Pasadena USD Adopts Digital Curriculum for STEM

The Pasadena Unified School District has adopted a digital STEM curriculum designed specifically to meet the needs of the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

The district chose STEMscopes California, developed by Accelerate Learning and Rice University and designed to place "problem-based learning, engineering challenges, scientific investigations, math and literacy connections and culminating claim-evidence-reasoning assessments at teachers' fingertips, so they can easily help students understand the NGSS as they were designed," according to a news release.

STEMscopes is designed to work in traditional, blended and 1-to-1 classrooms and features digital resources, supplemental print materials and hands-on exploration kits.

The curriculum will be deployed at all 24 district schools with students in grades K-6 and a Spanish version will also be deployed for the district's large Spanish-speaking population and its dual language Spanish immersion program.

"STEMscopes takes the guesswork out of teaching the Next Generation Science Standards," said Jodi Marchesso, Pasadena USD's STEM curriculum coach, in a prepared statement. "While many resources claim to be NGSS-aligned, they rely heavily on reading and writing about science rather than doing science. STEMscopes is the only resource I've seen that's aligned to meet all of the Next Generation Science Standards. It supports our vision for student-centered learning and follows all the best practices we want to see in our science classrooms."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • AI toolbox containing a wrench, document icon, gears, and a network symbol

    Common Sense Media Releases Free AI Toolkit, AI Readiness & Implementation Guides

    Common Sense Media has developed an AI Toolkit for School Districts, available to educators free of charge, that provides guidelines and resources for implementing AI in education.

  • elementary school building with children outside, overlaid by a glowing data network and transparent graphs

    Toward a Holistic Approach to Data-Informed Decision-Making in Education

    With increasing access to data and powerful analytic tools, the temptation to reduce educational outcomes to mere numbers is strong. However, educational leadership demands a more holistic and thoughtful approach.

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.