Science stands out from other classroom subjects due to the hands-on nature of the experiments and the problem-solving skills students practice. Not only can this be exciting for students and instructors, but these are universal skills that are highly valuable and transferable outside of a science experiment or classroom.
Students apply the skills they learn through science education to a wide array of careers and constructive life experiences. Given this, educators can maximize their impact on positive outcomes for students through continuously improving science curricula and learning experiences in their schools. Educators can learn more about science curriculum best practices in the online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction – Science program from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Developing Standards for the K-12 Science Curriculum
In 2012 the National Academies of Science convened the Committee on a Conceptual Framework for New K-12 Science Education Standards to develop the Framework for K-12 Science Education. This framework formed the basis for the state-led development of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), focusing on three crucial and equally important dimensions for teaching and learning science.
The first dimension focuses on crosscutting concepts or teachings that tie together the study of the four domains of science: Physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering design. The second dimension concerns science and engineering practices. The third dimension emphasizes the disciplinary core ideas, being the key concepts of science across disciplines and the four domains noted above.
The goal of establishing standards for K-12 science education is straightforward: Creating a set of guidelines to cultivate critical scientific thinkers who can apply concepts and practices to different disciplines. The consistency in education that such standards can provide across institutions allows for a common approach to teaching and discussing science.
On a classroom level, how are these ideas best implemented? Let’s look at a few agreed-upon best practices for offering K-12 students a relevant, engaging science education.
Encouraging and Integrating Student Discussion
Student discussion is one of the most effective approaches to teaching science at the K-12 level. One inherent strength of discussion is that students often feel more comfortable speaking with one another than a teacher about new topics, especially when exploring new and unfamiliar ideas. They can talk through these concepts with peers in more “private” settings rather than potentially feeling uncomfortable in front of an entire class.
In particular, equitable discussions are crucial to ensuring every student can benefit from participation in science education. Productive discussions are also central to fostering knowledge through collaborative inquiry. Learning about science in this way is analogous to inquiry-driven scientific practice in the real world.
Facilitating Inquiry-based Learning
Furthering the focus on inquiry in science education, giving students a chance for hands-on participation in pursuit of an answer to a question is critical. Inquiry-based projects and experiments provide all levels of students with the opportunity to participate and engage in scientific practices and develop internalized critical-thinking skills.
This level of participation and student-led learning can be much more effective than hearing a teacher lecture or reading pages from a textbook. It can also help eliminate barriers for English language learners, since they can directly engage with activities and projects, then practice using scientific terms to describe what they observe and learn.
Modeling Scientific Concepts and Relationships
Modeling is a longstanding, crucial part of science education, but educators are still uncovering new levels of its utility. The types of models students construct should evolve along with their development. For instance, models should be more concrete for students during younger ages, with the practice progressing into more abstract models as students get older.
Models help students visualize and draw connections between relationships and concepts. Skill with rendering abstract concepts and relationships into accessible, understandable forms is crucial to modern STEM roles ranging from engineering and architecture to data analytics and AI programming.
In Southeastern’s online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction – Science program, educators explore various leading-edge best practices for instilling a strong science foundation in their students. This program helps graduates develop the creativity and expertise needed to implement a science curriculum that can spur student intrigue and inquiry. In turn, the critical thinking skills that quality science education provides will effectively prepare students to excel in school and in their lives and careers after they graduate.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction – Science program.