Grants

National Science Teaching Association

Project Title

As a final grant to complete the formative reviews of the remaining OpenSciEd elementary science units

Date

Sep. 12, 2024

Duration

15 months

Description

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is committed to best practices in teaching science through professional learning, partnerships, and advocacy, with over 35,000 members and a reach that is up to 300,000 educators. NSTA is currently conducting external teacher-led reviews of OpenSciEd’s elementary science instructional units to inform the development process and provide quality assurance. Corporation support will allow NSTA to complete these external reviews and disseminate reports on high-quality instructional materials to elementary science teachers.

Project Title

For a project to develop classroom videos of OpenSciEd middle school instruction to support curriculum-based professional learning services

Date

Sep. 14, 2023

Duration

6 months

Description

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) plays a pivotal role in reforming science education. They were a partner in the development of the Next Generation Science Standards and have significant experience in preparing science teachers to implement high-quality science materials. This renewal grant will allow NSTA to develop videos of OpenSciEd professional learning sessions for middle school science teachers. NSTA will use these videos to create a library of NGSS-aligned curriculum-based professional learning sessions using the OpenSciEd middle school curricula. This will allow other professional learning organizations in the field to have an exemplar of high-quality, science professional learning.As an August discretionary grant, NSTA can continue their partnership with Benchfly, a video production company that focuses on science education, and use this momentum to develop professional learning videos to strengthen the classroom videos currently in production.

Project Title

For a project to develop classroom videos of OpenSciEd middle school instruction to support curriculum-based professional learning services

Date

Mar. 09, 2023

Duration

6 months

Description

There is a gap in educators’ ability to use high-quality instructional materials efficiently due to the lack of exposure to the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). One approach to address this need is to provide depictions of NGSS-aligned instruction in actual classrooms where students are engaged in learning with high-quality instructional materials such as OpenSciEd. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) was a partner in the development of the NGSS, are a certified OpenSciEd professional learning provider, and have significant experience working to prepare educators to implement high-quality science materials. This project will fund the first stage of development for a library of video examples of instruction aligned to NGSS using the OpenSciEd curricula in middle school science classrooms. Through this grant NSTA will work with Benchfly, a video production company that focuses on science education, and a) develop a plan for filming, interview protocols, and prepping teachers and their classrooms, b) film a 7th grade teacher and an 8th grade teacher over ten days during the teaching of an OpenSciEd unit, and c) conduct interviews with teachers, students, school/district administrators, and parents.

Project Title

For a project to develop video exemplars of high-quality science instruction and curriculum-based professional learning and conduct external reviews of OpenSciEd elementary science instructional units

Date

Sep. 14, 2023

Duration

33 months

Description

Over a decade ago, the Framework for K-12 Science Education put forth a new approach to science education that shifts instruction from information and memorization to sense-making and critical thinking. To make these instructional shifts, teachers need support in the classroom to provide students meaningful and engaging learning experiences in science education. The National Science Teaching Association is committed to best practices in teaching science through professional learning, partnerships, and advocacy, with over 30,000 members in the science education field looking towards them for guidance. Through this renewal grant, they will complete the development of a video library resource of exemplars of high-quality science instruction in the classroom and high-quality curriculum-based professional learning connected to OpenSciEd. They also plan to launch a new strand of work to conduct external teacher-led reviews of OpenSciEd elementary science instructional units to inform the development process and provide quality assurance.

Project Title

For a project to build awareness of available high-quality science instructional materials through in-person and virtual professional learning opportunities

Date

Jun. 09, 2022

Duration

33 months

Description

Although there isstrongdemand for high-quality science instructional materials, the supply in the education communitycontinues to belacking. There are, however, national projects that serve as both exemplars ofhigh-qualityscience instructional materials designed for theNext Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and professional learning opportunities for educators and leaders seeking supportinstructionalshiftsin teaching science.Foralmost a decade, the National Science TeachingAssociation (NSTA) has played an important role as a major convener and source of high-quality resources for the science education community.In this project, NSTA proposes a three-pronged approach to increase awareness and understanding of high-qualityscienceinstructional materials through dissemination using professional learning at NSTA national conferences, through a web seminar series, and through development ofonlineprofessional learningcourses.

Project Title

For a project to support the dissemination of the Board on Science Education’s National Call to Action report and recommendations for improving K-12 and post-secondary science education

Date

Jun. 03, 2021

Duration

18 months

Description

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) will assist the Board on Science Education (BOSE) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to disseminate the National Call to Action for science education report and recommendations to the K-12 science teaching community. NSTA anticipates these dissemination and advocacy efforts to state and local policymakers nationwide will lead to increased resources and support for the teaching and learning of K-12 science education. Through this grant, NSTA will: a) develop messaging and communication strategies and resources with BOSE, b) develop aCall to Action Toolkitfor educators to advocate for the recommendations in the report, c) provide dissemination and outreach to K-12 educators through newsletters, emails, social media, the NSTA website, and webinars, as well as through media outlets in large states, d) work with state leaders to coordinate a State Day of Action for Science Education, and e) work with national stakeholder groups to amplify and leverage the report recommendations.

Project Title

For a project to promote the use of tools and professional learning to evaluate instructional materials

Date

Jun. 14, 2018

Duration

36 months

Description

After the release of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia adopted the NGSS or adopted new science standards influenced by the NGSS. At the core of these new standards is a focus on three-dimensional instruction, which integrates key scientific ideas with science and engineering practices while highlighting the themes that cut across the major science disciplines. Three-dimensional learning requires teachers to shift their approach and to do this, they need high-quality instructional materials and professional learning supports. The National Science Teacher Association (NSTA), an organization with a membership of 55,000 educators, is uniquely positioned to aid the science education community in understanding these shifts. With Corporation support, NSTA built a substantial communication infrastructure to support NGSS. Through this grant, NSTA will help build demand for high-quality instructional units reviewed by Achieve and expand their professional learning offerings to support NGSS implementation using existing Corporation supported tools like NextGen TIME and the Five Tools for NGSS, in an effort to inform and build demand for more high-quality science instructional materials.

Project Title

For the development and expansion of an on-line Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) hub for tools and resources for teachers

Date

Jun. 09, 2016

Duration

24 months

Description

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) with over 55,000 dedicated teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, and business and industry representatives as members, continues to be committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. As a partner in the development of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), NSTA is seen as a leader in improving the quality of science instruction for all students, and is playing an essential role in implementation efforts for the NGSS across the country. With renewed Corporation support. NSTA plans to recognize the significant contributions teachers are making toward their own professional learning around the NGSS and toward classroom implementation; and to redirect the national conversation around science standards by elevating the collective voice of science teachers.

Project Title

For a video collaboration between the National Science Teachers Association and the Teaching Channel

Date

Sep. 17, 2015

Duration

67 months

Project Title

For implementation and dissemination of an on-line Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) teacher tool-kit

Date

Jun. 12, 2014

Duration

24 months

Project Title

For a relational database for the Next Generation Science Standards

Date

Jun. 06, 2013

Duration

12 months

Project Title

For support of the successful implementation of Next Generation Standards (NGSS) among the nation's science teachers

Date

Dec. 15, 2011

Duration

30 months