By John Spiegel, Anthony Quan, and Yamileth Shimojyo

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have the ability to transform teaching and learning in the classroom. They will dramatically change how students experience science by shifting the focus from the memorization of facts to greater student engagement in the processes of science. The NGSS emphasize learning in three dimensions: Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas. In addition, there are seven Conceptual Shifts, or Innovations, that have strong implications for teaching and learning. These shifts include the interconnected nature of science as practiced in the real world, the integration of science and engineering, the use of performance expectations, a focus on deeper understanding of content as well as application of content, and alignment to the Common Core State Standards. Teachers will ultimately be tasked with implementing the NGSS, but cannot do so without extensive time to plan and engage in professional learning.

The California Department of Education is approaching the implementation of NGSS thoughtfully and is encouraging districts and teachers to do the same. They have drafted the Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Plan for California, which outlines a phased approach in preparing for and implementing the NGSS (see Figure 1). This plan stresses the importance of “high quality professional learning opportunities for educators to ensure that every student has access to teachers who are prepared to teach to the levels of rigor and depth required by the CA NGSS.”

Figure 1: Phases of NGSS Implementation

The draft Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Plan for California outlines the three phases of implementation as:

The Awareness phase represents an introduction to the CA NGSS, the initial planning of systems implementation, and establishment of collaborations.

The Transition phase is the concentration on building foundational resources, implementing needs assessments, establishing new professional learning opportunities, and expanding collaborations between all stakeholders.

The Implementation phase expands the new professional learning support, fully aligns curriculum, instruction, and assessments, and effectively integrates these elements across the field.

This past summer, during a leadership meeting of the Southern California Association of Science Specialists (SCASS), we discussed the question, “What do all teachers need to know and be able to do to demonstrate they are prepared to implement the NGSS?” Finding varied responses among ourselves, we agreed to work collaboratively to develop a model that would attempt to answer this question as well as provide specific outcomes that could be used to design professional learning for teachers. This work has been summarized in The NGSS Implementation Pathway Model[3] (see Figure 2), which identifies four stages: (1) Initial exposure to NGSS, (2) Deepening understanding of NGSS, (3) Planning instruction around NGSS, and (4) Full alignment of instruction to NGSS. These stages are related to the awareness, transition, and implementation phases outlined in the draft Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Plan for California.

Figure 2. The NGSS Implementation Pathway Model

The arrows in The NGSS Implementation Pathway Model represent a sequence of professional learning that teachers will need as they begin working with the NGSS. Of particular importance is the circular arrow between the stages of “Deepening Understanding of NGSS” and “Planning Instruction around NGSS”. These two stages are cyclical in nature. As teachers begin planning instruction aligned to the NGSS, time should be spent researching the Framework for K-12 Science Education[4] or other resources to deepen their personal understanding of the Conceptual Shifts as they consider the classroom implications of these Innovations. For example, a teacher planning an instructional sequence around a performance expectation that requires students to develop a model (Science and Engineering Practice #2) might need to further their own understanding of what a model is and how to help students develop and use a model.

Figure 3. Stages in the NGSS Implementation Pathway Model

A description of the four stages of The NGSS Implementation Pathway Model are described in Figure 3 as well as possible outcomes for personal or collaborative professional learning. The outcomes focus on implications for teaching and learning as teachers explore the Conceptual Shifts (Innovations) and the three dimensions of the NGSS, and begin planning instruction around performance expectations.

To meet the outcomes identified in each stage of this model, teachers will need to dedicate significant effort towards their own professional learning. Schools and districts will also need to provide support and time for this learning to occur. It should be emphasized that all teachers in a school or district will not be at the same stage at any given time, thus there will be a need to differentiate professional learning for teachers in the coming months and years. In addition, the time needed to work through these stages should not be underestimated.

The NGSS Implementation Pathway Model is powerful in helping educators, administrators, and leaders of professional learning think about what teachers need to know and be able to do as they engage with the Next Generation Science Standards. We have found that this model has given us common language and outcomes as professional learning is developed. In addition, it has provided teachers with a tool to plan their own professional learning path. The NGSS Implementation Pathway Model is a valuable resource in support of the on-going work to move California closer in realizing the vision of NGSS for ALL students.

John Spiegel is the Science Coordinator at the San Diego County Office of Education. He can be reached at john.spiegel@sdcoe.net or on Twitter at @sdngss.

Anthony Quan is the STEM Consultant at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. He can be reached at quan_anthony@lacoe.edu, on Facebook @Lacoe Stem, or on Twitter at @LacoeQuan.

Yamileth Shimojyo is the Science-STEM Coordinator at the Riverside County Office of Education. She can be reached at yshimojyo@rcoe.us.

[1] The proposal of this document can be found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/documents/implndrft072414wmrk.pdf. A final version of this document is on the agenda for approval by the State Board of Education in November 2014.

[2] Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Plan for California DRAFT, page 12.

[3] Adapted partially from the work of Harold Pratt in The NSTA Reader’s Guide to the Next Generation Science Standards. 2013.

[4] The Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (NRC, 2012) can be found at www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165.

[5] The Conceptual Shifts (Innovations) are found in Appendix A: Conceptual Shifts in the Next Generation Science Standards at www.nextgenscience.org.

[6] The Three Dimensions of Learning are found in Appendix E, F, and G at www.nextgenscience.org and Chapters 3-8 from The Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (NRC, 2012). can be found at www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165.

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