next generation science standards a look at core ideas of engineering and technology summary created...

Next Generation Science Standards

A Look at Core Ideas of Engineering and Technology

Summary created by:

Fred Ende (fende@pnwboces.org)

Regional Science Coordinator

Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES

“Likely” New Standard Structure

• The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) will most likely be built around three pillars:– Scientific and Engineering Practices– Crosscutting Concepts– Disciplinary Core Ideas

Why a Focus on Engineering?

• The “inspirational” reasons:– Builds the case for how science and engineering are

necessary to address the world’s challenges– Will help build a larger workforce and further

investment in the facets of STEM• The “practical” reasons:

– Builds relevance by helping students see the application of many scientific concepts and ideas (though engineering should not be confused with “applied science”)

– Helps expose students to engineering topics more regularly and at an earlier age

What, Exactly, Is Engineering?

• Basically, any practice of design to achieve solutions to problems we encounter. These design practices result in “technologies” which are simply products created through the engineering process.

• By comparison, “science” may or may not be driven by any immediate application, and argumentation in science usually strives to lead towards one “correct” answer, whereas in engineering there are often many “correct” solutions to design problems.

What Aspects of Engineering Will the Standards Focus On?

• The NGSS will address both practices and core content ideas. – See “Scientific and Engineering Practices”

presentation for more information on the practices portion

– Two main core content ideas will be addressed:• Engineering design and what that is• Interdependence and influence of science,

engineering, and technology on the world

Engineering Core Ideas Explored

• Engineering Design– Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem– Developing Possible Solutions– Optimizing the Design Solution

• Links Among Engineering, Technology, Science, and Society (STS-E)– Interdependence of Science, Engineering, and

Technology– Influence of Engineering, Technology, and Science

on Society and the Natural World

What Will Districts Need to Do to Address Engineering?

• It seems unlikely that most districts will need to create new courses or entirely new curricula.– Some may choose to create courses specifically on

engineering and STS-E, but most concepts can be integrated into pre-existing science and technology courses.

– Teachers in the science and technology content areas should proactively discuss their curricula and the Framework for K-12 Science Education together to begin to get a sense of how they might collaborate on addressing new engineering standards.

What Will Districts Need to Do to Address Engineering?

• Staff development will be necessary, but can be accomplished in a number of efficient ways:– PLC’s that are department-based to explore the

Framework, engineering/technology ed. texts, and current curriculum.

– District-wide/regional workshops to focus on key aspects of the NGSS being developed as well as to provide time to “build” new lessons using exemplars.• One local resource K-6 is SCIENCE 21. Email

fende@pnwboces.org for exemplar lessons currently being drafted.

Current NGSS Timeline

References

• Achieve, Inc. (2011). Achieve Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.nextgenscience.org/

• National Research Council. (2011). A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Retrieved from: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165

• NSTA Learning Center. (2011). A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Retrieved from: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NLC/webseminarXI.aspx

• Sneider, Cary. (2011) Core Ideas of Engineering and Technology. Science & Children, 45 (5), 8-12.