Bates, Kristin_MED_2019

Title Bates, Kristin_MED_2019
Alternative Title Implementation of Next-Generation Science Standards in a Ninth-Grade Biology Classroom
Creator Bates, Kristin
Collection Name Master of Education
Description The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were released in 2013, with the intent of providing a more meaningful, relevant, and authentic science education for students in the United States. These standards were based on years of research and developed by experts from several related fields. These standards promote student-focused, inquiry-based instruction, driven by student curiosity about natural phenomena. Teachers have struggled, however, to successfully apply these standards in their classrooms, and therefore to provide the rich instruction that might be realized. Research has shown that the two main obstacles that hinder teachers from successfully implementing the constructivist pedagogies outlined in the standards are that they lack a full understanding of inquiry-based teaching or that they have core teaching beliefs that conflict with a student-centered, constructivist approach. Most teachers have been taught and trained to teach in more traditional methods of teaching, with the teacher the center of the classroom who presents lessons to students, who then memorize the content and prepare to pass teacher-created assessments. These experiences have often shaped teacher beliefs and can hinder successful implementation of the new standards. This project details a self-study. I attempted to increase my understanding of inquiry teaching, and to write and adapt my curriculum to be more in-line with the NGSS, during a four-week unit that I taught to my ninth-grade biology students. I reflected daily on my lessons to consider how components of the NGSS were incorporated, whether I felt conflict with my teaching beliefs, and what evidence there was for student engagement.
Subject Education; Education--Research--Methodology; Education--Evaluation
Keywords Next Generation Science Standards (Education); Student-focused education; Inquirey-based education
Digital Publisher Stewart Library, Weber State University
Date 2019
Language eng
Rights The author has granted Weber State University Archives a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce their theses, in whole or in part, in electronic or paper form and to make it available to the general public at no charge. The author retains all other rights.
Source University Archives Electronic Records; Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Stewart Library, Weber State University
OCR Text Show
Format application/pdf
ARK ark:/87278/s6465rq9
Setname wsu_smt
ID 96770
Reference URL https://digital.weber.edu/ark:/87278/s6465rq9