Science Lab Safety and Science Investigation Standards

Posted: Dec. 2, 2021

NSELA member Dr. Sandra West Moody is requesting responses to the following 3 questions as she compiles information about science standards and lab safety across the country. Please send your responses to the questions below to Dr. Moody at [email protected]

1. Does your state have science facilities standards/rules such as ones Texas recently adopted (linked here)?

OR

2. Does your state have some type of guidelines similar to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) which has guidelines for all projects that receive state funding for construction or renovation (linked here)? Board members appointed by the state education commissioner, and the MSBA professional staff review the educational plans for all projects (other than accelerated repair) for conformity with guidelines and match them up with the district's architectural preferred alternative prior to allowing the projects to move to the schematic design stage. The schematic designs are also reviewed prior to reaching a project funding agreement with the authority.

3. Do any of your state standards include a clarification with the description of the 4 types of scientific investigations, such as was approved in Texas (see below)?

Texas adopted new science standards which will be use in the '23-'24 classrooms.  The Texas Academy of Science recommended a newer version of scientific investigations that include Descriptive, Correlative, Comparative and Experimental. See below. 

"Scientific and engineering practices. Scientific inquiry is the planned and deliberate investigation of the natural world using scientific and engineering practices. Scientific methods of investigation are descriptive, correlative, comparative, or experimental. The method chosen should be appropriate to the grade level and question being asked. Student learning for different types of investigations include descriptive investigations, which has no hypothesis that tentatively answers the research question and involves collecting data and recording observations without making comparisons; correlative or comparative investigations, which have a hypothesis that predicts a relationship involve collecting data with variables that are manipulated to compare results; and experimental investigations, which involve processes similar to comparative investigations but in which a hypothesis can be tested by comparing a treatment with a control."

EdReports Seeks Educators for High School Science Reviews

Posted: Dec. 2, 2021

We wanted to share a great opportunity, from our friends at EdReports, for deep professional learning on the Next Generation Science Standards with a national network of skilled educators aimed at supporting other educators with information to help them find quality science instructional materials. Currently 1,240 districts have benefitted from the work of EdReports educator reviewers, supporting almost 14 million students.

EdReports is a non-profit organization with a mission to empower educators with independent, credible, evidence-rich information about instructional materials to ensure students have what they need to be college and career-ready. They are accepting applications for reviewers for inaugural high school science review beginning in early April 2022. 

Who is EdReports looking for? EdReports is a by educator, for educator organization. Currently, classroom educators, district specialists, state specialists, non-formal educators, retired educators, and those pursuing advanced science education degrees participate in reviews. The profile of a science reviewer includes expertise in the Next Generation Science Standards and a commitment to quality instructional materials. 

What can I expect if selected to be a reviewer? EdReports plans to review five biology NGSS programs in the inaugural review. If selected, you will sit on a team of five reviewers who will be examining one set of materials with the support of EdReports’ science team. Reviewers can expect the following: 

• New teams will begin with an in-depth training in April
• Each reviewer spends about 5-10 hours per week throughout the process, including attending a one-hour virtual call with their team
• A second event may be scheduled approximately halfway through the review to continue calibration and to provide cross-review team support for the inaugural high school reviews
• Reviews are expected to be completed late 2022
• Reviewers receive a host of benefits including more than 25 hours of professional development, a stipend per series reviewed ranging from $1,750 - $2,500 depending on the role you play on a review team, opportunities to learn with national experts in the field, and much more.

How do I apply? Visit EdReports’ website to learn more about becoming a reviewer and complete an application. Once you apply, an application task will be sent requesting demonstration of your NGSS knowledge. Following receipt of the application task, EdReports will schedule a 30-minute interview to learn more about you and share more about the upcoming review.