Week 1 Science Methods

                                                         Week 1 Blog Post

          This week, I learned about the shift in the Science methods conducted in the classroom. In the past, Iowa used a lecturing technique where the teacher stated the facts about the science, and students were forced to memorize that information. Iowa has now switched to Next Generation Science Standards. Their primary focus is to have students come up with their own conclusions based on the evidence they received. NGSS is heavily based on students questioning their findings based on the evidence, having students cumulatively learn science with hands-on work and large group discussions where the students come up with their reasonings based on the evidence they concluded. 

                       Below is an overview of NGSS transformation from previous science methods

    Below is an example of Performance expectations when conducting an experiment with NGSS. I learned that the SEP section, which is developing and using a model to describe a phenomenon, is similar to what we have learned in previous years. I realized that before an experiment, you have to make a hypothesis stating what you think will be conducted during an experiment. NGSS is slightly different because the student is responsible for creating their model to guide them to develop a conclusion. NGSS is not different from the Disciplinary Core Ideas because I learned that information in school is required by the state to be taught. In past science classes I have taken, the Crosscutting Concept was not as in-depth as it is in NGSS. I have learned materials can lead you to various structures and functions, but we did not have as broad of conclusions as NGSS is pushing their students to do so. In class, we had specific materials that led us to one specific conclusion, and NGSS's focus is to broaden students' hypotheses and conclusions based on the evidence they have read. 

Below is an outline of NGSS Performance Expectations:

 Incorporating NGSS into my Classroom: 

    Using the knowledge I have learned this week, I have many plans as to how I am going to incorporate NGSS standards into the classroom. To start, I have found a template that guides students through the principles of NGSS. It states the student's questions and the phenomenon, and students use their evidence to answer the question, which leads students to gain knowledge of the core concepts and the Crosscutting concept. I will be using this template because it has a theme, and that theme is it is based on students conducting their own learning. I also will be using whole class conversations so students can talk with their peers and push back against their peers' knowledge to conduct a conclusion based on prior knowledge. I have attached a link to the outline which I plan to follow.  NGSS Lesson Outline