PDI-3: What Matters Most™: Effective Science Instruction that Promotes a Positive Learning Environment, Scientific Inquiry, and the Next Generation Science Standards
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Salon K, Marriott Rivercenter Hotel
Cost: $150
Limit: 80
Grades: K–12
Recommended Pathway Sessions
Provider: McREL, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning
Framing Questions / Outcomes
- What are the characteristics of effective, high-quality science instruction?
- What are the strategies that teachers can use to help students’ develop conceptual understanding while addressing the Next Generation Science Standards?
- How can inquiry-based instructional strategies help students understand content?
- How can teachers create a positive learning environment that engages and motivates students to want to learn and understand in their science classrooms?
PDI Summary
What Matters Most™ (WMM) is a framework developed by McREL that is based on what research says matters most for ensuring student success. Guaranteeing challenging, engaging, and intentional instruction is one of the five critical areas from the WMM framework. Professional Development designed to improve teachers' ability to plan and deliver effective lessons to diverse student populations addresses this critical area and is based on the Designing Effective Science Instruction book. All recommended strategies are founded upon a research base showing improved student achievement and understanding. The daylong professional development and the additional pathways sessions will engage participants in activities to help them understand how effective science instruction promotes a positive learning environment, includes scientific inquiry, and addresses the Next Generation Science Standards. Participants will receive handouts that provide information about the strategies that support C-U-E, identifying important Content; developing student Understanding; and creating a positive learning Environment.
With the development of the Next Generation Science Standards, STEM initiatives, and struggles with student motivation, there is an urgent need to help science teachers create a positive learning environment that addresses these components. Designing effective lessons must include clear learning goals which align to identified standards and to classroom instructional activities. Then the students need to know the criteria for success to meet those goals. With these components in place, teachers can assess for student preconceptions and prior knowledge in order to set instructional goals that respond to the learning needs of their students. Responding to these needs is the key to developing student understanding. During the session, we will review the findings of selected research studies on how students learn to inform our conversations about developing student understanding. Teachers who have been bombarded with multiple messages about improving student achievement while trying to increase student motivation and address science standards will find What Matters Most™ to be practical, intentional, supportive, and doable.
What Matters Most: Effective Science Instruction that Promotes a Positive Learning Environment, Scientific Inquiry, and the Next Generation Science Standards is intended for K–16 teachers, curriculum supervisors, district science supervisors, and professional development providers. Teachers at all stages of their careers will benefit from the research based recommendations in this Professional Development Institute.
Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) is a private nonprofit organization whose purpose is to improve education through applied research and development. McREL provides products and services, primarily for PreK–12 educators, to promote the best instructional practices in the classroom. McREL is known for their work revising standards, supporting school improvement, designing and delivering professional development, and school and district work on Balanced Leadership™. Our work with teachers around Classroom Instruction that Works prompted us to develop professional development programs specifically for science teachers.
McREL science consultants worked with educators regionally, nationally, and now internationally. Our organization holds the Department of Education Regional Education Laboratory contract for the Pacific and the North Central Comprehensive Center contract. Funding also includes contracts with NASA on Educational and Public Outreach, a National Science Foundation NanoTeach grant, and additional contract work. You can find out more about McREL's work at www.mcrel.org.
Register Now!
Anne Tweed describes this session:
The player will show in this paragraph