New STEM Teaching Tools

Supporting observations, wonderings, systems thinking: STEM Teaching Tool #82 explores the role of humans within larger environmental systems and deliberating on ethical questions about what actions we should take, how we impact (and are impacted by) our environment, and what responsibilities we have within the natural world.

Steps to Designing Justice-Focused Assessments in Science: STEM Teaching Tool #83 outlines a nine-step process to help teams develop Framework-aligned assessment tasks in science focused on justice-centered phenomena and scenarios.

Taking Stock of NGSS Implementation: A Summit

Science standards implementation is a broad landscape that covers a wide array of levers to include how much time is devoted to science and engineering, the tools and resources that are available, and teacher preparation and use of particular pedagogical approaches. Please join the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Board on Science Education for a series of webinars based on the recent summit on Taking Stock of Science Standards Implementation. More Information | Register

Coffee Talk #1:  A Review of the Numbers Tuesday, January 18 

Coffee Talk #2:  Rural Science Standards Implementation Wednesday, February 16 

Coffee Talk #3:  Informal Ed Science Implementation - Wednesday, March 2 

Coffee Talk #4:  Instructional Shifts and Science Standards Implementation -Wednesday, March 16 

2022 Virtual Oregon Outdoor School Gathering

On behalf of the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School Program, Friends of Outdoor School, and the Gray Family Foundation, I would like to invite outdoor school educators (both formal and nonformal) as well as outdoor school program and site partners to save the dates for our 2022 Virtual Oregon Outdoor School Gathering: Wednesday, February 23rd, and Thursday, February 24th, 2022! 

We hope this FREE virtual event will be an opportunity for you to: 

• Deepen your commitment to equity work in outdoor education.
• Cultivate relationships with other outdoor school educators, programs, sites, and partners.
• Engage in professional learning on topics like trauma-informed care, inclusive instructional practices, operating outdoor school programs and sites, integrating outdoor school and the classroom, and more!   

For more details and full eligibility criteria, please see our Stipends, Substitute Reimbursements, and PDUs page. Please contact (Kristi.Backe@oregonstate.edu), if you have additional questions.

Why build phenomenon based lessons?

Phenomena-based instruction is a primary feature of the three dimensions in the National Academies K-12 Framework for Science Education on which our science standards were built. A three-dimensional learning approach requires a thoughtful integration of the Science and Engineering Practices (SEP), Crosscutting Concepts (CCC), and Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) to explain the cause for how and why phenomena occur.

Going 3-D with GRC website is a collection of vetted, three-dimensional lessons aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and state standards developed from the Framework for K-12 Science Education. The lessons were developed by teachers across districts and states utilizing local phenomena. If you have questions or suggestions about these lessons please contact Brett at mouldingb@ogdensd.org.

OSAS Science Assessment Changes for 2021-2022 Test Administration

Going Adaptive:

After several years of item development, the OSAS Science Assessment item bank is of sufficient size to allow the test to adapt with student performance. In prior years, the OSAS Science Assessment has been presented in a ‘linear-on-the-fly’ (LOFT) model. The new adaptive algorithm will fulfill the blueprint while selecting items based on their content value and information value. Students should not notice any difference in their testing experience with the exception of the receiving items based on performance as they progress through the test.

Practices and Concepts (SEP/CCC) Claim Scores at Class Level:

Educators have expressed a need for additional information about student performance beyond the current claims for 3-Dimensional Life Science, 3-Dimensional Earth and Space Science, and 3-Dimensional Physical Science. New claim scores will be available in the OSAS Portal Centralized Reporting System at an aggregate level (groups of students). These scores are not available at the student level and will not appear on an individual student report (ISR) because an individual student does not see enough items specific to each claim to give an accurate measure of their knowledge and skills at this level of specificity.  For more information on these new SEP/CCC Claim Scores, please see the OSAS Science Assessment Reporting document on the ODE Science Assessment webpage.

Please contact Noelle Gorbett, Science Assessment Specialist, with questions or concerns.

Building a Coalition for Attracting and Retaining A Diverse STEM Teaching Workforce 

To confront the underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teaching and leadership, the Smithsonian Science Education Center is hosting our annual STEM Education Summit March 19 – March 26, 2022, as a virtual convening.  This summit is the sixth of its kind to be offered by Smithsonian and the second to be held virtually. 

