Upcoming Workshops
Do you want to focus classroom activities and assessments on relevant, real-world examples?
Do you want your students to make sense of those examples using real science practices and ways of thinking?
Our Workshops can help you achieve these goals.
Click on a title for details.
Scroll down to see scheduled sessions.
INTRODUCTION TO PHENOMENA
Introduction to Phenomena is a first-touch workshop where you explore the use of science phenomena to focus classroom lessons and activities aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the similar K-12 Framework-based standards that have been adopted by numerous states.
We begin with a sample classroom activity that reviews the structure and student-centered intent of three-dimensional (3D) standards. This sets the stage for exploring how Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts can be used together with Core Idea science knowledge to support best practices in science education. We then dig deep into the phenomenon concept, exploring criteria, characteristics, and pitfalls. Participants evaluate examples of stand-alone phenomena and phenomena associated with published resources, discussing the merits and proposed alignments of each. We explore the differences between phenomena, anchors, and engineering design problems. In the end, you will have a process for determining if a given curricular resource is aligned with your state’s standards and the ideas behind phenomenon-focused teaching and learning.
Introduction to Phenomena online sessions involve eight contact hours, which we split across four days, plus time spent on assignments. We customize the sessions according to enrollment (e.g., if we have participants from Indiana and Pennsylvania in a session, then we spend time comparing the NGSS to both the 2022 Indiana Academic Science Standards and the new Pennsylvania 3D Integrated Standards).
Introduction to Phenomena for TEKS
Introduction to Phenomena for TEKS is a first-touch workshop where you explore the use of science phenomena to focus classroom lessons and activities aligned to the new TEKS. The workshop's curriculum parallels what we do in Introduction to Phenomena, but in this TEKS-specific version we directly address the challenges Texas teachers face in adopting their new standards.
We begin with a sample classroom activity that reviews the structure and student-centered intent of new TEKS. This sets the stage for exploring how Scientific and Engineering Practices and Recurring Themes and Concepts can be used together with science knowledge to support best practices in science education. We then dig deep into the phenomenon concept, exploring criteria, characteristics, and pitfalls. Participants evaluate examples of stand-alone phenomena and phenomena associated with published resources, discussing the merits and proposed alignments of each. We explore the differences between phenomena, anchors, and engineering design problems. In the end, you will have a process for determining if a given curricular resource is aligned with the new TEKS and the ideas behind phenomenon-focused teaching and learning.
Introduction to Phenomena for TEKS online sessions involve eight contact hours, which we split across four days, plus time spent on assignments.
Introduction to Phenomena
Special Winter Session 1
Begins January 10th 2023
Schedule:
Thursday 03 April 2025, 7-9pm Eastern
Thursday 10 April 2025, 7-9pm Eastern
Thursday 17 April 2025, 7-9pm Eastern
Thursday 24 April 2025, 7-9pm Eastern