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Journal Article

Just Because It Sounds Plausible, Doesn’t Mean It’s True

Plausible scientific arguments abound. Those who wish to deceive often weave a tangled web of plausible scientific arguments to support their case. What can the science teacher do to prevent their students being duped? Given that many of the claims a...

By Jonathan Osborne

High School Literacy Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Promoting Scientific Literacy through the Writing of Abstracts

Students are provided with plenty of opportunities to acquire new knowledge based on the various scientific disciplines they explore in their schooling. However, it can sometimes be difficult to integrate activities that build scientific literacy ami...

By Alexander Eden

High School Learning Progression Literacy Pedagogy

Journal Article

Using Scenarios to Assess Student Learning

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) define science literacy as having the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes and the ability to question natural world phenomena (National Research Council, 2012). When students w...

By Maha Kareem, Amy Lannin, William Romine, Nancy Singer, Marsha Tyson, Katie Kline, Michelle Kendrick, Sam Otten, Sarah Apple

High School Assessment Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Knowing the ABCs of Teaching in an Age of AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, consequently bringing a hurricane to the seas of education. The purpose of this article is to encapsulate commonly used classroom strategies into practices that can effectively build content...

By Tanya MacMartin

High School Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Technology

Journal Article

Establishing AI Literacy before Adopting AI

As applications of AI have proliferated, the call has grown for educating students about what AI is, how it works, and how it can affect us. In response, [an American University], in collaboration with an external implementation partner, developed 12...

By Fiona Hollands, Cynthia Breazeal

Literacy Pedagogy Teaching Strategies Technology

Journal Article

The Power of Suggest…ed Practice:Using Optional Practice Instead of Assigned Homework in the High School Science Classroom

How do we as teachers balance the need of students to practice class content with their intense schedules, extracurriculars, and need for a healthy and balanced life? An alternative to traditional, mandatory homework is offered herein, in the form of...

By Lindsey Paricio-Moreau

Curriculum Pedagogy STEM Technology

Journal Article

Using Lessons from History to Guide the Implementation of AI in Science Education

It is critical to understand past science education reform to know what could be explored in the future (Cheng et al., 2010). The purpose of this position paper is to describe a historical timeline of science education. Using historical documents a...

By Aria Hadley-Hulet, Marc Ellis, Austin Moore, Emily Lehnardt, Max Longhurst

NGSS STEM Technology

Journal Article

Metallurgical Engineer Wendi Cooksey

An interview with metallurgical engineer Wendi Cooksey...

By Luba Vangelova

High School Careers Earth & Space Science Technology

Journal Article

Next to Nothing

Scope on the Skies March 2024...

By Bob Riddle

Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

From Sun to Shade: Exploring Environmental Changes During the Total Solar Eclipse

Excitement is building in anticipation of the total solar eclipse taking place this April 2024. During the total solar eclipse, the moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun and casting a shadow on Earth. As the sky darkens, the ...

By Jill Nugent

Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Labs Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

3D Assessment

We are now a decade past the release of the NGSS —an event that has shaped the way we teach science. The NGSS, with its three-dimensional approach encompassing disciplinary core ideas (DCIs), science and engineering practices (SEPs), and cross-cutt...

By Patricia McGinnis

Assessment NGSS Pedagogy Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Eliciting initial ideas, building understandings, and coming to consensus: Using different teacher moves to support three distinct discussion types

Whole group discussions are a key aspect of the NGSS because these activities are where students collectively make sense of natural phenomena. However, curriculum can present all discussions as possessing the same instructional purpose and roles for ...

By Kevin Cherbow, Benjamin Lowell, Kris Grymonpre, Katherine McNeill, Renee Affolter

Middle School Inclusion Pedagogy Professional Learning Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

From Windy Day Stories to Wind Farms of the Future: Leveraging student resources to make sense of science phenomena with Data Puzzles

This article introduces the Data Puzzles instructional framework as a means to engage middle school students in the exploration of wind energy and its potential for future wind farm locations across the United States. By eliciting and leveraging stud...

