ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms Developing and Using Models is one of eight Science and Engineering Practices (SEP) of NGSS. SEPs engage students in the particular skills and approaches used by scientists and engineers to develop explanations of phenomena and solve problems. Read on to see how ONPAR can help …
ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms Why Formative Assessment? The Formative Assessment Cycle (see figure) plays a crucial role in NGSS classrooms. Unlike summative assessments that formulate “final” grades, formative assessments offer valuable insights into students’ scientific thinking as they work toward three-dimensional learning goals. These planned, often brief actions provide …
ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms Why Incorporate Crosscutting Concepts? The NGSS Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) bridge the scientific disciplines. These ideas are used regularly by scientists, especially when we are deciding how to engage with a phenomenon we do not yet understand. CCCs guide the way we collect evidence or put our observations …
ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms Why provide formative feedback? After eliciting and interpreting evidence from a formative assessment, the next step is deciding what to do based on the results. If we are formatively assessing complex, three-dimensional science ideas, our goal is to constantly push student thinking forward, regardless of …
ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms Why build a culture of formative assessment? When students hear the word assessment they may think “testing,” “grades” or “high-stakes.” The purpose of formative assessment is as assessment for learning, rather than assessment of learning. Students do not automatically understand this process and must learn how to take and use …
ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms Why Assess the Three Dimensions? Once we understand what it means to teach three dimensionally, the next challenge is assessing students in all three dimensions. We want to know not only if students are mastering science facts and ideas (DCIs) but also developing the skills …
ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms Why Incorporate Vocabulary Instruction? Vocabulary knowledge is one of the greatest predictors of students’ academic success. In science classrooms, vocabulary development is key to conceptual understanding because it is a way of knowing and representing the world. Supporting students’ vocabulary development provides them with the tools …
ONPAR Community NGSS Brief – Actionable Assessment for NGSS Classrooms What did we learn from our research? Over nearly two years of our study we learned about the challenges and success participants encountered trying to incorporate ONPAR in a way that contributes to assessment for learning. In this issue we share some of the tips …