Flavio Mendez Senior Director NSTA Learning Center

NSTA’s Mission: To promote excellence and innovation in Science Teaching and Learning for All The National Science Teachers Association

Membership, over 60,000 Professional Development –Conferences, 4/yr –NSTA Learning Center NSTA Press Advocacy The National Science Teachers Association

Purpose of today’s presentation Present an overview of NSTA’s new e-learning Professional Development Portal: A system-based approach to providing high quality PD resources

How do you receive the majority of your Professional Development? A.On-Site, 1-4 hour in-school in-service workshop B.On-site, 1-2 day District Training Day C.Summer, 1-2 Week Workshop D.Online, 4-8 week University Short Course for 1-3 hours of Graduate Credit Looking at the Professional Development Landscape

How many hours of PD did you receive last year? A.1-20 hours B hours C hours D hours E.80+ hours Looking at the Professional Development Landscape

What Constitutes High Quality and High Impact Professional Development? Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice in Professional Development Washington, DC Februrary 7-8, Time Span (on-going, not one shot opportunity) Contact Hours (30-80 hours to change practice) Emphasizes Active Learning and Collective Teacher Participation Content-Focus Coherence (individual plan for long term growth) Linked to Systemic Reform and Teacher Input –Laura M. Desimone: University of Pennsylvania –Iris Weiss, Horizon Research, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC Workshop for State Leader and Evaluators of Teacher Professional Development Washington, DC, April 24-25, 2008

What we know—Local Systemic Change Core Evaluation: K-8 Weaknesses (75,000 data points) “Teachers of Science” with less than 16 hours of PD in Science Education in last 3 years –What % at K-4 level? –What % at 5-8 level? –What % at 9-12 level? 76% 57% 32% Looking Inside the Classroom: A Study of K-12 Mathematics and Science Education in the United States—10 yr longitudinal national classroom observation study: Horizon Research, Weiss, 2003 Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice in PD

The Research: Increased Content Knowledge A positive correlation exists between student achievement and teachers’ content knowledge (Cochran-Smith and Zeichner, 2005; Darling-Hammond and Bransford, 2005; Goldhaber and Brewer, 1998; Goldhaber and Brewer, 2000; Grossman, 2005; Ma, 1999; Monk, 1994; Wenglinsky, 2002; Wilson, Floden and Ferrini-Mundy, 2001)

The Challenge: Accessible Content Knowledge How to provide PD resources that are: – affordable – of “High Quality” – standards-aligned – content-specific – available on-demand – supports local curriculum to reach the nation’s 2.1 million teachers of science?

Multimedia Overview

Scalable, Sustainable, and Customized Professional Development NSTA Journal Articles Teacher PD Indexer 2,900+ Professional Development Resources and Opportunities University Online Affiliates NSTA e-Books and online Chapters NSTA Symposia & PD Institutes Regional/State Face-to-Face PD connector reminder NSTA SciGuides document NSTA Certificates My PD Plan & Portfolio My Transcript My Library My Notepad My Calendar NSTA SciPacks and Science Objects Search Engine Online PD Catalog connector NSTA Web Seminars NSTA Online Short Courses School Report

Collaborators

SciGuides [27] Science Objects [56] SciPacks [14] Archived Web Seminars [104] Journal Articles [2206] NSTA Press Books [230] eBooks [23] eChapters [453] Symposia [10-13/year] PD Institutes [10-13/year] Web Seminars [30-40/yr] Short Courses [3-4/yr] Nov Collection: 2,900+ PD Resources and Opportunities Available Over 850 resources and all tools FREE!

Three Ways For Accessing Content as Individual Free to All Over 850 resources! Free for Members only Fee to All Member discount Science Objects Journal Articles (2/month/Journal) e-Book Chapters Web Seminars Seminar Archives SciGuides (1) All Journal Articles SciLinks Selected e-Books SciPacks SciGuides Conferences and events at conferences NSTA Books e-Books and e-Book Chapters NSTA Online Short Courses If District or State Partnership: Everything except books and online short courses are free to $100 /teacher/year

supported by Featured e-PD Learning Center Resources & Opportunities

2 hour free online learning experience in a particular topic Interactive simulations of phenomena in an engaging way Questions to promote interaction and learning via inquiry strategy Based on science literacy goals in science education standards Featured e-PD resources within the Learning Center

