What is Earth Science by Design?

What is ESBD? A year-long program of professional development for middle school and high school level teachers of Earth science Created by TERC and AGI with funding from NSF

3 Key ESBD Components Understanding by Design (UbD) Earth as a System Scientific Visualizations

Component 1: Understanding by Design ESBD is based on the Understanding by Design (UbD) approach developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe

UbD is… a deliberate approach to: Selecting what to teach Designing assessments Designing instructional strategies

UbD is: Similar to “task analysis” Not new curriculum Systematic Coherent and aligned Consistent with many other pedagogical models

UbD assumes that: The goal is understanding We don’t often get understanding To achieve understanding, we need to design for it There is a process for achieving understanding

Backward Design: Is the process we use to design for understanding It has 3 stages

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results Determine what you want students to understand, in detail! These are the big ideas and the supporting knowledge and skills

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence Develop a suite of assessment tools Monitor student understanding throughout the unit, rather than just testing at the end

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences Your design should engage student interest Equip them with knowledge and skills Develop understanding

Component 2: Earth as a System Earth can be thought of as a system of interacting “spheres” Geosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere (& Cryosphere) Biosphere

Component 3: Scientific Visualization Contemporary Earth science relies upon scientific visualization and a space age perspective Incorporating real-time data and visualization tools into your teaching is a key goal

Your Goals This Week: To understand the UbD design process To learn how to apply this process in your teaching To understand the systems approach to Earth science To become familiar with resources to help you effectively use real-time data and visualization tools in your teaching

You will demonstrate you have met these Goals: By applying what you learn this week to the design of an Earth science unit that you can teach during the coming school year

Ask questions as needed throughout the workshop Complete Daily Reflections during the workshop These strategies will help us monitor your understanding on an ongoing basis We ask that you:

Use the Unit Checklist to critique your Earth Science by Design Unit Implement your unit with students Keep an ESBD journal or “blog” containing notes and reflections that you record as you implement your unit Self assessment strategies: