What is A Framework for K-12 Science Education?
"A Framework for K-12 Science Education Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas" is a document that serves as a guide for science educators, curriculum developers, and others involved in science education in the United States. The framework was developed by the National Research Council and published in 2012.
The framework helps educators by providing a research-based foundation for the development of science education standards, curriculum materials, and assessments. It outlines the key scientific practices that students should engage in, crosscutting concepts that apply across all science disciplines, and core disciplinary ideas in life science, physical science, earth and space science, and engineering.
The National Research Council, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, is the organization that put together the framework. The National Academies are a private, non-profit organization that provides independent, objective advice on science, engineering, and medicine issues.
Some notable people on the board that developed the framework include:
Helen Quinn - Helen Quinn is a theoretical physicist and professor of particle physics and astrophysics at Stanford University. She has made contributions to understanding the weak force and has been involved in developing science education policy at the national level. https://physics.stanford.edu/people/faculty/helen-r-quinn
Michael Wysession - Michael Wysession is a geophysicist and professor of earth and planetary sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. He has conducted research on seismology and earth structure and has been involved in developing science education materials and assessments aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. He was a member of the committee that developed the framework. https://eps.wustl.edu/people/michael-wysession
Philip Bell - Philip Bell is a professor of education at the University of Washington and director of the Institute for Science + Math Education. He has conducted research on how to design and implement effective science instruction, with a focus on equity and inclusion. He was a member of the committee that developed the framework and has conducted research on how to effectively teach science to diverse groups of students. https://education.uw.edu/people/faculty/philip-bell
James Pellegrino - James Pellegrino is a professor of education and psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and co-director of the Learning Sciences Research Institute. He has conducted research on how to assess student learning in science and has been involved in developing science education policy at the national level. He was a member of the committee that developed the framework and has conducted research on how to assess student learning in science. https://education.uic.edu/profiles/james-pellegrino/
Okhee Lee - Okhee Lee is a professor of education at New York University and director of the Understanding Language Initiative. She has conducted research on how to support English language learners in science education and has been involved in developing science education materials and assessments aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/okhee-lee
Rodney Doran - Rodney Doran is a former science teacher and district science coordinator who has been involved in science education policy and curriculum development at the state and national level. He is currently a science education consultant and has worked on developing curriculum materials and assessments aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneydoran/
Overall, the framework has had a significant impact on science education in the United States, as many states and school districts have used it as a basis for developing their own science standards and curriculum materials. It has helped educators to focus on the key concepts and practices of science and to develop more effective strategies for teaching and assessing student learning in science.
Sources:
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2012). A framework for K-12 science education: Practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas. The National Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13165/a-framework-for-k-12-science-education-practices-crosscutting-concepts
National Research Council. (2015). Guide to implementing the Next Generation Science Standards. The National Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18802/guide-to-implementing-the-next-generation-science-standards
American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For states, by states. Science, 340(6130), 41–42. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/340/6130/41
National Science Teachers Association. (2013). NGSS@NSTA: Elementary science. NSTA Press. https://www.nsta.org/ngss.aspx
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