This foundational pathway helps participants to progress beyond simply “learning about” three-dimensional learning and helps them to work with resources critical to facilitating three-dimensional learning in their own classrooms. Participants engage as learners in modeling and constructing explanations of complex phenomena just as their students will. They also learn how to use classroom tools such as productive talk and planning whole group discussions to help create a classroom culture in which all students are supported to go public with their reasoning and build on the ideas of their classmates.
Length
36 hours; typically scheduled in 1- to 2-day sessions spread across two or three weeks as well as in a summer institute format.
Format
In-person facilitated study groups using the NGSX web-based professional learning program.
Participants
Teachers of science, STEM coaches, district science leaders, informal science educators
Virtual Becoming a Next-Gen Science Teacher
NGSX is now offering the virtual pathway Becoming a Next-Gen Science Teacher (V-BNGST). The V-BNGST consists of six modules.
This virtual pathway, like all NGSX pathways, is co-facilitated. Facilitators will creatively and strategically use multiple web-based tools such as Google Draw and Google Jamboard to engage participants in small group, whole group, and partner discussions. Well-proven tools such as a Driving Question Board, Summary Table, and Productive Talk Moves are built into a virtual pathway as well. The NGSX team is very excited to be charting this new territory and making NGSX available to all regardless of location.
Length
24-30 synchronous hours
plus
30-60 minutes of asynchronous learning for each module
Format
Virtual facilitated study groups using the NGSX web-based professional learning program.
Participants
Teachers of science, STEM coaches, district science leaders, informal science educators
Elementary Science and Classroom Units
This learning pathway brings together study groups composed of K-5 teachers who want to learn how to bring 3D science teaching and learning to their classrooms. The pathway begins with all grade-level teachers together, experiencing a phenomenon as one community of adult learners. Together they work with knowledge-building tools critical in creating a classroom culture that supports students equitably in terms of talk, representing and explaining their reasoning and constructing models to reflect their understandings of a phenomenon. Teachers complete this pathway in grade-banded groups as they experience instructional units that they will take back to their classrooms.
Length
36 hours; typically scheduled in 1- to 2-day sessions spread across two or three weeks
Format
In-person facilitated study groups using a web-based professional learning program.
Participants
Teachers of science, STEM coaches, district science leaders, informal science educators
Oceans, Climate Science & Big Data
For Middle & High Science, Social Studies & Computer Science Teachers
The OCSBD Pathway
Even if you have not lived anywhere near ocean waters, you will still experience the ocean's influence on our earth's climate system. It is remarkable. In this NGSX pathway we focus on building our understanding of the multiple ways the oceans are a critical part of our changing planet, our climate. The ocean has had, and will continue to have a significant influence on climate change. In NGSS and the Framework for K-12 Science Education we encounter the role of oceans as they influence our climatic patterns, Specifically, the role of oceans is noted in NGSS (EES2.C and ESS2.D)
This NGSX learning pathway is designed to support teachers, instructional coaches, curriculum supervisors and administrators in growing their knowledge about oceans as part of climate science. This includes the use of data in helping scientists, and you as an educator, understand the interaction between oceans and climate. Also, you will experience tools that scientists use in collecting data on the oceans and interpreting that data. Many of these tools can be taken back to your classroom.
Importantly in this pathway you will experience a unit in which you and others participants begin working on ideas for instructional materials. You will begin the process of identifying how to engage your students in the process of understanding the linkages between oceans and climate science. You will draw upon your own learnings in this pathway and transfer those ideas to your classroom, your students.
This NGSX pathway was designed in partnership with the Bigelow Laboratory in Boothbay,Maine. Three scientists from this Laboratory are an essential component of this remarkable pathway of learning.
Pathway Preview
Length
Virtual (synchronous) pathway modules will occur over the course of 5 days, broken into 4.5/5 hour daily or weekend sessions. Scheduled breaks will occur throughout each day. All sessions will be co-facilitated.
Format
This pathway introduces a number of digital tools that can be used in one's classroom, especially in working with data. While the pathway is virtual all of the high quality interactive and group-based activities associated with NGSX are built into the pathway.
Participants
The OCSBD pathway is for middle and high school teachers of science (chemistry, biology, physics and environmental science), mathematics, social studies and computer science. It is also intended for STEM coaches, district science leaders, instructional leaders, curriculum supervisors and informal science educators.
From Pathway Participants
This was fantastic!!
Fantastic PD! Very useful and furthering my growth as I continue to create a more NGSS centered classroom.
As an adult learner, I came away with the value of persistence, patience and support . I really valued the wisdom and insight that was shared among the participants.
Big data does not have to be scary. Playing with it makes it manageable . . . make a claim and find the evidence to support it.
The PLANS Principal Pathway
Principals Learn About, Network, and Support 3-Dimensional Science Learning
This pathway is for building administrators, district instructional leaders and coaches as well as curriculum supervisors interested in acquiring strategies and new understandings to support teachers and students. Instructional leadership and active support at the building and district level is an essential part of a successful outcome for teachers of science and for their students. This pathway experience will help building and district teams identify what needs to be in place to help this new vision for science education become a reality.
Length
11 hours; typically scheduled in 1- to 2-day sessions spread across two or three weeks
Format
In-person facilitated study groups using NGSX, a web-based professional learning program.
Participants
Building administrators, STEM coaches, curriculum supervisors, district science leaders, informal science educators
The Facilitator Pathway
This pathway is dedicated to building district and state-based facilitator capacity to lead NGSX study groups, contributing to a district or state's potential for scale-up. We know the success of a NGSX study group can depend on expert facilitation. Study group leaders need preparation beyond learning about NGSS; they need knowledge-building skills in orchestrating productive discussion among adult learners, and the pedagogical content knowledge about facilitation to understand how to support teacher learning from cases of practice and working with the three dimensions of NGSS. Having NGSX state and district facilitators prepared to lead NGSX study groups is a major step in ensuring that states and districts have the PD capacity they need to support teachers, preservice students, instructional leaders, and faculty as well as supervising teachers.
Length
34 hours; typically scheduled in 1- to 2-day sessions spread across two or three weeks or in a summer institute format
Format
In-person facilitated study groups using NGSX, a web-based professional learning program.
Participants
Teachers of science, STEM coaches, district science leaders, informal science educators and teacher educators.
Taking it Back to Your Classroom
This pathway builds on the learning experiences of Becoming a Next-Gen Science Teacher pathway. A study group works with three different perspectives: engaging in three-dimensional learning as an adult learner; analyzing the work of K–12 students engaged in three-dimensional learning; and analyzing how teachers and curriculum materials support three-dimensional learning. Engaging as a learner, using these three perspectives, prepares participants to begin to make adaptations to existing science curriculum materials supportive of NGSS and the K-12 Framework.
Length
36 hours; typically scheduled in 1- to 2-day sessions spread across two or three weeks
Format
In-person facilitated study groups using NGSX, a web-based professional learning program.
Participants
Teachers of science, STEM coaches, district science leaders, instructional leaders, curriculum supervisors and informal science educators