Professional Learning for the Next Generation Science Standards
The National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) has, on their website, a set of online materials and resources devoted to teachers’ professional learning. The aim of these resources is to help teachers understand the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and their relationship to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Teacher resources include guidance materials that walk participants through the standards (NGSS and CCSS), practitioner examples of the ways that teachers have changed their instructional practices to reflect the key shifts in the standards themselves, articles that link the CCSS and science, and instructional lesson-planning guidance materials. In addition, there are related resources to help teachers learn more about standards, instructional planning, and learning with others. Links to online webinars, videos, books, apps, and tools appear as related materials.
The set of online resources is clearly organized along three categories: standards, instruction, and professional learning for schools and districts. In this way, the materials are accessible and easily customizable by the user. The site includes narrative examples of how teachers have changed their own practice. These voices from the field are illustrative of how standards guide instruction. Finally, the guidance materials that are included on the site help teachers engage in the design of lessons so that they can teach to the standards (NGSS and CCSS).