By Jonathan Griffith, Melissa Braaten, Ann Dubick, Anne Gold

Environmental Science Learning Progression Phenomena Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Making Formative Use of Student Experience Data to Promote Equity in a Cycle of Collaborative Teacher Inquiry

This article describes a cycle of teacher collaborative inquiry called the Student Experience Improvement Cycle (SEIC). The SEIC is a novel form of assessment: it focuses on supporting teachers in using evidence of the quality of student experience f...

By William Penuel, Ali Raza, Yamileth Salinas Del Val, Rosa Salinas-Estevez, Emily Williamson, Jennifer Smith, Quincy Gill

Middle School Assessment Equity Inquiry Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

The Standard Answer: Considerations for Implementing Standards-based Grading in an NGSS-aligned Science Classroom

Standards-based grading (SBG) is an alternative approach to grading that uses standards, such as the NGSS, to communicate what students have learned. While SBG has increased in popularity in the last decade, questions still remain in regard to what c...

By Jesse Wilcox, Matt Townsley

Assessment NGSS Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Designing Performance-Based Assessments that Engage!

Rather than feel stressful for students, an assessment should feel like a celebration of learning. Performance-based assessments allow students to demonstrate their understanding of one or more standards by accomplishing tasks that are engaging and f...

By Katie Coppens

Middle School Assessment Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Socioscientific Modeling: Helping Students See Systems and Understand Messy Issues

In this article we present a strategy to help students unpack complex, socioscientific issues. We outline a 90-minute learning experience where students are asked to explore the complicated cause and effect relationships that shaped the course of the...

By Eric Kirk, Troy Sadler, Zhen Xu, Jamie Elsner, Li Ke, Laura Zangori, Rebecca Lesnefsky

Interdisciplinary Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Introducing Engineering Aims and Values through Rover Wheel Design

Engineering activities often emphasize the practices of engineers, but pay less attention to aspects of the nature of engineering. One important aspect of the nature of engineering is an understanding of the aims and values that underlie engineers’...

By Jerrid Kruse, Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Dan Chibnall, Sarah Voss, Emma Marie, Bridgid Miller, Jayme Scheck

Middle School Earth & Space Science Engineering STEM Technology

Journal Article

Sensing in Animals and Robots: Collaborative, Transdisciplinary Learning in an Undergraduate Science Course

Transdisciplinary learning—where students develop and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to solve open-ended problems—is necessary to prepare students for the most pressing real-world problems. Because transdisciplinary education often req...

By Anna DeJarnette, Stephanie Rollmann, Dieter Vanderelst, John Layne, Anna Hutchinson

Postsecondary Biology Engineering Interdisciplinary Robotics STEM Technology

Journal Article

Implementing Universal Design for Learning in the Higher Education Science Classroom

There is a growing need for college science faculty to teach a diverse group of learners. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can be used to create inclusive learning materials and activities in the higher education science classroom. A...

By Breanne Kirsch, Theodore Bryan, David Hoferer

Postsecondary Inclusion Leadership Pedagogy Professional Learning Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Scaling Up: Lessons for Persuading Science Faculty to Adopt an Evidence-Based Intervention

The science education community is deeply vested in growing the next generation of scientists. One way to do this is through evidence-based interventions that support the motivation and performance of students in introductory classes. The literature...

By Jessi Smith, Dustin Thoman

Biology Curriculum Pedagogy Professional Learning Teacher Preparation

Journal Article

Equitable instructor assessment changes amid COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak mandated a rapid transition to online classes with little warning. Previous literature studying the effect of this sudden shift demonstrated enormous impacts on instructors and students. However, the details concer...

By Todd Lamb, Emily Driessen, Abby Beatty, Rachel Youngblood, Abby Esco, Sehoya Cotner, Catherine Creech, Abby Drake, Sheritta Fagbodun, Kristen Hobbs, Kelly Lane, Erin Larson, Sophie McCoy, Seth Thompson, Cissy Ballen

Postsecondary Assessment Biology Equity Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Student Self-Assessment of Exam Preparation in 100 and 200-Level Chemistry Courses

Student self-assessment surveys were utilized to look at student study habits in several areas. Both self-reported study time and study methods were explored. Surveys were given to students after receiving their graded exams. When compared to the ...

