7 things to know about quality K–12 science education in December 2024
1 Report Release: K-12 STEM Education and Workforce Development in Rural Areas
TheNationalAcademiesofSciences,Engineering,andMedicinereleasedaconsensus studythatoutlinesuniquechallengesandassetsofruralSTEMeducation,existing supportstructuresavailable,andrecommendationsforimprovement.
SeetheNationalAcademiesreporthere
2 Computer Science Education Week
This week is an opportunity to advocate for computer science for all students and celebrate the success of the field in our K–12 schools. There are many connections between the Framework for K–12 Science Education and the K–12 Computer Science Framework, including the emphasis on systems thinking and problem solving. As a result, coordinated instruction can strengthen learning across both disciplines.
Read more about CSEdWeek here
3 Language and Science to Empower All Students with Dr. Okhee Lee
Inthispodcastepisode,Dr.OkheeLee discusseschallengesandopportunitiesin integratingSTEMandlanguagewith multilinguallearners.Withafocusonthe NGSS,shealsosharesprogressinthe fieldinthisarea,featuresofcurriculumto supportbestpracticesformultilingual learners,andtherelationshipbetween WIDAStandardsandtheNGSS.
Listentothe RBERNing Questions podcastepisodehere
4 Science-Centered Content Integration: Advancing Interdisciplinary Learning and Equity in K-5 Classrooms
Two school districts worked to make system-wide improvements to their elementary science programs through a focus on interdisciplinary learning. A recent report lays out benefits of this content integration, including increased student engagement and motivation, better understanding of content knowledge and literacy skills, and more opportunities for social-emotional learning.
See the Lawrence Hall of Science publication here
5 The STEM Teacher Workforce in High-Need Schools is Surprisingly Resilient
ThisBrookingsstudyexaminesthe qualifications,demographics,andstability oftheSTEMteacherworkforcein differentsettings.Findingssuggestthat STEMteacherdemographicshaveshifted overtime,withmorewomenandfewer whiteteachersnowthan30yearsago. Thedataalsosuggestrelativestabilityin theSTEMteacherworkforceinhigh-need schoolsoverthelast30years,whilethe shareofSTEMteachersinlow-need settingshasdeclined.
SeetheBrookingsarticlehere.
6
Standards-Based Education Reforms: Looking Back to Look Forward
“The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and several state-level history/civics standards offer a similar degree of rigor. However, to date, we have failed to fully and adequately develop the aligned systems that can support teachers, schools, and districts in translating the standards into aligned instruction and have not moved substantially beyond assessment and associated accountability structures.”
SeetheLearningPolicyInstituteReport here.
7 ICYMI: On the Same Wavelength Blog
Thisblogdivesintoareasofinstructionaldesignnotexploredelsewhere–questionsthat ariseinNextGenScience’smaterialsreviewwork,topicsdebatedinthefield,andanything elseonourmind.
BrowsetheNextGenScienceblogarticleshere
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