Welcome!A Year of Discovery

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Introduction • Personal Background• Goal: Every child will be

successful• Memories, Real world applications• Class promises• How you can help,open classroom• Share your passion with us

• My Family

We are Scientists

There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.

Communication

• Important!• e-mail jsweeney@uasdubai.ae• judysweeney@uasdubai.com• Student Assignment Agenda and/or• Blog:sites.uasdubai.ae/jsweeney/

Homework

• Daily Homework is the responsibility of the student-check google classroom

• Write me a note if there is a problem

• Education is not a process of putting the learner under control, but putting the student in control of his or her learning.

Universal American School Mission Statement

Universal American School provides a challenging, inquiry-based American and international education that empowers students to be caring individuals, critical thinkers, and responsible global citizens.

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The NGSS call for a conceptual shift in teaching and learning. Along with traditional subject matter, science and engineering are now integrated into the standards, and students will learn about the principles of engineering and engage in the engineering design processes.

In addition, many concepts are cutting across content. For example, the concept of “systems and system models” is used in the exploration of nuclear energies as well as ecosystems. Also, scientific and engineering practices are aligned multiple times with the disciplinary content. The NGSS calls for a deeper understanding and application of content. The focus is on core ideas and practices of science, not just the facts associated with them. This is a great opportunity for project-based learning, because not only can PBL align to the shift in pedagogy, it can also enhance what the NGSS demand.Being a ScientistMost state science standards were linked to the scientific inquiry process. The NGSS continue to honor this as a key component to science education. Dimension 1 of the NGSS focuses on practices which “describe behaviors that scientists engage in as they investigate and build models and theories about the natural world and the key set of engineering practices that engineers use as they design and build models and systems.” Embedded throughout standards is language where students must “use evidence,” “make observations,” “ask questions,” “combine information,” and “apply scientific ideas,” to name just a few. All of this language focuses on the art of being a scientist to learn the content. PBL calls for students not only to be scientists, but also citizen scientists investigating real-world scientific problems and challenges to make an impact. Like the NGSS, PBL focuses not only on the content of science, but also on the content of being a scientist.

Science• Physical Sciences• Engineering and Technology• Earth and Space Science• Life Sciences

Being a Scientist

• Key component to science education:

• Scientific Inquiry Process

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Being a Scientist• ...describe behaviors that scientists

engage in as they investigate and build models and theories about the natural world and the key set of engineering practices that engineers use as they design and build models and systems.”

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Citizen Scientists

• Science literacy calls for students not only to be scientists, but also citizen scientists investigating real-world scientific problems and challenges to make an impact.

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Students Need to Think

• http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2012/09/17/high-school-students-need-to-think-not-memorize

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Education

• High School Students Need to Think, Not Memorize

New education standards will affect the way regular and AP courses are taught.

Shifts in how high school classes are taught will force students to do more than just memorize information.By Christopher J. Gearon

That all changes this fall, however, with a new curriculum that lasers in on just three body systems (down from 11);; requires fewer but more creative biology labs, and entails an AP exam assessing reasoning skills rather than factoid recall. "I'm excited," says Hollinger, who welcomes the prospect of getting students "to think and act like scientists."

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Science StandardsEngages in science & engineering practices

Researches, thinks critically, and applies knowledge about concepts

Identifies & analyzes cross-­cutting concepts

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Engages in science & engineering practices• Science Standards

Science Notebooks: Communication In the Discipline

Students must have the writing skills in order to articulate and defend claims, and to describe observed phenomenon and experiences.

Students communicate in a way that is clear and coherent, and in which the development, organizationand style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience. Arguments on disciplinary content are logical, focused and supported withs sufficient and relevant data. Interpretation of the data makes insightful connections to other content concepts or disciplines, or draws relevant conclusions to real world applications or problems.

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SWEENEY SCIENTISTS WILL

• use evidence• make observations• ask questions• combine information • apply scientific ideas

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Claim Evidence Reasoning

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Thanks for being here!

• BE outside!•

"If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."

» Rachel Carson

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