At the STEM Education Summit, 20 teams of educators from diverse regions across the nation embrace their roles as change agents to create plans for attracting and retaining STEM teachers from underrepresented populations at the school, district, or state-level. Selected teams are matched with a mentor who is carefully selected to fit the unique composition and needs of their team.   

Program Overview 

• Saturday, March 19, 2022: First Day of STEM Education Summit 
• Monday – Friday, March 21 –25 2022: Teams and Mentors Supplemental Work and Sessions 
• Saturday, March 26, 2022: Second Day of STEM Education Summit  

Apply for the 2022 STEM Education Summit today! (Deadline: Friday, January 21, 2022) 

Vermont Science Teaching Association - Free Virtual Conference

STEAMing Ahead: Equity & Integration in Science Education: This virtual conference is free - space is limited. Join the VSTA during the week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day to explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion can be a central component in all aspects of STEAM and Science Education! Sessions will be held virtually, during the late afternoon and evening hours. Invited keynote speakers include Dr. Okhee Lee, Dr. Bryan Brown and Peter McLaren. Dates of this virtual conference are January 17-21, 2022. Register today!

Oregon Open Learning Hub Upcoming Events

Do you want to learn more about open educational resources (OER) and the Oregon Open Learning Hub? This Oregon Open Learning Workshop will be an interactive virtual professional learning event that will provide participants an opportunity to learn about open educational resources (OER) and the Oregon Open Learning Hub, Oregon’s K-12 repository for OER. Join the Oregon Open Learning team for this engaging, hands-on OER Workshop on Tuesday, February 15 from 4:00pm-5:30pm (PST). Register today! 

Have additional questions about Oregon Open Learning? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource or email OregonOpenLearning@ode.state.or.us.

Teaching Science for Social Justice

Multnomah ESD invites K-12 teachers in Oregon and Washington who are working to center social justice in their science curriculum and instruction. We will meet throughout the winter and spring to collaborate, share resources, build community and troubleshoot around problems of practice as we work to help our students develop critical science literacy that is historically and culturally responsive. 

Group Meet-Up Details:

• One-hour online meet-ups, every 3 weeks
• Starts Jan. 6, 2022 (ongoing)
• Casual drop in, runs from 7:00-8:00 pm
• Attend as often as you like
• Opportunities to share resources, collaborate, build community, and troubleshoot
• Participants will receive resources/books
• Can earn up to 7 clock hours/PDUs

Fill out this interest form if you would like to join. We will send out calendar invites and additional information soon. Please share this opportunity with anyone you know who might be interested. We are so looking forward to being in community with you!

For additional information, please contact Amy Lindahl, Multnomah ESD.

National Youth Science Camp

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 NYSCamp will be an entirely virtual experience that will include world-class lectures, directed studies, and seminars with prestigious and up-and-coming STEM professionals who are making a difference in their fields of study and changing the world for good.

Applications are now being accepted by high school seniors for the 2022 National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp). Two students from each state, Washington, D.C, and select countries will attend the all-expenses-paid program which is held virtually from June 27 through July 20, 2022. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2022.

General camp programming will be offered at 8AM, 10AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM and 6PM and 11PM EDT on weekdays. Delegates will be able to sign up to attend as many sessions as their individual daily schedules allow. Keynote Lectures will be offered each weeknight at 8PM followed by a 30-minute Q&A session with the lecturer at 9PM. At 9:30 PM each weeknight, delegates will get to choose between multiple evening hangouts where they can interact with staph (intentional misspelling to highlight their infectious enthusiasm) and other delegates in fun, engaging and meaningful ways. Learn more by visiting the 2022 National Youth Science Camp webpage.

ODE STEAM/STEM Education Program Specialist Position - Extended Deadline

The Oregon Department of Education is currently seeking a STEAM/STEM Education Program Specialist (Education Program Specialist 2). This position is located on the Standards and Instructional Support Team within the Office of Teaching, Learning and Assessment. The monthly salary range is $6,043 - $9,289, and the deadline to apply is January 16, 2022. 

Please contact ode.jobs@state.or.us if you have any questions on the application process.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Deb Bailey, STEM Education Specialist, Noelle Gorbett, Science Assessment Specialist, or Jamie Rumage, Science Education Specialist, if you have any questions or concerns.