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Oregon Science Educator Update April 4, 2024
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April 2024
Monday, April 22, 2024, marks the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day!
This year's theme is Planet vs Plastics. We hope you can enjoy the outdoors or participate in an upcoming event. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. Organized by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, this inaugural event sparked a movement to raise environmental awareness in the United States.
Below are a few climate science and sustainability education resources located within the Oregon Open Learning Hub -Science Group that can be used this month and beyond:
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Oregon Climate Education Hub is a compilation of resources and lesson plans that integrate climate change across all grade levels and content areas based on the Oregon K-12 State Standards.
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Climate Learning Resources are a vast collection of justice-centered learning tools to help navigate through the complexities of climate science teaching and learning. There are a variety of resources from practice briefs, webinars, assessment examples, and communication by using science stories. Also, there are two newly released STEM Teaching Tools:
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Practice Brief #96 - Understanding how food, energy, and water decisions affect the thriving of local, regional, and global systems.
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Practice Brief #97 - What is climate justice learning?
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Interdisciplinary Models for Climate Science Integration provides sample standards bundling from multiple content areas that educators could use to center their classroom instruction around climate science.
Examples of Grade Level/Grade Band Open Education Resources:
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Summer 2024 OSAS Science Assessment Review Panel Opportunities
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is seeking educators interested in reviewing OSAS Science Assessment items and rubrics. Successful applicants will be contacted by Cambium Assessment with an invitation to participate in virtual, facilitated reviews of science items during the dates listed below. Invited applicants will be able to select the date and time of their participation from those available. ODE will prioritize participant selection to the Science Panel based on educator and regional diversity, education experience and professional learning, active classroom educators, instructional coaches, and teachers on special assignment.
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Multi-State Rubric Validation Panel – review is designed to verify assessment scoring is accurate and fair for all students. The role of participants is to make recommendations regarding the scoring of the items and potential adjustments to the rubrics. This panel will meet in the evenings during the weeks of May 20-23, 2024, and May 27-May 30th, 2024. This event is fully virtual. For additional information, please refer to the complete recruitment letter. Applications will remain open until April 19, 2024.
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Multi-State Data Review Panel – this panel is designed to utilize statistical flags and item parameter data to identify potentially problematic content. This flagged content is then reviewed by trained educators to ensure the content is fair and appropriate for all students. The role of participants is to make recommendations regarding whether this content should move forward into operational tests or whether adjustments must be made to the content to address the statistical and/or data flags. This event is fully virtual. Dates: Aug 23 – Sept 5, 2024 (excluding Aug 30 and Sept 2). More information is coming soon.
Please contact Mariela Salas Bao, Science Assessment Specialist, with questions or support needs.
Practice Brief: Local Performance Assessments Information
Performance-based assessments are a vital component of a district’s balanced assessment system. OAR 581-022-0615 requires public school districts and charter schools to administer Local Performance Assessments (LPAs) in grades 3-8 and once in high school in the content areas of writing, speaking, mathematical problem solving, and scientific inquiry. This two-page Practice Brief is designed to help educators and leaders take a student-centered approach to meeting the requirements of the policy by understanding the benefits of performance-based assessments, how to use district-adopted instructional materials as a source of LPAs, and how to use a single task across multiple content areas. Contact the ODE Assessment Team with questions or for more information.
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Board on Science Education is Celebrating 20 Years
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary, the Board On Science Education (BOSE) will highlight a different part of their publication portfolio throughout the year. The first celebration focused on the release of the Framework for K-12 Science Education which is the blueprint for K-12 science standards. As of today, 48 states have adopted science standards that reflect the vision of the Framework, potentially reaching nearly 90% of the nation’s K-12 students.
If you missed the session in March, you can watch the recording to learn how teachers have been making the vision for K-12 science education as articulated in the Framework in K-12 Science Education a reality in their classrooms in a discussion moderated by BOSE director, Heidi Schweingruber.
