronautics-themed lessons are designed to inspire future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. In this collection of activities, flight is considered from many angles. Lessons explore the history of flight, parts of an airplane, principles of flight, structures and materials, propulsion, aerospace careers, airspace, and the future of flight. Many lessons have versions adapted for different grade levels. Selected titles from each grade span include First Flyers (preK–4); Bernoulli’s Principle (K–4, 5–8); Future Flight Design Activity (grades 5–8), and Wind Power (grades 9–12).
Time to Invent Club Activities: Grades 5–8
Help middle level students develop their engineering and design skills with activities from the Time to Invent Club, produced by Public Broadcasting Service television station WGBH Boston. This program features 16 student-centered invention challenges, including Trophy Tower, Hit the Target, Pinball Party, and Circuit Board. All activities require teamwork and allow for multiple solutions.
K–12 Sound Resources
Looking to build an effective unit on sound? Check out the education resources page from the American Acoustical Society. The site offers current news stories about acoustics; videos and animations exploring the basics of sound; a poster set with sound activities and career profiles of acousticians; and a gallery of interesting sounds from various animals, insects, the Earth/atmosphere (e.g., Antarctic ice breaking), and musical instruments.
Student Opportunities and Resources
Register Now for The DuPont Challenge
The DuPont Challenge calls on students from the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories to research, think critically, and write a 700–1,000 word essay that provides innovative ideas on the world’s most pressing challenges, or demonstrates the application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to our daily lives. Students and sponsoring teacher prizes include savings bonds, teaching grants, exciting trips, and much more. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2013. For more information, including official rules, entry forms, and details on awards, please visit the Challenge website.
What Is Science Matters?
Science Matters is an initiative by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) to bring content, news, and information that supports quality science education to parents and teachers nationwide.
Science Matters, sponsored by the ExxonMobil Foundation and Shell Oil Company, builds on the success of the Building a Presence for Science program, first launched in 1997 as an e-networking initiative to assist teachers of science with professional development opportunities. Building a Presence for Science—now Science Matters—reaches readers in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Why does Science Matter? Science is critical to understanding the world around us. Most Americans feel that they received a good education and that their children will as well. Unfortunately, not many are aware that international tests show that American students are simply not performing well in science when compared to students in other countries. Many students (and their parents!) believe that science is irrelevant to their lives.
Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy, and this innovation depends on a solid knowledge base in science, math, and engineering. All jobs of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science. The most recent ten year employment projections by the U.S. Labor Department show that of the 20 fastest growing occupations projected for 2014, fifteen of them require significant mathematics or science preparation to successfully compete for a job
This is why Science Matters. Quality learning experiences in the sciences—starting at an early age—are critical to science literacy and our future workforce. Feel free to publish this information in school newsletters and bulletins, and share it with other parents, teachers, and administrators.
Visit the Science Matters website at www.nsta.org/sciencematters.
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January 15th, 2013 Bob
Greetings Fellow Science Educators!
I hope you all enjoyed your time with friends and family over the holidays! With the start of a new year I have numerous exciting opportunities to share with you, including the kick off to our process for revising the Oklahoma C3 Science Standards.
We are now accepting applications for those that are interested in serving on the Oklahoma C3 Science Standards Revision Committee.
The Oklahoma C3 Science Standards Review Committee will consist of two teams:
(1) Writing Team: As a participant of the Writing Team, individuals will be required to attend on-site meetings and will participate in the writing of the revised Oklahoma C3 Science Standards.
(2) Draft Team: As a member of the Draft Team, participants will be asked to review drafts of the standards developed by the Writing Team and provide feedback. Reviews will be conducted electronically and will not require on-site meetings.
You will find a copy of the application HERE. You may complete the application digitally and submit it to me by e-mail by clicking on the submit button on page 4 of the application.
You will need to attach the application as a document to the e-mail as the submit button just provides a direct link to my e-mail.
The committee will be composed of science educators, scientists and engineers, and business, industry, and community members.
If you have any questions about the process or if you have issues with the pdf document, please feel free to contact me.
Tiffany Neill at 405-522-3524 or Tiffany.Neill@sde.ok.gov
2nd Draft of the Next Generation Science Standards Just Released:
Last week Achieve released the second (and final) public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All science educators, administrators, and other stakeholders are strongly encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback online to Achieve during the comment period, which ends January 29. Review the draft here.
NSTA has a vast collection of materials organized by topic and disciplinary core ideas to help you study the second public draft of NGSS. Find them here.
Take a look at the short video developed by Matt Krehbiel, Science Education Program Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education, that will help you to navigate the Next Generation Science Standards website and the Achieve survey.
Learn more and sign up for one of these upcoming NSTA webinars on Engineering Practices in NGSS (1/15); Using the NGSS Practices in the Elementary Grades (1/29); or Making Connections Between NGSS and Common Core Math and ELA (2/12).
Watch Montana teacher of the year Paul Anderson’s comprehensive video series on NGSS.
Take a peek at one of the eight webinars presented earlier this fall that focused on the Scientific and Engineering Practices described in A Framework for K–12 Science Education.
Read and download NSTA’s growing collection of monthly journal articles exploring the Framework. Articles examine the practices, crosscutting concepts, connections to common core, and more. Watch for upcoming articles on the core ideas by Rodger Bybee, Joe Krajcik, and Michael Wysession.
Resources:
Lesson Idea using Virtual Lab for Measuring the Rate of Photosynthesis in Elodea
If I still had students I think I would do the following 5e lesson with this resource:
Engage: If you increase the light intensity for elodea will the rate of photosynthesis increase? Let students answer this question on a sheet of paper and commit and toss their responses making sure they explain the reasoning behind their response.
