NGSS

Integrating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Our goal is to provide strong support for instructors who have designed their curriculum to incorporate NGSS innovations in teaching and learning.

• 1. Incorporate three-dimensional learning and assessment

  Not only are specific three-dimensional learning components identified, but assessment
 rubrics and questions offer methods to evaluate each. Each Disciplinary Core Idea (DCI) is rated to identify the degree to which it is addressed:

  • * Directly addresses and/or supports one or more components in the DCIs and/or performance expectations
  • + Is related to DCIs or performance expectations in other science domains
• 2. Offer tools for instructional sequencing

  A search tool helps to find the appropriate investigations for each DCI and suggests possible sequences and extensions.

• 3. Illustrate connections to engineering

  Every time a student conducts an LSST online science notebook investigation, he or she is interacting with authentic data that is collected and delivered through a combined historic effort of engineers, scientists, software developers and architects:

  • 1. Online data query and analysis is via embedded interactive tools designed by software engineers.
  • 2. Images are produced from the world’s largest digital camera (3.2 billion pixels, the equivalent of 1500 HDTVs). Individual images cover large areas of the sky (7 times the width of the full moon) and at the same time can detect stars as faint as magnitude 25.
  • 3. High speed, continuous data transfers deliver 30 terabytes of new data per night.
  • 4. For the first time, a nearly-continuous record of the changing sky will be produced, recording an estimated ten million objects per night that have either changed in brightness or position since the most recently-recorded image. From the NGSS Connections to Engineering (Re: the interdependence of science, engineering and technology:
    
    
    • Grades 6-8 Connections Statements: Engineering advances have led to important discoveries in virtually every field of science and scientific discoveries have led to the development of entire industries and engineered systems.
    • Grades 9-12 Connections Statements: Science and engineering complement each other in the cycle known as research and development (R&D). Many R&D projects may involve scientists, engineers, and others with wide ranges of expertise.
• 4. Incorporate English and Math Standards

  English language arts and mathematics standards that are integral to each investigation are identified.

Integrating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Our goal is to provide strong support for instructors who have designed their curriculum to incorporate NGSS innovations in teaching and learning.

• 1. Offer flexible options for teaching styles and assessment

  Pressed for time? Most investigations can be completed in a single class period. Want to go deep? Add in more components of NGSS teaching styles or extension 
investigations.

• 2. Host a repository of ideas, assessments and lessons developed by other educators that support the goals of NGSS

  The Forum provides an opportunity to discuss topics with other instructors. Teacher-contributed activities may be downloaded and customized.

• 3. Incorporate three-dimensional learning and assessment

  Not only are specific three-dimensional learning components identified, but assessment
 rubrics and questions offer methods to evaluate each. Each Disciplinary Core Idea (DCI) is rated to identify the degree to which it is addressed:

  • * Directly addresses and/or supports one or more components in the DCIs and/or performance expectations
  • + Is related to DCIs or performance expectations in other science domains

NGSS Assessment Techniques from NGSS@NSTA

Students can demonstrate competency with tasks such as:

• Developing and refining models;
• Generating, discussing and analyzing data;
• Constructing spoken and written scientific explanations;
• Engaging in evidence-based argumentation; or
• Reflecting on their own understanding.

Ideas for Assessments

• Use the LSST Assessment video and discuss it with your class. During the video pauses, you can make use of some form of classroom response system to query the class. Some examples are: Kahoot, Clickers, Socrative, Poll Everywhere, or student response cards.
• Ask students to complete a narrative summary in their Jupyter notebooks.
• Use the set of question prompts that accompany the custom NGSS assessment rubric for the activity. These may be used for class discussion or inserted into quizzes.

• Conduct an Academically Productive Discussion.
• Have students complete a Driving Question Board or KLEWS chart.
• Students can create white boards or posters to present and compare their findings. This may be used in conjunction with a Gallery Walk.
• Students can design a game, brochure, or video explaining what they have learned.