UW Institute for Science and Mathematics Education

The new vision in the NRC Framework and the Next Gen Science Standards call for instruction that engages students in personally relevant, extended investigations where they use science and engineering research practices to learn disciplinary core ideas while making connections to broad cross-cutting concepts (or themes). New curricula and instructional materials are needed to support students in this kind of learning experience to accomplish the new K-12 learning goals across subjects.

The UW Institute for Science + Math Education has posted the first video recording from the recent UW Summit on K-12 Science Education. Read on to review the first presentation from the summit, Dr. Philip Bell providing the 2013 summit overview. A new set of ambitious learning goals for K-12 science and engineering education is outlined in the National Research Council Framework for K-12 Science Education and the associated Next Generation Science Standards .

A new set of ambitious learning goals for K-12 science and engineering education are outline in the recently released Next Generation Science Standards. The standards were developed based on a new consensus vision, built upon consensus findings of research on science learning and teaching and described in the National Research Councils A Framework for K-12 Science Education.

With an $8 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Institute for Science + Math Education (ISME) researchers—in collaboration with the Exploratorium in San Francisco; University of Colorado, Boulder; TERC; EDC, and Inverness Research—have formed a Research+Practice Collaboratory to strengthen connections between research and practice in K-12 STEM education and engage in instructional improvement across formal and informal settings.

Research shows that informal learning environments can uniquely help youth from non-dominant communities engage in powerful science learning and come to identify with science. Project COOL: Chemical Oceanography Outside the Lab is a three-quarter sequence that brings together geoscientists and undergraduates to work with middle school youth in an afterschool science program in South Seattle. UW Oceanography and the Institute for Science + Math Education collaborated to conceive of this NSF-funded design-based research effort.

MAY 22, 2013 - 3pm & 7pm (two 75-minute sessions with receptions afterward)
UW Tower Auditorium, University of Washington Seattle Campus

A new set of ambitious learning goals for K-12 science and engineering education is outlined in the National Research Council Framework for K-12 Science Education and the associated Next Generation Science Standards . The UW Institute for Science + Math Education will host two public events to provide an overview of this new vision. A panel will highlight unique features of this new vision, present instructional examples from formal and informal education, discuss equity issues, and describe strategies for best supporting implementation.

The DRK12 project is now in its third year with three redesigned fifth grade science units; namely, My Skokomish River Challenge, My Solution to Pollution, and Algae Invasion. My Skokomish River Challenge is in its third enactment. In Spring 2012 My Solution to Pollution was enacted for the first time, followed by The Algae Invasion which is currently being implemented in two participating schools in Bellevue.

The first phase of collaboration has focused on supporting teachers working together in Design Teams--small cohorts of subject-specific teachers--as they collaborate on the re-design of curriculum. Institute support varies throughout the project, ranging from providing evidence from the literature to reinforce curriculum decisions to conducting student focus groups that provide student feedback for teacher consideration and implementation.

The Geo-Literacy Alliance is in the process of organizational design and strategic planning. Ultimately, the Alliance and its projects will support K-12 geo-literacy throughout the state. This strategic plan will include key goals, strategies, partners, and actions to ensure that youth have multiple opportunities to develop geo-literacy. Geo-literacy is defined as the ability to apply geographic skills and understanding in personal and civic settings.