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Science education news and updates from around the state and region.  

Winter 2020 Updates 

 

You have received this email because of your involvement in science education reform efforts in the Olympic Educational Service District Region.  Every quarter we will provide a round-up of the latest information related to state and national standards and assessment matters as well as other relevant information related to science education reform efforts. If you are not interested in receiving the Science Matters newsletter please see the unsubscribe button at the end of this message.


Climate Science Canvas Course

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

 
For K-12 Teachers February Cohort 
 

6 STEM Clock Hours and $200 Stipend

In this FREE Canvas Course, attendees will learn a protocol for organizing and interpreting data. The course is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards practices of "analyzing and interpreting data" within the dimension of the "Science and Engineering Practices". 

Read more here. 

Space for this course is limited so register now to ensure you can participate.

K-2 is Full
3-5 (6 spots remaining) Event ID: 100941
6-8 (22 spots remaining) Event ID: 100942
9-12 (22 spots remaining)  Event ID: 100943

More Science Assessment News!


WCAS Training Test Updates


We are happy to announce that the WCAS training tests have been expanded. The training tests are available through the WCAP Portal.

  • The Grade 5 and Grade 8 training tests each have two new standalone items.
  • The Grade 11 training test has three new standalone items and one new item cluster
Students who take online assessments need opportunities to explore the features of the test and practice using the tools available to them. All items types are available at each grade level except:
  • Table Input item: available in Grade 11 (Item 1)
  • Hot text Item: available in Grade 5 (Item 3) and Grade 8 (Item 1)
  • Scored simulation: not yet available on the training tests

All standalone items and item clusters on the training tests were developed by Washington educators and successfully field tested with Washington students. The standalone items and item clusters were carefully chosen for the training tests to represent a variety of online question types and features. All students can access all three training tests, if desired.

 

Lessons Learned from Scoring Student Work

The 2018-2019: Lessons Learned from Scoring Student Work document has been posted to the WCAS Educator Resources webpage. In the document, the science assessment team shares observations about student responses to WCAS field test items. The document lists general observations across the grade levels and actions at each grade level that students and educators can use in their preparation for the WCAS.

New Engineering Focused STEM Teach Tool

 

How to integrate the argumentation from evidence practice into engineering design projects

As teachers focus instruction on the science and engineering practices (SEPs), students need support to use argumentation in the context of engineering design investigations. Argumentation is sometimes exclusively considered a scientific practice, rather than also being fundamental to the engineering design process. Engineers use argumentation to weigh the merits of possible designs and to evaluate their success. Students should learn how to support engineering claims with specific evidence throughout the design process.
Read more here..

 

Developed by Kim Weaver at Olympic ESD! 

 

Olympic ESD 114 STEM Hotspot


Check out the latest in STEM course offerings at Olympic ESD at the OESD 114 STEM Hotspot webpage. Updated monthly, this bulletin provides up-to-date information of course offerings.

NASA, and Robotics, and Novel Engineering - OH MY!

Explore more here....

Science Assessment News

Upcoming Science Assessment Webinars

 

The Science Assessment team is hosting three webinars in February to share information about the Test Design & Item Specifications documents for the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).

There will be a separate webinar for each grade level: Grade 5, Grade 8, and Grade 11.

During each webinar, the science team will:

  • Share the assessment development process for the WCAS, including opportunities for educator involvement
  • Share the design of the WCAS including test blueprints, item types, and cluster structure
  • Share how a WCAS item is aligned to an item specification by engaging participants in an alignment activity

The webinars will be recorded and available on the WCAS Educator Resources page in mid-February.

Grade 5

Tuesday, February 4, 2020, 3:30-5:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Click here to register for the Grade 5 webinar


Grade 8

Wednesday, February 5, 2020, 3:30-5:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Click here to register for the Grade 8 webinar

What is a Science Fellow? 


In October the Washington State Science Fellows gathered in Yakima, WA for the annual state science fellows convening. They met for a two day convening to learn about modeling in the science classroom, and hear from experts like Dr. Mark Windschitl from the University of Washington a la Ambitious Science Teaching.

Each year the Science Fellows program in Washington State provides interested teachers and instructional coaches an opportunity to deepen understanding of science teaching and learning. The program is designed to support growth in leadership. knowledge of the standards and assessment, and a supportive context for action planning to support student learning. 

The next application period will begin in April of 2020. If you are interested in hearing more about the program please....


Read more here....

