Science

Explore the Next Generation of Science Teaching. Whether your teaching is focused on flora or fauna, Newton's laws of motivation or gravity or just exploring the solar system, sound waves or static electricity our science courses at Dominican University will give you the power to customize a thoughtful, engaging, and thorough science class that integrates the Next Generation Science Standards. Air pressure, animals – both invertebrates and vertebrates – plants. Perhaps battery power or photosynthesis is your thing. Earth science, light waves, we have you covered. Our science series is dynamic and broad. Our courses are designed to develop hands-on learning experiences that include elements of observation, model building and art. You will learn to engage students in exploring and constructing meaning and understanding of the world in which they live.You will learn how to facilitate open-ended brainstorming sessions and to ask questions that promote higher-level thinking. Within each course, select assignments that are most appropriate for the students you are teaching and that match the desired number of credits/units (1, 2, or 3) you are taking.

Next Generation Science Standards

If you are not tapped in to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) you need to be. NGSS are comprised of three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. These dimensions are combined to form each standard—or performance expectation—and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time. Standards set the expectations for what students should know and be able to do. The NGSS were developed by states to improve science education for all students. Crosscutting concepts help students explore connections across the four domains of science, including physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering design. When these concepts, such as “cause and effect”, are made explicit for students, they can help students develop a coherent and scientifically-based view of the world around them. Science education is not only interesting, but crucial in terms of a building block. A high-quality science education means that students will develop an in-depth understanding of content and develop key skills—communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem solving, and flexibility—that will serve them throughout their educational and professional lives.

Understanding the NGSS

Understanding the NGSS is necessary for K through 12 teachers. Our course of the same name explores and defines the current K-12 science standards. Such knowledge will enable a teacher to plan a successful Next Generation Science Standards teaching unit. After completing the course, a teacher will show understanding of and the ability to plan NGSS by:

• explaining the NGSS to various people with different levels of understanding
• using assorted media to convey the information
• critiquing NGSS information
• relating the information gleaned to the classroom
• being aware that NGSS assessment can be tricky
• summarizing the NGSS knowledge learned in this course

Once you have a full understanding of NGSS you can move on to planning your own courses. This includes planning a NGSS unit with a STEM Emphasis. STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. Teachers who have completed the Understanding NGSS course can also move on to planning a math and English Language Arts (ELA) unit and designing effective science labs for grades 6 through 12. The resources provided in our science section focus on key advances in science education research and describe how the NGSS reflect these advances by enabling students to learn science by doing science. The National Research Council developed the Framework for K-12 Science Education. As a result, the NGSS look completely different than previous science standards and implementing them requires a major shift in classroom instruction and learning. Now it is up to teachers to get up speed with the new science standards. Our science program is designed specifically to do that.