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New Nebraska Science Standards: Modeling Unit Development for Middle School Teachers
Abstract
New national and state science standards are different than those of the past. These new standards incorporate three dimensions in each performance expectation. Due to the recent release of Nebraska’s College and Career Ready Standards for Science and lack of curricula resources available, school districts and teachers need quality models for professional development and curricula development. Can the Storylines for Nebraska College and Career Ready Standards for Science format both model and teach teachers about three dimensional science instruction? The study created a series of sixth grade units that align with Nebraska College and Career Ready Standards for Science and evaluated the quality of unit development. Two drop-in units were created using a storyline model. Technology resources were used to enhance the delivery of the model. Six teachers and curriculum specialist evaluated the quality of the units and answer the research question. Using the EQuIP rubric, quality components were identified. Evidence of NGSS 3D design, instructional supports, and ways to monitor student progress were found in the Storylines for Nebraska’s College and Career Ready Standards for Science. The use of three dimensional learning, student engagement, phenomena incorporation, and organization enhanced with technology. Professional development, creation of evaluation tools, rubrics and videos to enhance units, and easy ways to share the units are recommendations for next steps.
Subject Area
Middle School education|Teacher education|Science education|Curriculum development
Recommended Citation
Smith, Kirsten S, "New Nebraska Science Standards: Modeling Unit Development for Middle School Teachers" (2018). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI10844806.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI10844806