Grant Opportunity!

Ellison Education Grants 

Applications are now being accepted for the “Ellison Education Grants”. Grants are for K-12 public school teachers in Washington State.  The Ellison foundation has awarded 40 grants and over $168,000 to Washington State teachers in the past three years.
The Ellison Foundation will award grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 in the spring of 2020 (for use during the 2020-2021 school year).  Applications must be submitted by March 21st, 2020.
To learn more about the “Ellison Education Grants” please go to the following link:
 
http://ellison-foundation.org/ellison-education
 
 

Science and Engineering in your Community 

Olympic Region Teacher Professional Learning Opportunities 
 
Science in Your Schoolyard 
Venture outside the walls of the classroom to find local environmental phenomena that can anchor your classroom science unit. Explore with us the big picture of Next Generation Science Standards’ “three dimensional” science learning and then get hands on with the Science and Engineering Practices as you use them to build an understanding of an example phenomenon in our “schoolyard.” You’ll leave this workshop with ideas and examples you can use in your own classroom science curriculum.


February 1 - Poulsbo 
More information and register here..

Engineering and Community Solutions 
How does engineering relate to solving problems in your community? Learn how IslandWood is using the engineering design process to help students investigate local stormwater problems, seek stakeholder input, and develop solutions. Explore what is involved in putting student ideas into action including possible real-world constraints, practical small-scale solutions potential partners, and mini-grant options. We’ll work together to figure out a plan for the topics and students you teach.

February 22- Bremerton
More information and register here..

 

OSPI Science Assessment

Item Cluster Writing Workgroup 


This is your invitation to APPLY for item cluster writing work groups for the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).

Item Cluster Writing Work Groups: Teams of two writers produce stimuli and items aligned to the state learning standards. The teams also draft rubrics designed to measure student understanding of the science standards.

Grade 5            March 18-20

Grade 8            March 18-20

High School      March 24-27

Participants will be chosen to provide a well-balanced work group in terms of previous science assessment experience, content and grade-level expertise, and state demographics. Each work group will include both experienced and new applicants.

The science assessments are three-dimensional—assessing Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts in the context of Physical Sciences; Life Sciences; Earth and Space Sciences; and Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science. Educators are encouraged to apply for work groups at multiple grades based on content expertise. For example, a middle school teacher with content expertise in Earth Science is encouraged to apply for grades 5, 8, and/or high school work groups.

Teachers who have not yet participated in an assessment development work group for the WCAS will be required to complete an online pre-meeting training.

STEM clock hours will be provided for the work group and the online training.

Teachers who have previously participated in a science assessment development work group for the WCAS are not required to complete the pre-meeting training.

Logistics 

The work groups will begin with breakfast each morning at 7:30 a.m. and will run from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Participants are expected to attend the entire day/event.

  • Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
  • Free STEM clock hours will be provided.
  • Personal travel reimbursement (mileage, dinner, parking, etc.) will be provided as long as all state guidelines and regulations are met.
  • Lodging for those living more than 50 miles from the meeting location will be provided.
  • Flights are available if needed.
  • Substitute reimbursement is offered during the school year. Stipends are not available during the school year.

Our application database is updated each year. Please complete the application in its entirety, even if you have applied for or attended science assessment work groups in the past. Once you have completed the application you can use it for all work groups you would like to apply for in 2020.

Science Assessment Item Cluster Writing Application 2020

Please complete the application survey by 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 24.

Women in STEM Posters 

Downloadable STEM Role Models Posters 

 

High Quality NGSS Aligned High School Instructional Material 


Reviewed by Achieve!

The Science Peer Review Panel has rated another unit as high quality and posted it online. This is the second unit in the Interactions curriculum by Michigan State University's CREATE for STEM Institute and the Concord Consortium to be identified as high quality (see the first unit here). In this unit, students further develop their model of electrostatic interactions by incorporating the relationship between electric potential energy and electric forces. In particular, the unit focuses on the electrostatic attractions and energy conversions involved in the formation of molecules (chemical reactions). See the unit here, and the full EQuIP Rubric review here.

Science Matters Newsletter Archives


Explore over three years of the Science Matters Newsletter archives.

Relevant and timely news and notes from around the state and region related to science education teaching and learning.

View back issues here
For more information regarding these updates please contact Jeff Ryan at jryan@oesd.wednet.edu











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Olympic Educational Service District 114 · 2530 West 19th Street · Port Angeles, WA 98363 · USA

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