Good day and I hope that each of you have had a productive instructional week. If not, no problem. Do some reflection and tweak it for next year!

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this week about the Next Generation Science Standards. I’ve had many emails from folks across the state full of questions about the revised PASS, the Common Core, and how those are related to what’s going on in science (Next Generation Science Standards – NGSS).

Here we go:

• The Common Core Standards (CC) are only for Mathematics and English/Langauge Arts. The CC does not give any content concerning science. There are some literacy standards for interacting with science and tecnological texts, but those are not content standards. Those are standards for having students read and interact with the type of texts we encounter in the science disciplines.
• The PASS (specific to Oklahoma) have been revised and should be used when planning science lessons. It might be helpful to refer to the CC to make those critical connections to mathematics and literacy, but the only document that contains content for science is the PASS. The Pocket PASS for science is at the printer and should be ready to be mailed soon, so consider checking the website to order. We’ll be on overload getting those out when they arrive, so please be patient! You can download a current version of the revised PASS for science from the website, as well.
• The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are in the process of development right now. When standards are developed, there must first be a framework to guide the standard writing process. This document has been written and can be found by going to http://www.nextgenscience.org. In 2009, the National Research Council brought together a panel of scientists and science educators. This makeup of this panel was split about in half between scientists and educators. The educator side of the panel had K-12 strongly represented. The panel wrote the framework and it will now guide the standard-writing process. I’ll give you more information as I get it.

I’ll not bore you with the details, but the framework basically splits into 3 dimensions: Scientific and Engineering practices, Crosscutting concepts, and the disciplinary core ideas (including Physical, Life, Earth and Space, and Engineering and Technology). Most of those are probably self-explanatory except the crosscutting concepts. These are the ideas that are not discipline specific and are not skills or practices. They are Patterns, Cause and Effect, Scale Proportion and Quantity, Systems and System Models, Energy and Matter, Structure and Function, and (finally) Stability and Change. These 7 concepts can be applied to all fo the scientific disciplines.

Okay. I lied. I bored you some details. Here’s the abbreviated version:

The Framework will drive what is in the standards and the organization of them. It is not a standards document. It is the shell of the house around which the standards will be built.

So where does Oklahoma fit into this process, you ask? Well, we could sit idly by and let other states decide what we should be teaching or we can work toward getting into the Leadership Consortium of states and help write the standards. I’m kinda leaning toward the latter!

Achieve.org (the bi-partisan education reform organization) sent out a press release last week a list of the states that would be leading the standards development and Oklahoma was not listed. I’ll take the heat on that one. I was not aware of the process to get us into the leadership consortium. However, the news isn’t all bad. I’m now aware and in contact with Achieve to get this fixed. They still want us to be a part of the leadership (Jana worked really hard in this area) and we want to be a part.

I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’m excited to be a part education in Oklahoma. Yes, there are a lot of changes. However, I think we are on the cusp of some exciting times and I’m glad to be a part of it! Please keep sending me your questions about standards. I know it can be overwhelming at times, especially when you get information from federal sources, state sources, and district sources.

Check out the information below and enjoy your weekend! The weather is awesome, there’s plenty of HS and college football to keep us occupied, so enjoy it!

~jb

Announcements:

Oklahoma Specific:

***This one is important folks. If you don’t go and take the survey, when the new evaluation system goes into effect, you won’t have any room to complain.

You know how annoying it is to hear people complain about those in public office, when they didn’t vote? Well here’s your chance to have your voice heard! Every teacher who cares about how they are evaluated should be letting someone know what they think. I’d say that’s every one of us!***

Request for Public Comment

Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) Preliminary Recommendations of the TLE Commission

The TLE Commission is requesting public comment on their first set of preliminary recommendations (September 12, 2011).  Additional preliminary recommendations will be made available in coming weeks for public comment.  Final recommendations of the TLE Commission will be submitted to the Oklahoma State Board of Education prior to December 15, 2011, based on feedback received from a wide representation of stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, students, parents, community members, and policymakers.

You may submit public comments via an online survey, email, or written communication.  These comments will be reviewed by the TLE Commission at their regularly scheduled meetings on October 10, November 7, and December 5, 2011, as well as at any special meetings that might be called between October 11 and December 15, 2011.

Online Survey Link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TLErecommendations1 

OK-ARK-KS American Association of Physics Teachers

It’s not too late to register!

The AR-OK-KS Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers is having their 3 state section meeting in Bentonville, AR Oct. 14-15.  It is being held at the same time as the popular War Eagle Craft Fair so you (or your spouse) might get some sightseeing and shopping in while attending.

The website is:

https://api.nwacc.edu/AAPTAOK/index.php

OSTA

You can still register for the OSTA conference which takes place one week from tomorrow at Howell Hall on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma. Find more information by going to the website:

https://www.oklahomascienceteachersassociation.org/

There will be a plethora of good Professional Development, plus some great conversations with other science teachers. Vendors will undoubtedly be giving away conference goodies and the best part is that I’ll be there so you can put a face with a name! I can’t wait to see you!

