The NGSS are the new science standards that were developed to change the way science is taught in K-12 classrooms. Students learn the ideas of science through actually DOING science.
Link to the NGSS standards through the CA Dept. Of Education:
LINK TO: APPENDIX A – Conceptual Shifts in the Next Generation Science Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) provide an important opportunity to improve not only science education but also student achievement. Based on the Framework for K–12 Science Education, the NGSS are intended to reflect a new vision for American science education.
Performance Expectations:
The NGSS is not a set of daily standards, but a set of expectations for what students should be able to do by the end of instruction (years or grade-bands). So, the performance expectations set the learning goals for students, but do not describe how students get there.
Performance Expectation finder tool website:
http://ngss.nsta.org/performanceSearchResults.aspx
Assessments:
Existing assessments in science education weren’t designed to capture three-dimensional science learning like the kind found in the Next Generation Science Standards. Instead, students achievement in science is often assessed only every few years with tests that mainly measure students memorization of facts and definitions. The performance expectations in the NGSS were written to encourage the development of better assessments, but to develop better assessments, we must explore new approaches.
Successful teaching and learning requires more than a summative assessment at the end of the year. Educators need a new system of assessments to evaluate how well our students are learning and understanding the NGSS supported science curriculum.
There are many classroom evaluations beyond traditional standardized testing that can determine whether students are successfully learning. Students can demonstrate competency with tasks like
Assessment information from the NSTA website: http://ngss.nsta.org/conducting-assessments.aspx
Teachers will emphasize scientific exploration and experimentation, instead of giving long lectures and expecting students to memorize lists of facts. You’ll see engaging classroom experiences with children asking more questions, exploring and discussing possible solutions, investigating science concepts, using argumentation, and being fully active in the learning process. This approach mirrors real-world science practices and engages students deeply in the learning process.
Taken from the NGSS Hub: Parent Q&A's
