Professional Development
NSTA Launches New Teacher Resources for Next Generation Science Standards
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has released a series of tools to help
teachers implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Framework for K-12 Science Education, including an e-book, a collection
of videos and instructional resources.
The book, Discovering the NGSS, "guides educators through a
series of activities, simulations, videos, reflection activities and assessments that explore numerous topics, including vision and history of
the standards; the three dimensions of the NGSS — science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts;
integration of the three dimensions; and translating the NGSS into classroom instruction," according to a news release.
It includes 40 hours of self-paced learning activities and unit planner and is available on Macs, computers running Windows, Chromebooks,
iPads and Android tablets. Discover the NGSS is available to $55.95 to NSTA members and $69.95 for non-members.
The classroom resources, available at NGSS@NSTA Hub, have been
curated by a group of 55 science educators and include lesson plans, units, books and book chapters, science kits, video simulations and
instructional guides.
"Using the EQuiP Rubric for Lessons and Units: Science to guide
their work, the curators review each resource to evaluate how well it supports NGSS-based instruction — particularly how well it addresses
performance expectations, science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts," according to a news release.
"The curators post a review of the resource on the NGSS@NSTA Hub, offer suggestions on how the resource could be used or adapted to best
support NGSS-based instruction, and provide direct links to the free and fee-based resources."
The video collection, also available via the Hub, aim to introduce
teachers to new strategies based on the standards and the Framework for K-12 Science Education. The videos run approximately 10-minutes each.
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at jbolkan@gmail.com.