Sample Interactives and Multimedia from various Science Objects –Air CartAir Cart –F=maF=ma –Make a ReefMake a Reef Featured e-PD resources within the Learning Center

A total of 56 one-two hour Science Objects are freely available now at The NSTA Learning Center. Topic Areas: Force and Motion The Universe The Solar System Gravity and Orbits Energy Coral Ecosystems Resources and Human Impact Earth, Sun & Moon Coral Reef Ecosystems Plate Tectonics Rock Cycle Ocean’s Effect on Weather and Climate Science of Food Safety Cell Structure & Function Earth’s Changing Surface Featured e-PD resources within the Learning Center

supported by Featured e-PD Learning Center Resources & Opportunities

10 Hour Online and On-Demand Learning Experience 3-5 Free Science Objects, plus –Pedagogical Implications component –Final Assessment –Individualized support via Content Wizard Featured e-PD resources within the Learning Center

Distills research by grade-band Identifies known preconceptions Presents the best practices and instructional strategies to consider when teaching the key ideas in SciPack Pedagogical Implications Component Featured e-PD resources within the Learning Center

N A T I O N A L S C I E N C E T E A C H E R S A S S O C I A T I O N NSTA’s Solution: Science Objects

Final Assessment Certificate

–Auto System Check Wizard (detects and assists with necessary plug-ins) –Orientation/Navigation Support (how to navigate SciPack) –Technical Support Help Desk (issues accessing content) –Subject Matter Expert Wizard (intelligent coach via ) Support Components for SciPacks Featured e-PD resources within the Learning Center

SciPack High Level Production Cycle Content Development Analysis and Design Development Phase 1 Review Round 1 Release Annual Evaluation Development Phase 2 Review Round 2 Pilot Testing Scope completed Key Ideas and Evidences Identified PI component for scope created Evidences refined in light of PI content PI for SciPack started Writer creates content Media storyboards created Content Authored into LCMS Content reviewed online Reviews Conducted: end user, assessment, scope adherence, content Revisions based on reviews Media created and imported into LCMS Content reviewed online Reviews Conducted: end user, assessment, accessibility, content, and editorial Content ported from development to public delivery server Quality Assurance testing Formative evaluation of SciPacks and SO’s Analysis of captured assessment data Analysis of Data collected through LCMS 8 weeks to create Scope 5 weeks per SO weeks per SciPack 2 weeks/SO 10 weeks/SciPack 5 weeks/SO weeks/SciPack 2 weeks/SO 10 weeks/SciPack 2 weeks ~8 months to complete 1 SciPack Process Repeats for each Science Object

SciPack Topics and Production Status Earth & Space 9 Topics Physical 7 Topics Life 12 Topics CompletedEarth, Sun & Moon Gravity & Orbits The Solar System The Universe Weather & Climate Rock Cycle Plate Tectonics Earth ’ s Changing Surface Force & Motion Energy Cell Structure & Function Resources and Human Impact Coral Reef Ecosystems Science of Food Safety In ProductionEarth ’ s HistoryMagnetic & Electric Forces Nature of Light Coming SoonElements, Atoms & Molecules Atomic Structure Chemical Reactions Cell Division & Differentiation Cells & Chemical Reactions Regulation & Behavior of Organisms Heredity & Variation Biological Evolution Natural Selection Interdependence of Life Flow of Matter & Energy in Ecosystems

Multiple District Scipack Evaluation Results Participant Feedback: Confidence in teaching subject matter: 7%: Very Confident Before completing F&M SciPack 60%: Very Confident After completing F&M SciPack 98%: Found SciPack content relevant to their needs 96%: Would recommend SciPack to their colleagues 98%: Found interactive simulations worthwhile to their learning Pre/Post Assessment and Final Assessment Results –Horizon Research Instrument: Positive significant gains in learning between pre/post test –Final assessment: 92% passed the final assessment Evaluation of Online, On-Demand Science Professional Development Material Involving Two Different Implementation Models (Sherman & Byers) Journal Science Education and Technology February, 2008 (Vol. 17, No. 1)

supported by Featured e-PD Learning Center Resources & Opportunities

Valuable classroom resources for science teachers interested in integrating the web into their teaching Each SciGuide consists of: –Approximately 100 standards-aligned web- accessible resources –Customized lesson plans using selected web resources –Teacher media vignettes describing and showcasing the lessons –Samples of student work –Interactives utilized in SciPack on same topic Featured e-PD resources within the Learning Center

