Teacher Inservice August 17, 2016
Teaching NGSS with a Constructivist/Charter approach
1. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) standards were adopted by California in 2013. The pilot test will be this school year in 5th grade. The operational test should be next year. Click here to view implementation guideline
What are the standards and how do I read them?
- You can choose to view the standards by disciplinary core ideas or by topic.
- The performance standards are listed at the top.
- Next to each performance standard is a clarification statement in red. It helps define the range of the standard.
- In front of each performance standard is a group of letters and numbers such as K-LS1 - the first letter or number is for the grade level. The next few letters refer to the discipline and the last number refers to the number of the standard. In this example K-LS-1 refers to kindergarten life science standard 1.
- Beneath the performance standard are three columns - science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and cross cutting concepts. These can be considered resources for integrating a multidimensional approach to science.
Why NGSS?
"... the present science textbooks and methods of instruction emphasized the learning of answers more than the exploration of questions, memory at the expense of critical thoughts, bits and pieces of information instead of understanding in context, recitation over argument, reading in lieu of doing."
https://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v3_issue1/sowm/sowm3.htm
https://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v3_issue1/sowm/sowm3.htm
condensed list from the position statement
1. K–12 science education should reflect the interconnected nature of science as it is practiced and experienced in the real world.
2. The NGSS are student performance expectations, not curriculum.
3. The science concepts in the NGSS build coherently from kindergarten through 12th grade.
4. The NGSS focus on deeper understanding of content as well as application of content.
5. Science and engineering are integrated in the NGSS, from kindergarten through 12th grade.
6. The NGSS is designed to prepare students for college, career, and citizenship.
7. The NGSS and Common Core State Standards (English language arts and mathematics) are aligned. Click here to see the appendices that provide resources for linking NGSS to the Common Core Standards.
1. K–12 science education should reflect the interconnected nature of science as it is practiced and experienced in the real world.
2. The NGSS are student performance expectations, not curriculum.
3. The science concepts in the NGSS build coherently from kindergarten through 12th grade.
4. The NGSS focus on deeper understanding of content as well as application of content.
5. Science and engineering are integrated in the NGSS, from kindergarten through 12th grade.
6. The NGSS is designed to prepare students for college, career, and citizenship.
7. The NGSS and Common Core State Standards (English language arts and mathematics) are aligned. Click here to see the appendices that provide resources for linking NGSS to the Common Core Standards.
Teaching NGSS the Charter Way
"Our deepest and most important underlying assumption is that students create their own meanings and understandings through their interactions with materials and other people." sbcharter.org
2. Constructivist Science Education:
What is constructivism?
The Philosophy:
"Constructivism sees learning as a dynamic and social process in which learners actively construct meaning from their experiences in connection with their prior understandings and the social setting (Driver, Asoko, Leach, Mortimer & Scott, 1994)."
https://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v3_issue1/sowm/sowm3.htm
"Constructivism sees learning as a dynamic and social process in which learners actively construct meaning from their experiences in connection with their prior understandings and the social setting (Driver, Asoko, Leach, Mortimer & Scott, 1994)."
https://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v3_issue1/sowm/sowm3.htm
Why is a constructivist approach important?
Teaching science without identifying and challenging student ideas often leads to lack of understanding or allows the perpetuation of mistaken beliefs.
Private Universe Video. Click here to view the video.
This video was made by Phil Sadler at the Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. It documents how we create meaning and how unless challenged we will cling to our existing world view.
This video was made by Phil Sadler at the Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. It documents how we create meaning and how unless challenged we will cling to our existing world view.
What does a constructivist approach to science teaching look like?
- "identifying students' views and ideas;
- creating opportunities for students to explore their ideas and to test their robustness in explaining phenomena, accounting for events and making prediction;
- providing stimuli for students to develop, modify and where necessary, change their ideas and views; and,
- supporting their attempts to re-think and reconstruct their ideas and views."
https://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v3_issue1/sowm/sowm3.htm
3. Sample Lesson
Air Pressure and Weather Activities by the National Center for Atmospheric Research
Egg in a Bottle Explained by NSTA