Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/882783
all students. Much of the optimism has been buoyed with the rollout of new science standards aligned with Common Core. T h e n e w s t a n d a r d s , c a l l e d the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) in this state, focus on hands-on sci- ence projects, emphasize critical thinking over rote memorization, and encourage crossover between scientific disciplines. Gamboa has been promoting them by working with colleagues within his high school and school district, and conducting presentations at state- wide conferences, including CTA's. Gamboa is a member of CTA's Instructional Leadership Corps, which offers professional devel- opment through teachers training teachers. He has already seen pos- itive results among students as a result of the schoolwide effort. In fact, so many more students are enrolled in third- and fourth-year science and going into Advanced Placement courses, his school had to hire more teachers. But more to the point, teach- ers at his school are embracing the standards. "Our teachers have changed," he says. To make that leap, "teachers need to understand: Why is this better? Why would I change? How will I know that my students benefit from it? ey have to see that it works. en they will welcome professional development." Gamboa and his colleagues met regularly to rewrite the cur- riculum for chemistry, biology and physics. He reports that in at least one instance a heated dis- cussion occurred as they tried to persuade a resistant teacher about the value of the standards. "Now she is exactly opposite. She's using the curriculum and is a believer. You just have to work with teachers," he says. G a m b o a c i t e s " p h e n o m e n a teaching" — using events or sce- narios that are obser vable, and analyzing them through interdis- ciplinary approaches — as being one change in science instruction. Students need to connect science with what is going on in the world, and NGSS curriculum offers sim- ple experiments to show that. Along with class work, Gam- boa and his colleagues promote science through after-school pro- grams like the E-Smart club, where students build projects, compete against other schools in reinvigo- rated science fairs, and apply for (and often win) grants. MAKING SCIENCE FUN AND ENGAGING But m erely promotin g sci enc e in schools may not produce the equity that is sought in leading to a diverse workforce that reflects our demographics. "The standards are crafted to address issues of equity, but the standards alone won't do it," says Jill Grace, president of the California Science Teachers Association and a regional director for the K-12 Alliance, a WestEd program designed to promote excellence in science and math education. "What is needed is a big mind shift on the part of districts, teachers "Teachers need to understand: Why is this better? Why would I change? How will I know that my students benefit from it? They have to see that it works." — ANTONIO GAMBOA, ASSOCIATED POMONA TEACHERS 63 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 017 Antonio Gamboa THE NEW SCIENCE STANDARDS The Next Generation Science Standards — called CA NGSS in this state — were adopted in 2013. The accompanying sci- ence framework was approved by the State Board of Education in November, making California the first state to do so. CA NGSS are now being implemented in schools throughout the state. In an early implementation initiative, the new standards received mostly positive reviews from teachers in eight California districts and two charter organizations. Teachers interviewed by EdSource in January said CA NGSS are "rewarding, effective and fun to teach, and students seem engaged and excited about learning science." Educators noted that with that reward comes even more work , because of the emphasis on science projects and dif- ficulties in grading due to the focus on critical thinking. The California Department of Education, the K-12 Alliance, the California Science Teachers Association and other partners have been holding two-day workshops around the state on the CA NGSS roll- out and implementation. For details see bit.ly/2xLA1FU. Jill Grace