| January 2018 | Instructional Materials for NGSS | | We know that finding quality three-dimensional instructional materials for science is one of the most confounding, perplexing, and complicated issues facing our schools and teachers, K–16. Because this topic deserves some serious consideration, we've decided to devote the next two issues of the Next Gen Navigator to Instructional Materials. This month, we explore the landscape about why instructional materials need to change and what is ahead. Next month we will hear from the practitioners—teachers in the field—who have spent time both adapting curricula and developing new instructional materials. Enjoy! Kathy Renfrew Field Editor, Next Gen Navigator | Q&A With Jim Short on Instructional Materials | Why do instructional materials for science need to change? Do three-dimensional materials exist? What can teachers do on their own to adapt lessons? Jim Short, program director, Leadership and Teaching to Advance Learning, at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, answers these and other questions about the changing landscape of instructional materials for science teaching and learning. Read More |
| Priority Features of Instructional Materials | Recently, four state science teachers associations—in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—worked together to address the critical role that review and selection of high-quality instructional materials will play in successfully implementing the NGSS. Learn about the collaboration and the white paper they developed. Read More |
| How Teachers Are Retooling Lessons Using the EQuIP Rubric | Revisit journal articles written by three teachers—Betsy O'Day, Carolyn Higgins, and Mike Fumagalli—and read how they adapted their elementary, middle, and high school lessons to make them more three-dimensional. Read More |
| You Like It. You Really Like It | We are thrilled about your rave reviews from our reader survey last month. When asked to rate both its quality and readability, readers gave the Next Gen Navigator 4.2 stars out of 5. Favorite columns include those on teacher resources, improving practice, and individual teacher blogs. We also got lots of great ideas for future issues. Thank you to those who responded! Please share the Navigator with your friends and colleagues. |
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| | | NSTA National Conference in Atlanta, March 15–18 | Take a deep dive into three-dimensional teaching and learning with special events and sessions at the 2018 NSTA National Conference in Atlanta, including professional learning institutes, two-day workshops on three-dimensional instruction, NGSS@NSTA Forum, NGSS@NSTA Share-a-Thon, featured presentations, short courses, and NSTA Press sessions. Learn more. | Professional Learning Institute: Analyzing Instructional Materials for Next Generation Science (Wed., March 14) | Participants will use a common set of instructional materials and work as a "mock" materials selection committee to learn, via active learning experiences, about the five components of the NextGen AIM tools and processes. Ticket purchase required; space is limited. Learn more and register. |
| NGSS@NSTA Forum: Instructional Materials | Join national experts as they explore instructional materials and three-dimensional instruction. The opening session describes tools you can use to evaluate resources, and five separate sessions highlight instructional units designed to address 3-D standards. Learn more. |
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| | Preparing Teachers for Three-Dimensional Instruction (coming soon; available for pre-order) | This new NSTA Press book will showcase the many shifts that higher education science faculty, teacher education faculty, and others are already making to bring the standards to fruition. It's written specifically for preservice science teachers, but science education faculty and practicing K–12 teachers can also benefit from the book. The authors of the 18 chapters are outstanding classroom practitioners and science educators at all levels. | |
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