Nationwide: America’s Home Energy Education Challenge

America’s Home Energy Education Challenge (AHEEC) is a new nationwide student competition to help families save money by saving energy at home.  AHEEC engages students in elementary and middle schools to make smarter energy choices that reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels and put money back in their parents’ pockets. This initiative aims to educate America’s youth about the benefits of energy efficiency, motivate students to play a more active role in how their families use energy, and help families across the country reduce their energy bills. Participating schools compete for more than $200,000 in prizes distributed at the regional and national levels of the competition. Official registration for the Challenge ends October 7, 2011. Students, teachers, and principals are encouraged to register to participate at  http://homeenergychallenge.org/ . Participation in AHEEC is broken into two parts, the  http://homeenergychallenge.org/Registration/RulesHEC.aspx Home Energy Challenge and the http://homeenergychallenge.org/Registration/RulesEFA.aspx Energy Fitness Award. Each is designed to encourage students to learn about science and home energy savings. Visit the website for more details and updates.

Disney’s Planet Challenge

Disney’s Planet Challenge is a project-based environmental competition for elementary and middle school (grades 3-8) classrooms developed in collaboration with NSTA and the WestEd K-12 Alliance. Classrooms are empowered to make a difference in their homes, schools, or communities and compete for a trip to Disneyland, classroom grants, Disney DVDs, student eco-friendly prize packs and more. Disney’s Planet Challenge also provides matching grants through Donors Choose for classrooms participating in this program. Disney’s Planet Challenge is a great way to get students involved with their environment in a fun and creative way. Visit the competition  http://dpcproject.com/ website to register now. Registration closes December 23.

The DuPont Challenge© Science Essay Competition

The DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition is a student competition that invites seventh through 12^th grade students to write a 700 to 1,000-word essay about a scientific discovery, theory, event or technological application that has captured their interest. Developed incollaboration with The Walt Disney World Resort, NASA and NSTA, the competition offers young students the opportunity to explore science, develop new skills and gain confidence in communicating scientific ideas.  Created to honor theChallenger astronauts, students can win savings bonds up to $5,000, and a trip to Walt Disney World and to the Kennedy Space Center. Teachers win too! Along with the trips with their students, teachers can also win $500 grants. To learn more about the competition, check out the  http://thechallenge.dupont.com/ website. Entries will be accepted from October 15 until January 31.

Mars Education Challenge

The Mars Education Challenge is a nationwide competition that calls on high school science educators to develop new and innovative curricula that focuses on Mars science and exploration. $17,500 in cash prizes are awarded annually, including a $5,000 grand prize. Registration closes December 16, 2011 and curricula support materials submissions are due January 16,2012. More information, including entry details, curricula requirements, and detailed prizing information for the Mars Education Challenge, can be found on the competition  http://www.exploremars.org/page/mars-education-challenge/ website.

Shell Science Lab Challenge

The Shell Science Lab Challenge, a program of NSTA, encourages teachers (grades 6-12) in the U.S. and Canada, who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources, to share their approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package valued at $20,000. Teachers and schools submitting top entries will receive additional laboratory tools, resources and rich professional development opportunities. $93,000 in prizes are awarded annually. Applications are due October 21, 2011. For more information about the Challenge, visit the program  http://www.nsta.org/shellsciencelab/?lid=tnavhp website.

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge

K-12 students have the opportunity to become “Agents of Change” as they team up with their classmates to create replicable solutions to environmental issues in their classroom, school and community. Student and teacher/mentor prizes, which vary according to gradelevel, include savings bonds, school grants, exciting trips, and much more.Applications are now being accepted. The deadline for entries is March 15, 2012 (finalists and winners will be announced in April 2012). For more information about the Challenge or toregister for the competition, visit the  http://www.wecanchange.com/ website.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision

ExploraVision is a competition that encourages K-12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels to create and explore a vision of a future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. Teams of two to four students research scientific principles and current technologies as the basis for deigning innovative technologies thatcould exist in 20 years. Students compete for up to $240,000 in savings bonds for college and cool gifts from Toshiba. First- and second-place teams alsoreceive an expenses-paid trip with their families, mentor and coach to Washington, D.C. for a gala awards weekend in June 2012. Applications are now being accepted; the deadline for applications is February 1. In an ExploraVision first, the teachers who submit the largest number of qualified student projects this year will receive a Toshiba tablet PC. For more information about the program or to learn how to apply, visit the competition http://www.exploravision.org/ website.

OKC Zoo Education Grants Available:

Deadline Oct. 1st. Applications are available online at http://www.okczooed.com/grants Grants can be applied towards Spring and Summer on-grounds zoo classes, outreach classes & there is even money available to offset transportation costs.