Science

A Remote View into the Classroom: Analyzing Teacher Use of Digitally Enhanced Educative Curriculum Materials in Support of Student Learning

When integrated into online curriculum modules for students, educative curriculum materials (ECMs) can enhance teachers’ enactment of these modules. This study investigated (1) the use of digitally enhanced ECMs built into an online plate tectonics curriculum module by teachers with different backgrounds and teaching experience, (2) the relationship between teachers’ use of ECMs and student learning gains, and (3) teacher reflections on the value of the ECMs they used.

Author/Presenter

Trudi Lord

Hee-Sun Lee

Paul Horwitz

Sarah Pryputniewicz

Amy Pallant

Lead Organization(s)
Year
2023
Short Description

When integrated into online curriculum modules for students, educative curriculum materials (ECMs) can enhance teachers’ enactment of these modules. This study investigated (1) the use of digitally enhanced ECMs built into an online plate tectonics curriculum module by teachers with different backgrounds and teaching experience, (2) the relationship between teachers’ use of ECMs and student learning gains, and (3) teacher reflections on the value of the ECMs they used.

Mapping, Clarifying, and Communicating Key Ideas about Collaborative Learning

Principal Investigator:

Project goals are 1) to map and synthesize the research literature on computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL), 2) identify topics relevant to K12 practitioners for use in practice and determine if new research is needed to create more usable knowledge, and 3) create materials with researchers and practitioners working together. In the three phases of the project, we use a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. In this poster we discuss findings from Phase 1.

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Exploratory Evidence on the Factors that Relate to Elementary School Science Learning Gains Among English Language Learners

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Using the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, we examine the correlates of elementary school science achievement gains for multilingual learners. We examine both science inputs - such as time on science, instructional materials, and topics taught - as well as language inputs - including ELL instructional model, languages spoken by educators, and multilingual resources. Our findings provide exploratory evidence on the factors related to science learning gains for multilingual learners.

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Improving Multi-dimensional Assessment and Instruction: Building and Sustaining Elementary Science Teachers' Capacity Through Learning Communities (Collaborative Research: Strickland, Pellegrino)

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The NGSA Elementary project seeks to better understand how to build and sustain the capacity of elementary science teachers to instruct and formatively assess students in NGSS-aligned ways. Our professional learning model prioritizes teacher learning in a community of practice, places instructionally supportive assessments at the forefront, and centers student discourse on disciplinary knowledge and practices to engage in sensemaking and reasoning. Teacher partners use multi-dimensional tasks in their classrooms and discuss experiences during PL sessions.

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Improving Multi-dimensional Assessment and Instruction: Building and Sustaining Elementary Science Teachers' Capacity Through Learning Communities (Collaborative Research: Strickland, Pellegrino)

Principal Investigator:

The NGSA Elementary project seeks to better understand how to build and sustain the capacity of elementary science teachers to instruct and formatively assess students in NGSS-aligned ways. Our professional learning model prioritizes teacher learning in a community of practice, places instructionally supportive assessments at the forefront, and centers student discourse on disciplinary knowledge and practices to engage in sensemaking and reasoning. Teacher partners use multi-dimensional tasks in their classrooms and discuss experiences during PL sessions.

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Leveraging the Power of Reflection and Visual Representation in Middle-Schoolers' Learning During and After an Informal Science Experience (Collaborative Research: Dickes)

Principal Investigator:

The project uses design-based research to address: (1) whether and how interpreting and constructing visual representations improves students' understanding of science, and (2) what further benefits are conferred by marrying engagement with visual representations and prompts for reflection during informal science learning experiences. The project is grounded in the idea that visual representations can enhance science learning and encourage reflection on doing science that supports extension of that learning beyond a singular informal science experience.

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The Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education Project

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The Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education (ACESSE, or “access”) project brings together partners from educational research and practice to promote equity and coherence in systems of science education. It involves a deep collaboration between the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS), the University of Washington, and the University of Colorado Boulder. Strategies and resources from this project are being shared around the country through networks of science education leaders. See https://stemteachingtools.org/

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Using Natural Language Processing to Inform Science Instruction (Collaborative Research: Linn)

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NLP-TIPS takes advantage of natural language processing (NLP) methods to detect students’ ideas in written science explanations. We design adaptive guidance that supports each student to consider their own ideas and pursue deeper understanding of phenomena. This work continues a successful partnership between University of California, Berkeley, Educational Testing Service (ETS), and science teachers from schools enrolling students from diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic groups whose cultural experiences may be neglected in science instruction.

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Understanding STEM Teaching Through Integrated Contexts in Everyday Life (Collaborative Research: Macalalag)

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Socioscientific Issues (SSI) are ill-defined problems and debatable issues that can enhance student learning of scientific knowledge and literacy skills (Zeidler et al., 2005). However, most teachers are unfamiliar with planning and implementation of SSI (Macalalag et. al, 2019). Our project aimed to support the development of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge through planning and implementation of SSI lessons in their classrooms.

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Translating a Video-based Model of Teacher Professional Development to an Online Environment

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Improving the quality of teaching is essential to improving student outcomes. BSCS Science Learning and the University of Minnesota STEM Education Program Area adapted an effective in-person professional learning model to utilize an online approach. The adaptation of STeLLA—Science Teachers Learning from Lesson Analysis—is important because it can reach a broader audience. To further promote the reach of STeLLA, the online version prepared local leaders to lead the program.

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