NOAA-NSTA Partnership e-Professional Development Model Zipporah Miller Al Byers

A Critical Piece of the Solution Scalable Sustainable Individualized On-Demand e-PD With Accountability The NSTA Learning Center

The Research: Increased Content Knowledge Matters A significant, positive correlation exists between student achievement and teachers’ content knowledge (subject matter AND pedagogical content knowledge). Aaronson, Barrow and Sander, 2003; Cochran-Smith and Zeichner, 2005; Darling-Hammond and Bransford, 2005; Goldhaber, 2002; Goldhaber and Brewer, 1998; Goldhaber and Brewer, 2000; Jepsen, 2004; Kane, Rockoff and Staiger, 2006; Ma, 1999; Monk, 1994; Rivkin, Hanushek, and Kain, 2005; Rockoff 2004; Sanders and Rivers, 1996; Shulman, 1986, 1987; Wenglinsky, 2002; Wilson, Floden and Ferrini-Mundy, 2001

What we know—Local Systemic Core Evaluation: K-8 Weaknesses (75,000 data points -10 year longitudinal NSF study) Teachers of Science with less than 16 hours of PD in last 3 years: –What % at K-4 level? 76% –What % at 5-8 level? 57% –What % at 9-12 level? 32% Current Landscape: Bridging Gap between Research and Practice in PD Research calls for hours over course of year to make substantive change in practice. Obvious need for scalable on-line supplemental solution to augment face-to-face experiences within school setting Banilower, E.R., Heck, D. J., & Weiss, I.R. (2007); Garet, M. Porter, A., Desimone, L., Birman, B., & Yoon, K. (2001); Yoon, K.S. Duncan, T.. Lee, S.W., & Shapley, K. (2008)\; Supovitz, J.A. & Turner, H.M., 2000)

Science Objects: 1-2 hour online interactive content modules using inquiry and simulations SciPacks: 10 hour online interactive mini-course that includes objects, pedagogical implications, unlimited content support and final assessment opportunity with certificate for CEU’s or grad credit SciGuides: Thematically aligned, vetted web-based resources for classroom use―lesson plans with samples of student work and interactive simulations from Science Objects Web Seminars: Live interactive seminars featuring NOAA scientists and education specialists, archived and converted into enhanced video podcasts for asynchronous on-demand review NOAA sponsored e-PD Resources

3-5 Science Objects Content Mentor Unlimited Support Pedagogical Implications Assessment and Certification NSTA SciPack

Scaling Up Implementation Over 33,000 Individual accounts with over 190,000 resources added to users “My Library” West Virginia Department of Education New Hampshire Department of Education Hawaii Department of Education Vermont Department of Education Nebraska Department of Education Cincinnati Public Schools, OH Louisville County Public Schools, Louisville, KY Gwinnett and Forsyth County Public Schools, Atlanta, GA Lincoln County Public Schools, NE LASER Alliance, Mountain to Harbor Alliance, WA Oregon Science Teachers Association Florida Science Teachers Association Zero-G Flight Initiative Twin Harbors Science Consortium Petaluma City Schools, Petaluma, CA Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, FL Texas Education Service Center, University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Centers for Excellence in Science and Mathematics (36 centers across Texas) PRISM Grant Program, MT MSP Elementary Science Coaching, CT University of Maryland Baltimore County, MD Atlanta Public Schools System, Atlanta, GA (in process) Over 60 unique deployments across State/District Partnerships as of April 2009

36 TRC’s provide f2f PD for teachers with minimal preparation in science; teachers per TRC then go back to share within their school; PD Plan & Portfolio and SciPacks required as part of 105 hrs/year. Deployment: Leverage Statewide Systemic System Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics: East Texas STEM Center housed at the University of Texas at Tyler is using the NSTA Learning Center to support science teacher professional development in rural schools throughout the state of Texas. Teachers in rural schools typically teach multiple preparations of science and in some cases may be the only science teacher in the school. Science teachers in these isolated settings need timely access to professional development and the NSTA Learning Center provides access to high quality PD throughout the state of Texas Dr. Mike Odell Professor, STEM Education University of Texas

Account usage overview as of 5/13/09

Weather and Climate SciPack: Example Pre/Post Assessment Data ― Significant Documented Improvement Pre/post Assessment Scores in District/State deployments Which resources are added and shared across libraries Frequency of usage and percentage of completion Assessment Pass/Fail Data for Every SciPack Additional Data Tracked for Administrators:

Quasi-Experimental Efficacy Study with SciPacks Three District Pilot Results (Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC; Omaha District, NE; Everett District, WA) Participant Feedback: Confidence in teaching subject matter: –7%: Very Confident Before completing F&M SciPack –60%: Very Confident After completing F&M SciPack 98%: Found SciPack content relevant to their needs 96%: Would recommend SciPack to their colleagues 98%: Found interactive simulations worthwhile to their learning Pre/Post Assessment and Final Assessment Results –Horizon Research Instrument: Positive significant gains in learning between pre/post test –Final Assessment: 92% passed the final assessment Evaluation of Online, On-Demand Science Professional Development Material Involving Two Different Implementation Models, JSOT, Vol. 17, N. 1, Feb 2008

Top 12 Most ed Science Objects (viral word of mouth): NOAA Science Objects hold 4 of the top 12 spots as of 5/13/09 across all 60 free Science Objects: Oceans Effect on Weather & Climate: Global Circulation Patterns Oceans Effect on Weather & Climate: Global Climate Patterns Oceans Effect on Weather & Climate: Global Precipitation and Energy Coral Reef Ecosystems: The Living Reef

Scaleable and Sustainable Large number of high quality on-demand Resources by Learner Preference Free Tools to Plan, Execute and Document Growth State and District Deployments Advancing Rapidly supporting Local Face-to-Face PD Initiatives The NSTA Learning Center

NOAA-NSTA Partnership QUESTIONS? 26 Zipporah Miller Al Byers