October First Tuesday Science Update

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/01/2019 08:05 AM EDT

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Tuesday, October 1, 2019

K-12 Science

K-12 STANDARDS, CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

Upcoming NCDPI K-12 Science Webinars

Webinar Series Title: Integrating the Three Dimensions of the Framework

Our Webinar Series for 2018-2019 focused on the National Research Council’s (NRC) publication A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas.

The purpose of the series was to become familiar with the vision, purpose, and goals for science education. In the series we investigated the three key dimensions of the Framework, implications for teaching and learning, and the relationship between the Framework and standards.

This year’s series will build upon that foundational understanding by examining how the three dimensions are integrated in local curriculum units/lessons.

Recorded webinars from 2018-2019 are located on the K-12 Science Google Site Professional Development page.

Download a free copy of the Framework from

https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13165/a-framework-for-k-12-science-education-practices-crosscutting-concepts

Target Audience: Individuals seeking to gain an awareness of the Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas from A Framework for K-12 Science Education.

Please join us from 3:30-4:30pm for the following topics:

Webinar 1: Introduction and Series Overview (Overview of Framework (5 min) and Chapter 9 (40 min) November 19, 2019 Registration Link

Webinar 2: Focus on DCI January 28,2020 Registration Link

Webinar 3: Focus on the SEPs March 10, 2020 Registration Link

Webinar 4: Focus on the CCs April 30, 2020 Registration Link

Local Area Conferences:

Bridging the Gap Conference

Bridging the Gap is an annual conference whose goal is to strengthen K-16 STEM education throughout North Carolina.

Register to Attend the 2019 Bridging the Gap Conference

North Carolina Science Leadership Association

Fall 2019 Leadership Summit

State of the Art for Digital Learning

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
12:30 - 5 pm
Bowman-Gray Center for Medical Education

Due to the increasing interest in the many applications of Digital Learning to strengthen understanding and increase achievement for science students, NCSLA is devoting its Fall Summit to “Digital Learning for All”.

The Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching, and Learning (CERTL) and the Bowman Gray School of Medical Education, both at Wake Forest University, are hosting the NCSLA Fall Summit. The training of medical doctors requires that a tremendous amount of content and skills must be learned effectively and efficiently. Due to the importance of this training, medical schools use a variety of digital learning strategies that have proven to be successful. Therefore, the NCSLA Fall Summit will highlight several of those strategies so they may be transferred for use in a regular classroom setting.

The Fall Summit will also highlight successful Digital Learning strategies used in a leading school district. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools have seen significant growth in student achievement in recent years. Their success has been attributed to a strong professional development plan to target the district’s deficits in science standards. Professional development in the core content to meet these deficits, the pedagogy that is needed and strategies for student success have been key to their gains. A strong partnership with Digital Teaching and Learning is part of their strategy. David Delade and Marty Creech (NCSLA Science Leadership Fellow Alum) will share their plan that has led to student success.

Read More

North Carolina Science Teachers Association Conference

The 2019 NCSTA Professional Development Institute will be held on November 14-15.

Registration for the 2019 NCSTA PDI

Professional Learning Opportunity

GoOpenNC

Have you heard about the NC open educational resources initiative? Open educational resources (OER) are resources for students and teachers that are licensed to permit users to reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute the content. Imagine a space where a community of North Carolina educators can come together to curate, create, and share OER! That’s what GoOpenNC is all about!

GoOpenNC is the name of the OER initiative here in North Carolina, and it’s also the name of the platform where NC educators can become part of this OER community of practice as they find, develop, and share instructional materials. The platform will be available for all teachers in late December / early January, but you have an opportunity to join the community now!

Register to attend one of the four face-to-face sessions taking place across the state in October. You are encouraged to partner with others from your district or school to attend as a team.

These sessions are designed for classroom teachers, instructional technology facilitators, school library media coordinators, instructional coaches, and other instructional support staff.

During this session, participants will:

Learn about open educational resources & open licensing
Explore and engage with the GoOpenNC platform
Discuss the definition of “quality” & apply knowledge to OER
Develop a plan for sharing and using OER

Space is limited, so be sure to register soon!

Dates and locations:

October 9 - Wilkes County Schools Stone Center, 613 Cherry St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
October 10 - Rowan-Salisbury Schools Wallace Ed Forum, 500 N Main St, Salisbury, NC 28144
October 11 - Edgecombe County Public Schools Technology Center, 412 Pearl Street, Tarboro, NC 27886
October 22 - Wayne County Schools PD & Family Engagement Center, 415 S. Virginia St., Goldsboro, NC 27530

REGISTRATION LINK | LINK TO EVENT INFORMATION

Each session will start at 9:00 AM and end by 4:00 PM. Lunch will be on your own. Additional details will be provided via email prior to the event

Professional Growth Opportunities

Now is the time to make plans for Earth Science Week, taking place October 13-19, 2019. The 22nd annual Earth Science Week will celebrate the theme "Geoscience Is for Everyone" with a wide range of exciting activities, programs, and resources. All are designed to promote awareness of both the inclusive potential and the importance of the geosciences in the lives of all people.

Pitch in to teach young people about Earth system science. Conduct activities described on the Earth Science Week website. For more ideas, see recommendations online.

This year's event is shaping up to reach even more people than last year's audience of over 50 million. For the past 22 years, AGI has organized Earth Science Week to foster public and professional awareness of the status of Earth science in education and society. To learn more, visit the event website.

You deserve to be the next NC STEM School of Distinction!

Many schools across our state facilitate quality STEM instruction; maximizing community partnerships and driving opportunities for students, developing the skills necessary for future success. NC DPI and the NC State Board of Education want to recognize each and every school that exemplifies the qualities associated with STEM success.

The STEM School Progress Rubric serves as an incredible tool for self-assessment and school improvement and is the key to achievement for STEM schools in North Carolina.

Schools who self-assess at the Prepared or Model level of achievement, based on the Rubric, are encouraged to complete an Intent to Apply with NC DPI. This intent does not obligate the school, but instead, allows the opportunity for receiving additional information and resources toward becoming recognized as one of North Carolina's finest in STEM education.

Interested schools should complete their Intent no later than October 11, 2019. Please contact Howard Ginsburg at howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov should you have further questions.