Explore: Then let students decide in small groups how they want to plan the investigation, collect data, and report out data.
Explain: Lead a class discussion around the class findings and assist in explaining why they got the results they got.
Evaluate: Return to the engagement question and let students redo their responses or back up their original response with evidence from data they collected or information gained from the lesson.
Elaborate: Have students predict which areas of the world would have the greatest plant biomass, and explain the impacts that destruction of those areas could have. (Thanks Brandi Parson Williams for the elaborate idea from the #OKSci Facebook page). There also might be some great articles for students to explore in this elaboration.
NAE, AFT Partner to Build Common Core Tools:
The two national teachers’ unions have won $11 million to build an online warehouse of instructional tools for the Common Core State Standards. Student Achievement Partners, whose founders led the writing of the standards, is also a grantee. It will work with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association and their teachers to build the tools and post them on Student Achievement Partners’ website. Read more about it!
Educator Opportunities:
Oklahoma State Department of Education Common Core Regional Meetings:
· Bartlesville for Elementary Teachers (January 18) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Bartlesville for Secondary Teachers (January 18) 8:00-11:30 am
· Hugo for Elementary Teachers (February 22) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Hugo for Secondary Teachers (February 22) 8:00-11:30 am
· Weatherford for Elementary Teachers (March 29) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Weatherford for Secondary Teachers (March 29) 8:00-11:30 am
Register for all Regional Meetings at: http://osde-regionalmeetings.eventbrite.com/
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Read about it here .
Nominations period is open! Nomination Deadline is April 1, 2013.
Start considering great 7-12 science teachers now!
Geoscience Education Teachers’ Retreat: February 8th (evening – February 10th (morning)
The geosciences are the most underrepresented area of all science fields! Come work with geologist, Dr. Jim Puckette, and science educators Drs. Toni Ivey and Julie Thomas to learn more about geology and how it connects to your biology, chemistry, and physics classroom!
The retreat will take place at Roman Nose State Park. Participants will receive a $50 travel stipend, $150 participant stipend, and room and board while at Roman Nose State Park.
Space is limited! Please CLICK HERE TO REGISTER! Register by January 31, 2013.
Earth and Space Science Education in Oklahoma Stakeholder’s Summit: February 15th
On February 15, 2013, I Toni Ivey will chair an Earth and Space Science Education Stakeholder’s Summit on the Oklahoma State University campus. This event will focus on three main questions with regard to Earth and space science education in Oklahoma: Where are we? Where do we need to be? and How do we get there? Please see below for more information on how to register.
Also, If you have colleagues that you fell would be interested in taking place in the conversation, please forward this message to them. The summit hopes to have representation from across business, industry, and education in Oklahoma.
Register at: http://education.okstate.edu/stakeholders-summit
Student Opportunities:
OSU-National Lab Day (NLD): May 7th
High School teachers are eligible to bring up to 7 students(sophomores and/or juniors)to NLD. Teacher/student teams will visit labs of three OSU STEM Labs and engage in activities related to faculty research.
Space is limited so register today! Teachers can register at:
http://osu-crstl.org/national-lab-day/teacher_registration/
Oklahoma Environmental Education Expo: February 1st
The Oklahoma Environmental Education Expo is being held at Rosser Conservation Education Center, at the Oklahoma City Zoological Park from 8:00 am -4:00 pm. Register at http://oklahomaenvironmentaleducationexpo.com/
11th Annual Regional JSHA Competition: March 1st-2nd
Oklahoma State University is hosting the 11th Annual Regional JSHA Competition. High School students present original research and compete for cash scholarships (up to $200, regionally and $12,000 nationally).
OSU covers travel and lodging expenses and there is a $500 award for the teacher who brings the most high school (10th-12th grade) student presenters. See this Flier for details!
Fleming Scholar Program: Application Deadline February 1st
The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is now accepting applications for the Fleming Scholar Program. If you know any scientifically passionate students, will you please encourage them to apply?
This program grants selected students an opportunity to work side-by-side with real life, biomedical research scientists for eight weeks during the summer. Scholars also get paid and housing is provided for those who qualify. Applicants do NOT need to have any prior science or research experience. We seek students with passion, curiosity, diligence and enthusiasm.
Requirements:
- Submit online application by February 1
- Send (or have sent) up to three recommendation letters by (or postmarked by) February 1 deadline
- Possess strong enthusiasm for science
- Be a high school senior or college freshman, sophomore or junior
- Be a graduate or soon-to-be graduate from an Oklahoma high school
The application deadline is February 1, and more information is available at http://omrf.org/fleming.
If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Stevens at 405-271-7434 or courtney-stevens@omrf.org
Stay Connected:
Follow me on Twitter: @tiffanyneill
Facebook:#OKSci
Hashtags: #oksde #OKSci #OKSTEM
Sign Up for a Twitter account: https://twitter.com/
OKSci Recources:
Classroom Strategies: http://www.scoop.it/t/oksci-classroom-strategies
Website Resources Elementary: http://bit.ly/OSDE-SciElemLinks
Website Resources Secondary: http://bit.ly/OSDE-SecScienceLinks
Accessing Archived Science Messages:
You can access Archived Science Messages I’ve sent out since March via the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA) website. Scroll down to see previous posts.
Science Listserv:
Please encourage others to register for the science listserv and pass along the following registration link:
Register for Science Listserv
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
-Tiffany
Tiffany Neill, M.Ed.
Director of Science Education
Office of Instruction
Oklahoma State Department of Education
P: 405.522.3524
Tiffany.Neill@sde.ok.gov
@tiffanyneill
Science Webpage
PE & Health Webpage
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