Sample of Student Work from Organisms SciGuide

90%: SciGuides are a valuable supplemental online resource for educators Written content very efficient in providing introductions to topics and suggesting resources 100%: SciGuides are laid out in a logical fashion that is easy to navigate & consume from educator’s’ point of view. 100%: SciGuides are effective resources that: save educators time when searching for vetted URLs assist in implementing the web by the accompanying lesson plans, media vignettes, and samples of student work Third Party Evaluation

supported by Featured e-PD Learning Center Resources & Opportunities

Interact with experts and colleagues from around the world Since 2003 we have done over 200 free web seminars to over 6,500 participants LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP

Learning Center Tools

e-PD System Tools My Learning Center 2.0 My Library and Notepad Tool 2.0 My PD Plan and Portfolio Tool 1.0 My Calendar Tool 1.0 My PD Indexer 2.0 My Transcript 1.0 State/District Accountability Admin tools 1.0 State Standards Alignment of Resources 1.0

Store and create collections of resources Create notes for individual resources Share your collections with colleagues My Library

Create multiyear plan outlining your goals, evidences, and justifications for growth Upload files to demonstrate completion of goals with reflections Generate automatic PDF report with embedded URL links and images Professional Development Plan and Portfolio Tool

Exploring the PD Indexer

My Transcript Tool Track NSTA PD Experiences Receive certificates Generate PDF transcript report Share report with administrators

NSTA e-PD Products and Services Backend Administration District & State Reports

Accountability Tracking Reports Track Resource Preferences and Usage Which type and title of resources are in highest demand What resources are added to libraries

Track SciPack Progress Frequency of Access Percentage of completion Final Assessment Results with Certificate Pre/Post Assessment Results SciPacks Admin Tracking Reports

Export Administrator Data for Reports You can export your teachers pre/post assessment data to an Excel spreadsheet to streamline your report requirements

Where We Are: Scaling Up Implementation Over 28,000 Individual accounts with over 154,000 resources added to users “My Library” West Virginia Department of Education New Hampshire Department of Education Hawaii Department of Education Vermont Department of Education Nebraska Department of Education Cincinnati Public School, Cincinnati, OH Louisville County Public Schools, Louisville, KY Gwinnett and Forsyth County Public Schools, Atlanta, GA Lincoln County Public Schools, Lincoln, NE Twin Harbors Science Consortium LASER Alliance, Mountain to Harbor Alliance, WA (Leadership & Assistance for Science Education and Reform) Oregon Science Teachers Association Florida Science Teachers Association Zero-G Flight Initiative Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, FL Texas Education Service Center-36 TRC University of Texas, Tyler, TX Texas A&M University, Texarkana, TX Towson University, Towson, MD Over 20 State/District Partnerships as of Nov 2008

Math/Science Partnership and 21 st Century Skills Initiative Blended with Face-to-Face PD Middle School and Special Education Teachers Phase III roll-out in 2008 (~100 teachers/yr) Marshall University awards graduate credit Deployment: IHE Partnership for Graduate Credit West Virginia Department of Education

36 TRC’s provide high quality PD f2f to teachers ill-prepared in subjects they teach Two TRC’s and one Education Service Center utilize SciPacks to augment summer institute training (blended model), begin summer 2008 All TRC’s incorporating Learning Center, requirement: 1 SciPack and PD Plan Tool for 20 hours of 105 hrs/year (900 teachers) Deployment: Leverage Statewide Systemic System Texas Regional Collaboratives in Science/Math

Nine Step Deployment Model Example Plan how fit into existing strategic science PD plan for district, and if desire evaluation partner Identify first wave of teachers/curriculum leaders for pilot (champions, mentors, specialist, master educators) Letter from home office informing about the value/purpose of rollout, followed-up with face-to-face discussion Provide 1 day onsite orientation to support launch All take identical SciPack for initial common experience Provide appropriate incentives and penalties as complete SciPacks, link to facilitated moderated discussion/PLC Admin monitor progress, usage, completion and pass rates Conduct monthly/quarterly follow-up telecons with NSTA Provide additional web seminars if/as needed

The NSTA Learning Center Scalable, Sustainable, Individualized, and On-Demand e-Professional Development Flavio Mendez Senior Director NSTA Learning Center PH: