Hi everyone. Ted Willard, aka NSTA's in-house standards geek. On my 17th straight day of work, so a bit fuzzy-headed. Also on in CA so about to head to dinner, but happy to join #ngsschat for a few.
Its Thursday 9pm eastern do you know where your NGSS sci Ts are? They should be right here taking part in #ngsschat
Brian from IL looking forward to next 60 min
Hi all! Hallie, 2nd grade teacher in St. Louis. Feeling a bit under the weather so probably won't make the whole chat tonight. But, glad to be here! #ngsschat
Hi all! Wendi, Sci consultant in Michigan. Just got home after hanging with preservice teachers linking Sci with literacy, and seeing a former student, now ed major. 😊 #NGSSChat
So i never said what I do, Kathy ( also known as Sybil ) the many personalities & roles of #ngss Kathy, science coach in Westwood MA is the day job #ngsschat
A1 My opinion #NGSS gives #STEM direction The NGSS vision allows STEM to be used in conjunction w/framework to assist Ss in figuring out #phenomena#NGSSchat
#NGSSchat A1: More doing, less factoids - students investigating phenomena and their own questions to understand process. A chance to repeat if necessary and spend time optimizing product.
I’ve been thinking a lot about STEM & NGSS. There is lots of crossover, being intentional w standards and the integration how I’m starting . Plus real world problem solving #ngsschat
A1.a I appreciate richer convo's from educators about #STEM programs in schools (which, in some cases, have been a “maker space” or “robotics” and not necessarily science-rich or science-dependent) and how do we align programs to have stronger connections with #NGSS#NGSSChat
A1.b "All students need opportunities to acquire engineering design practices and concepts alongside the practices and concepts of science" (NGSS Appendix I pg 6, https://t.co/QudRQQLrsi) #NGSSChat
A1: If implemented thoughtfully, will prevent STEM from being another buzzword that goes out of vogue. Ngss req's deep, active learning instead of more traditional sit and get. #NGSSChat
Well planned learning progressions in NGSS incorporate all aspects of STEM. All the STEM components used in service of the others. Relate to the real world. Involve problem solving. #ngsschat
It depends on how you define STEM. And I don't think we will see one common definition for STEM in my lifetime. #ngsschat
At minimum, STEM and NGSS are overlapping in a venn diagram.
So am I correct to interpret that you are also saying the science ideas in the Framework explain the world (phenomena) & enable design solutions ? If not, which parts of the FW? #NGSSchat
A1: Dep on def of STEM. There are a lot of schools that think it's a special program and there is no influence of NGSS on that program. Others look at it as any Sci/Tech/Eng/Math class -so sci classes may have NGSS influence. But I agree with @Ted_NSTA (see his comment)#ngsschat
I thought STEM was a way to bring good attention to often overlooked areas. But now I see STEM mostly talked about/defined in terms of engineering, or tech. #ngsschat
A1 STEM seems to be a nebulous buzzword that can mean anything to anybody. NGSS gives a framework for what STEM should look like with CCC and SEP #NGSSchat
I'd go back to phenomena and 3D learning. CCCs help break down STEM silos. We are trying to "figure out" phenomena using SEPs, and find applications to solve problems. #ngsschat
A1 STEM has variety of implecations: workforce, integration of curriculum, adding engineering, solving problems, etc. I don't know answer, but I wonder if we need to define it for sci beyong Framework, or not? #ngsschat
A1: NGSS builds upon and strengthens some of the "notions" that STEM education was already bringing to the forefront - engineering, robotics, makers space, thinking of problems and solutions learning through inquiry. They seem to harmonize each other through the SEPs #NGSSchat
Q2: Some claim there is a different focus of STEM compared to NGSS--: STEM on design world; NGSS on natural systems w/ possible interplay w/ design Share your thoughts #NGSSchat
A2 As with all semantics, there are fuzzy-gray areas. There can be overlap – we often design solutions to problems in natural systems and natural systems can inspire human-made solutions #ngsschat
A2 isn't that like saying the president side of the quarter has a different focus than the state side of the quarter? Different purpose but same goal #ngsschat
A1 With #NGSS there is a more authentic context and direction for how #STEM is used to learn and solve problems versus just completing a task for the sake of integrating STEM. #NGSSchat
A2: I would say NGSS is a mixed of both the natural and imagined/invented/man made. The engineering standards move away from the natural and a teacher can chose a phenomenon that is natural or man made if appropriate for students to explain a science concept #NGSSchat
A2: A LOT of schools use STEM as a "fun design challenge" - not much content. It doesn't have to be that way - and NGSS doesn't only have to focus on natural systems. Again, depends on user definitions. #ngsschat
A1 With #NGSS there is a more authentic context and direction for how #STEM is used to learn and solve problems versus just completing a task for the sake of integrating STEM. #NGSSchat
Q2: Some claim there is a different focus of STEM compared to NGSS--: STEM on design world; NGSS on natural systems w/ possible interplay w/ design Share your thoughts #NGSSchat
A2: I think many of us are figuring out the power of combining science concepts with engineering projects. Real engineers don't just make something, they use science to design and refine. Can't do the engineering without the science. #ngsschat
Our brains hold onto ideas abstractly so we create labels such a STEM or NGSS to make sense and recall. I would argue that the foundations are the same #ngsschat
Q2: Some claim there is a different focus of STEM compared to NGSS--: STEM on design world; NGSS on natural systems w/ possible interplay w/ design Share your thoughts #NGSSchat
A1: NGSS builds upon and strengthens some of the "notions" that STEM education was already bringing to the forefront - engineering, robotics, makers space, thinking of problems and solutions learning through inquiry. They seem to harmonize each other through the SEPs #NGSSchat
Yes. You wonder. . . rather than worrying about what a term means, why not focus on how a set of standards is explicit about those same ideals! #NGSSchat
A2 reflecting on this, it's redundant to me to distinguish "natural" from "human made" - "natural" is a nature of science reference that simply excludes supernatural #NGSSChat
And I have seen other letters added to STEM as well - A for art of course, but I've also seen STEAM turned to STREAM with R being for religion in one case, and reading in another. #NGSSchat
Mathematics is an abstraction and used to communicate representations and relationships, in that sense it's a communication tool that can explain #NGSSchat
#NGSSChat@jhubb546 Many of the performance expectations use that language - e.g. "MS‑ETS1‑4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process
such that an optimal design can be achieved."
A2 Divergent thought, STEM was coined by NSF, then used 4 education as well as immigration to fill jobs in US we couldn't & still can't. (I have friends here on visas). US defines these jobs to allow the VISAs. How does/should this effect our schools? #ngsschat
Is it a difference or influence on one another??? Lens might be different @TdiShelton but that is what leads to diverse thinking around solving a problem or explaining a phenomena #ngsschat
A2 Technically, I teach science and computer science, in reality, one cannot cannot exist without the other. If I intend to provide a rich understanding how how systems work in a physical computing environment, the environment cannot be ignored. #NGSSChat
A3 - I always saw Engineering as Human-centric ... how do we make this better for humanity. With Science - it’s about discovery - being a part of natural world #NGSSChat
A3: A goal of sci is to understand the world/phenomenon around you. A goal of engineering is to solve a problem/design a solution, using what you understand/know. #ngsschat
I do have some Ss that dislike/struggle with math, but they love and excel in science. So science gives them a reason to use math, now it's not in isolation, then they realize they can be successful. #NGSSchat
In reply to
@FredEnde, @richbacolor, @teachearthspace
Yes, I believe there is a lot of truth in that. I also think that as we teach more of the math concepts instead of just algorithms it will help. #NGSSchat
In reply to
@FredEnde, @richbacolor, @teachearthspace
Are we teaching math in a box? #NGSS let sci Ts loose to make Ss co-owners of classroom Is math ed facilitating Ss growth thru process, or just teaching facts & formulas? #NGSSchat
In reply to
@FredEnde, @richbacolor, @halliesmills, @teachearthspace
Great point-- maybe share one way you have seen a classroom culture of science enhanced with technology-- how are Ss acting like scientists via tech? #NGSSchat
A4 Technology can be an amplifier, it helps with accessing and processing data/information and ease the ability to see relationships as well as and facilitate communication of ideas. #NGSSchat
A3 I think they often do. Sci will come to best claim based on evidence but many ways to get there, but generally accepted as fact until proven otherwise, engineering lots of ways to solve problem w/in criteria/constraints. #NGSSchat
A4 Technology helps us to do study things in a way that we can't always do without it. Just thinking of all the advances in science as a result of "new" technology. #ngsschat
It's going to take a lot of really good PD. I still work with Ts who don't understand need to do conceptual, even though that is what the curriculum calls for. They jump to algorithm, it's what they know - and it still gets good test results. #NGSSchat
In reply to
@FredEnde, @richbacolor, @teachearthspace
Agreed-- especially love how tech breaks down the walls of the CR & creates a community where Ss & Ts can interact w/ experts + peers to develop a science identity #NGSSchat
My Ss are "bored" in math I ask them, "Are you bringing our tools of leaning sci to the math classroom?" I got the "uh, no" look The "are" will take cross collaboration w/Ts AND Ss #NGSSchat
In reply to
@FredEnde, @CzmeTeach, @richbacolor, @halliesmills, @teachearthspace
Students begin reviewing a large data set (on paper) and have time for observations and questions - once they identify possible patterns or trends, they use tech to manipulate the data, organize, visually represent, etc. #NGSSchat
working with teachers and guiding them in what this looks like in the math classroom. Vetting materials to make sure they exhibit this and PD on how to use existing materials flip to have more of an inquiry approach. #NGSSchat
In reply to
@FredEnde, @BKd204Sci, @richbacolor, @halliesmills, @teachearthspace
So true...I think many teachers are like me. I didn't really understand all the algorithms until I had to teach them. We learned that way, thus we teach that way - until we learn better. #ngsschat
In reply to
@halliesmills, @FredEnde, @richbacolor, @teachearthspace
Let's bring it home w/ examples + resources-- Q5 share CR examples of #STEM in #NGSS vision and/or Q6: What resources support the integration of #STEM & #NGSS ? Pls share. #NGSSchat
I became a better mathematician after I started teaching math. And, I had to go to our math specialist and ask her to teach me new concepts/strategies I wasn't aware of. We do have to be willing to learn and change. #ngsschat
In reply to
@MDHJohnson, @FredEnde, @richbacolor, @teachearthspace
A5: The natural world informs how design can influence our perceptions and interactions with each other and nature. The outcomes depends on which one we care most about #ngsschat
I became a better mathematician after I started teaching math. And, I had to go to our math specialist and ask her to teach me new concepts/strategies I wasn't aware of. We do have to be willing to learn and change. #ngsschat
In reply to
@MDHJohnson, @FredEnde, @richbacolor, @teachearthspace
After my evening w/ preservice Ts, I would add we mentor new Ts to do the same, as well as learn from them. We need one another to grow and learn. #ngsschat
I became a better mathematician after I started teaching math. And, I had to go to our math specialist and ask her to teach me new concepts/strategies I wasn't aware of. We do have to be willing to learn and change. #ngsschat
In reply to
@MDHJohnson, @FredEnde, @richbacolor, @teachearthspace
A5: I see a lot with natural earth processes and events (floods, earthquakes, etc.) and how human development has altered the severity of those events. #NGSSchat
I need to work w/math T on my team to bridge classrooms Ss will see connection through our combined efforts I realized I need to have more math in my facilitation of sci #NGSSchat
In reply to
@FredEnde, @CzmeTeach, @richbacolor, @halliesmills, @teachearthspace