By Andrew Karatjas

Postsecondary Assessment Chemistry Learning Progression Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

The Influence of Learning Assistants on Faculty Use of Student-Centered Instruction

The Learning Assistant (LA) Program is a near-peer teaching model with three key components: 1) reevaluation of curriculum and lesson design to incorporate undergraduate LAs as a central part of the course, 2) a seminar attended by first-time LAs whe...

By Cameron Hill, Kathryn Spilios, Anthony Barrasso

Postsecondary Curriculum Leadership Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Student advice for success in high structure science and engineering courses

High structure courses ask students to be active participants in the learning process with pre-class content acquisition and assessment, in-class active learning exercises, and after-class review assignments. While faculty may suggest certain strateg...

By Arik Ringsby, Justin Shaffer

Assessment Curriculum Engineering Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Argumentative Writing Workshop for Conceptual Learning and Weekly Writing for Knowledge Application in Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratories

Pedagogical approaches for supporting students’ argumentative writing in science laboratories have not been fully established. This paper examines the development of argumentative abilities in undergraduate students enrolled in chemistry laboratory...

By Ruomei Gao, Judith Weinstein-Lloyd, Jody Cardinal

Postsecondary Assessment Chemistry Inquiry Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Development of a Problem Based Learning (PBL) Course at a Health Professions University – “Interdisciplinary Perspectives of an Infectious Disease - Malaria”

Faculty at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS University) recognized the potential benefits for collaborative teaching and learning across disciplines. Research and development of an “Interprofessional Case Learning Projec...

By Nalini Broadbelt, Nevila Jana, Katrina Van Dellen, Michelle Young, Kristen Petersen

Biology Curriculum Interdisciplinary Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Effective learning through a remote lab kit in an undergraduate invertebrate biology course

Active learning provides students with meaningful and introspective roles in education. However, it’s difficult to achieve in online class settings, particularly for biology laboratories initially designed to offer direct interactions with live org...

By Daniel Zarate, Kathleen Sheahan, Jingchun Li

Biology Distance Learning General Science Labs Pedagogy

Journal Article

Using Structured Academic Controversy for STEM Education Leadership Programs

As ethical issues involving computer technologies and social media become more common, there is increasing interest in what role ethics should play in Computer Science education. As a result, Computer Science departments worldwide have increased effo...

By Mariana Alvidrez, Christopher Villa, Elaine Hampton

Administration Computer Science Leadership STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

It’s About Time: Exploring the dose-dependent effects of active learning on students of different social personalities in an upper-level biology course.

Active learning is the new standard for teaching in higher education. As more faculty seek to expand their teaching practices by including active learning activities that promote higher levels of learning, many are doing so in small doses by temporar...

By William Beckerson, Jennifer Anderson, Siddhesh Kulkarni, John Perpich, Deborah Yoder-Himes

Postsecondary Biology Equity Pedagogy Professional Learning

Journal Article

Disasterologists At The Movies: An Innovative Use of Twitter for Disaster Education

A common course activity used by emergency management faculty is the screening of Hollywood disaster films to provide students an opportunity to apply key disaster concepts learned in lecture. When college courses were abruptly moved online in 2020, ...

By John Carr, Samantha Montano, Jordan Titera, Amy Hyman

Postsecondary General Science Pedagogy Teaching Strategies Technology

Book Chapter

Creating and Using Instructionally Supportive Assessments in NGSS Classrooms (Book Sample)

Journal

Science Scope—March/April 2024

Middle School Assessment Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal

Science and Children—March/April 2024

Journal

The Science Teacher—March/April 2024

eBook

Next Time You See a Snowflake (e-book)

eBook

Creating and Using Instructionally Supportive Assessments in NGSS Classrooms (e-book)

Imagine handing out assessments that spark enthusiasm rather than dread. In six easy-to-follow steps, this book empowers science teachers to create tasks that guide students to use their knowledge, not just memorize facts. The NGSA design process tra...