Spring is a time of renewal and change. The trees are leafing out, flowers are blooming, and pollen fills the air. Okay, so maybe that last one isn’t appreciated by everyone, but it is a sign of renewal and growth; a pattern that is reflected in the recent redesign and update of the website for the Next Generation Science Standards.
The new website makes it easier for specific audiences to find what they need. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or a district administrator, there is a section that directs you to the most useful resources for your context.
Perhaps my favorite part of the redesign is right on the front page. The three dimensions of the NGSS — Crosscutting Concepts, Science and Engineering Practices, and the Disciplinary Core Ideas — are explained in three very short and succinct paragraphs that also reflect their relationship to each other.
Be sure to head all the way to the bottom of the main page where you can see all the latest news and sign up for their news letter, “Science Now.”
The Next Generation Science Standards are far more about instructional shifts than materials alignment. And I believe the site’s redesign does a nice job supporting teachers and schools in accessing materials that will help them to that end.
