Energy is an elusive and complex concept that can be hard, even for those with advanced degrees, to explain. However a topic so complex is critical to life on Earth.
In this 5-day face-to-face professional learning course, participants work to make sense of energy by exploring its role in several commonplace interactions. Throughout the course, participants engage in active discourse as they work to understand the science for themselves as adult learners.
Interwoven with the science are Literacy Investigations that provide participants with an opportunity to engage with contextualized discussions that focus on the unique nature of reading in science. Teaching Investigations provide an opportunity to connect their own adult learning to the classroom context.
As part of the resources included in this course, participants have access to the Making Sense of Student Work PLC protocol and the Energy Formative Assessment Task Bank. An optional Next Generation Science Toolkit is also available. The toolkit supports building a deeper understanding of energy in the context of Next Generation science as described in the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Teaching.
This was the most powerful professional development I’ve experienced in my 28 years. The teaching cases helped me address students’ misconceptions, and an added bonus is learning ways to strengthen students’ skills in expository reading and writing. Every teacher should have this opportunity.
Nancy Rankin
classroom teacher
- Audience: For teachers of 6–8 science
- Time: In-person | 5 full days
- Learn more about this course by downloading the course overview.
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Facilitation Academy
Prepare staff developers to facilitate a specific MSS Course. Attendees experience the course as learners and delve into the techniques needed to facilitate it for participants.
Surveys & Assessments for Teachers and Leaders
Use our surveys to collect professional learning feedback and determine teacher self-efficacy and confidence. Our assessments gauge student and adult science content knowledge assessment, teacher NGSS knowledge assessment, and teacher pedagogical science knowledge.
Energy Course Materials
This comprehensive set of materials supports the professional learning in our 5-day Energy course.
Energy Formative Assessment Task Bank
These formative assessments involve gathering and analyzing evidence of students’ thinking, then using what is learned to inform instruction.