Science Breakout Session Using the 3D NGSS structure to evaluate and plan curriculum and instruction

3 Dimensions apply to everything: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Performance Expectation (PE): an expectation for what students should be able to do by the end of instruction… set the LEARNING GOALS for students. MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Each PE contains DCI, SEP, and CCC Components MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century. SEP: Asking Questions & Defining Problems CCC: Stability & Change DCI: Global Climate Change

Should PEs form the Basis of Curriculum & Instruction? Yes and No… (and does it really matter anyway? Reasons to Use PEs as Guiding Standards Reasons to Use DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs for Guidance Particular PEs will be specifically assessed (as a part of a “PE Bundle”) by the MISA DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs will be assessed as components of particular PEs by the MISA The complete set of particular grade-band PEs comprehensively includes all DCIs, SEPs and CCCs. The independent arrangement of DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs allows for more flexibility and variability in instruction DCI, SEP, and CCC elements provide the finest level of detail in the NGSS System District guidance and materials use a system based on DCI, SEP, and CCC elements to identify standards

Roadmap to NGSS MS PEs Are there patterns in the matrix? How might this impact your instruction? Should it? Scan for coverage: is every CCC and SEP assessed in each DCI? Evenly?

Try your hand at Writing a Custom PE Team up with one or two other teachers from your school or discipline, and: Consider a lab or other learning experience you are all familiar with. Decide which DCI sub-idea, SEP, and CCC it fits in best. Write a PE that includes language from those 3 dimensions that describes what students should know (DCI), do (SEP), and think (CCC) during the learning experience. It may be helpful to reference ngss.nsta.org for the text of particular elements. (click the menu, select “the standards,” and scroll to “foundations” Keep this PE handy – we will make use of it after lunch.

3-Dimensional Planning Template Pull-down menus include all DCI, SEP, and CCC elements across all grade levels. Produced by Josh Gabrielse for the BCPSS Office of Teaching & Learning. Available (soon), along with other materials from today’s PD at: www.TomasinosClass.com

Food for thought… Would it be useful to record your inclusion of DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs in your daily or long-term plans? Would it be possible or useful to aggregate that data in some way, and what could that look like?

In conclusion NGSS is the result of a decades-long, research-based attempt to describe, at the finest level of detail possible, what scientific literacy is. The 3-dimensional nature of NGSS is fundamental to all aspects of successful teaching: curriculum, instruction, and assessment.