Earth and Space Science in the NRC Framework

The National Research Council released the Conceptual Framework for New Science Education Standards on July 19, 2011. The Framework guided the writing of Next Generation Science Standards by Achieve, Inc in 2012. This page was developed as way for NAGT members to track the progress of the new standards.

Resources Related to the Framework and Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

The NGSS have been released! This webpage contains more information about the standards' development process.

NSTA Resources on the Framework and Standards

• NGSS @ NSTA: This page provides access to NSTA resources and perspectives about the Frameworks and the development of the Standards.
• The NSTA Readers' Guide to A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas: This readers' guide unpacks the three key dimensions of the Framework (scientific and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas in each specific discipline), allowing teachers, administrators, curriculum developers, university professors, and others to more easily grasp how the Next Generation Science Standards differ from past standards.
• Scientific and Engineering Practices in K–12 Classrooms: Understanding A Framework for K–12 Science Education: This article written by Rodger W. Bybee (Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education at the National Research Council) was published in all NSTA journals in December 2011. This is part of a series of articles from NSTA discussing the new and innovative perspectives introduced in the new Framework.

A Framework for K-12 Science Education

The National Academies Press has released the final version of the Framework which is available as a free PDF download on the NAP website. You can also order a printed version.

July 2011 Webinar
 

NAGT presented a 1-hour webinar on July 25, 2011 to help members learn more about Earth Science in the Framework, the motivations and decisions that underpinned the document, the next steps in developing the new standards, and the implications for K-12 Earth Science.

Click the image to play the screencast.

Dr. Michael Wysession (Professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Washington University) served as the Leader of the Earth and Space Design team advising the NRC on the Framework document. He also represented the Earth and Space Sciences in the writing of the Next Generation Science Standards at Achieve, Inc. In his presentation, Dr. Wysession discussed the process as of July 2011 and what lay ahead for standards development.

Dr. Wysession's slides (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 18.6MB Jul25 11) 
(also available as a PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 1.4MB Jul25 11))

Watch a Screencast (MP4 Video 90.1MB Aug15 11) of the presentation. 
(Comments and discussion can be viewed in a separate screencast (MP4 Video 21.8MB Aug15 11))