Science Instructional Materials Selection and Modification: A Landscape Analysis DOWNLOAD PDF (3 MB) High-quality instructional materials are a key part of implementing science standards. However, it is rare for instructional materials to be implemented exactly as intended. Educators modify instructional materials for many reasons, including for individual students, relevance to local phenomena and cultures, and the constraints of their available time and equipment. Understanding how and why educators select and make changes to science instructional materials is critical to supporting classroom implementation of science standards. To learn more about the factors that affect instructional materials selection [...]

Pennsylvania is undergoing a major effort to improve science teaching and learning across the Commonwealth through the introduction of the Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (STEELS) standards.   To support this work, in 2021 NextGenScience at WestEd launched the Pennsylvania Science Education Leaders Network (PennSEL Network), a leadership development program in collaboration with Pennsylvania Department of Education, to prepare teams of Pennsylvania science leaders to improve science teaching and learning for all students as reflected in the new STEELS standards. The PennSEL Network includes representation from all 29 of Pennsylvania’s regional education offices, or Intermediate Units (IUs).  NextGenScience [...]

Critical Features of Instructional Materials Design for Today's Science Standards: A Resource for Science Curriculum Developers and the Education Field DOWNLOAD PDF (1 MB) Today’s science standards have initiated a significant shift in all parts of the science education system. As a result, science instructional materials are also changing. Educators, school and district administrators, and developers of instructional materials need to be able to develop a common vision of high-quality curricula that will prepare students for success in school and beyond. This resource is jointly authored by EdReports and NextGenScience to illustrate critical design features of science instructional [...]

Problems with Problems: Improving the Design of Problem-Driven Science and Engineering Instruction DOWNLOAD PDF (1 MB) A key shift in learning designed for today’s science standards is supporting students to explain phenomena and to design solutions to problems. To accompany the existing guidance in the field on driving instruction with phenomena, this resource provides examples and guidance on what it can look like to drive instruction with engineering design problems. Read the resource here. Read a related resource about phenomena here.

Toward NGSS Design: EQuIP Rubric for Science Detailed Guidance DOWNLOAD PDF (2 MB) Derived from reviewer tools used by the EQuIP Peer Review Panel (PRP), the EQuIP Rubric for Science Detailed Guidance provides details on each of the 19 EQuIP Rubric criteria, including what they look like in materials, connections between the criteria, and some common pitfalls. Read this new resource here. View a webinar recording about this resource.

Authentic Science Experiences: Designing High School Science Learning to Reach all Students BY JENNY SARNA, VANESSA WOLBRINK, NEELO SOLTANZADEH DOWNLOAD PDF (2 MB) To achieve the ambitious goals set by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and similar standards, today’s high school students need access to carefully designed learning experiences. Authentic Science Experiences: Designing High School Science Learning to Reach all Students explores several core principles that can inform the design and facilitation of more effective and meaningful science learning experiences. The resource highlights five features of authentic science experiences and underlying research that can support the [...]

Keep Teaching Science! Successful Strategies to Adapt K–12 Science Experiences for Distance Learning BY VANESSA WOLBRINK, JENNY SARNA DOWNLOAD PDF (5.3 MB) The sudden shift to distance and hybrid learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic created a need to identify virtual and at-home science experiences that reflect the vision of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and A Framework for K–12 Science Education, ensuring students keep learning science. NextGenScience partnered with materials developers and educators to learn about and highlight examples of effective and equitable adaptations for science teaching and learning at a distance. This report includes information [...]