Educator Panelists Include:
- Miranda Orellana, Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska (Elementary)
- Autumn Rivera, Roaring Fork School District, Colorado (Teacher of the Year - Middle School)
- Michael Lim, Los Angeles Unified School District, California (High School)
- Brandi Hageman, Port Townsend School District, Washington (High School)
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Soil Science Workshop for Middle and High School Educators
Join AGI and NRCS for an immersive Soil Science Workshop for middle and high school science teachers. The workshop will take place June 24-27, 2024 at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville, Wisconsin. The workshop is designed to deepen participants' understanding of soil science and its integration into curricula. The workshop will run in conjunction with the North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference. Participants will have the chance to attend presentations by and interact with soil scientists and other educators during the conference, including a day-long field excursion. The Soil Science Workshop for Educators will be divided into two sessions, totaling 8 hours that will directly teach NGSS-supported activities related to soils.
Apply to be part of this immersive workshop about soil science here. Review of applications will begin April 26 and will continue until the workshop is filled. Participants will be provided with conference registration, room, and board for the duration of the workshop and will also be reimbursed us to $800 for travel expenses.
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OregonASK Spring Conference 2024
For coordinators and staff of summer, afterschool and enrichment programs for K-12 youth. Get ready to elevate your professional journey!
Join the OregonASK Spring Conference: Inspire, Connect, Thrive: Nurturing Growth in Expanded Learning! This two-day conference at Camp Harlow in Eugene on April 26th and 27th will be jam packed with engaging and informative sessions that will provide you with the tools and resources you need to help youth thrive.
The cost of the conference not only includes all of the workshops and activities, but also a comfortable place to rest your head at night. Friday night’s lodging is included in the price of your registration, and you’ll be staying in rugged camp-style cabins with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Meals, snacks, and activities will also be provided.
This retreat will take place at a camp setting and be designed with several longer, workshop opportunities, including healing-centered engagement and building powerful community partnerships.
We hope to provide space for expanded learning professionals to learn supports for intentionally building relationships that powerfully benefit youth learning and development.
View the session descriptions below for more detailed information and register here!
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K-12 Science Instructional Materials Adoption
ODE staff, in collaboration with ESDs, hosted five in-person opportunities to review the newly adopted Science Instructional Materials. If you were unable to attend or are interested in reviewing the science adoption list, publisher contact list, or the science instructional materials virtual caravan, please visit the ODE Adopted Materials by Content Area webpage.
If you have any questions about the adoption list or need additional support with instructional materials adoption, please feel free to review these instructional materials toolkit resources or reach out to Jamie Rumage.
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Senate Bill 3: Standards Feedback
The Oregon Department of Education is inviting feedback on draft content standards for Higher Education and Career Path Skills and Personal Financial Education courses.
Senate Bill 3 Background: The 2023 Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 3, updating Oregon’s high school diploma requirements. Beginning with the class of 2027, the Oregon diploma requirements will include a 0.5 credit in Personal Financial Education and a 0.5 credit in Higher Education and Career Path Skills, as part of the 24 credit requirements.
Request for feedback on draft content standards:
Timeline: The surveys below will close on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 11:59 PST.
Survey links with draft standards included:
Feedback will be incorporated into the draft standards and presented to the State Board of Education this spring. We are deeply grateful for your support for students to acquire the knowledge and skills that will help them navigate and reach their future goals. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please forward this request to anyone else on your school teams who may be interested in providing feedback. Additional questions can be directed to: ODE.StateGraduationRequirements@ode.oregon.gov
Visit ODE's Senate Bill 3 webpage for more information and future updates.
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Sign Up for the ODE K-5 Newsletter
ODE’s Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment is launching a new quarterly newsletter for K-5 educators. This newsletter will provide resources, opportunities, guidance, and ODE updates tailored specifically to support the integrated and well-rounded instruction that elementary education entails. It aims to streamline information related to K-5 academic standards and instruction into one convenient communication.
Please subscribe or share the link with K-5 teachers who might be interested.
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The materials contained in the Department of Education’s Oregon Science Educator Update are drawn from both internal and external sources and inclusion of external materials does not necessarily indicate Oregon Department of Education endorsement.
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