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Consensus Study Report

VIEW LARGER COVER

It is essential for today's students to learn about science and engineering in order to make sense of the world around them and participate as informed members of a democratic society. The skills and ways of thinking that are developed and honed through engaging in scientific and engineering endeavors can be used to engage with evidence in making personal decisions, to participate responsibly in civic life, and to improve and maintain the health of the environment, as well as to prepare for careers that use science and technology.

The majority of Americans learn most of what they know about science and engineering as middle and high school students. During these years of rapid change for students' knowledge, attitudes, and interests, they can be engaged in learning science and engineering through schoolwork that piques their curiosity about the phenomena around them in ways that are relevant to their local surroundings and to their culture. Many decades of education research provide strong evidence for effective practices in teaching and learning of science and engineering. One of the effective practices that helps students learn is to engage in science investigation and engineering design. Broad implementation of science investigation and engineering design and other evidence-based practices in middle and high schools can help address present-day and future national challenges, including broadening access to science and engineering for communities who have traditionally been underrepresented and improving students' educational and life experiences.

Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center revisits America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School Science in order to consider its discussion of laboratory experiences and teacher and school readiness in an updated context. It considers how to engage today's middle and high school students in doing science and engineering through an analysis of evidence and examples. This report provides guidance for teachers, administrators, creators of instructional resources, and leaders in teacher professional learning on how to support students as they make sense of phenomena, gather and analyze data/information, construct explanations and design solutions, and communicate reasoning to self and others during science investigation and engineering design. It also provides guidance to help educators get started with designing, implementing, and assessing investigation and design.

RESOURCES AT A GLANCE

Video(s):

Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center
Overview of Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center

Suggested Citation

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25216.

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Publication Info

328 pages |  6 x 9 | 

ISBNs: 
  • Paperback:  978-0-309-48260-8
  • Ebook:  978-0-309-48263-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25216

Links

Videos

Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center

Centering science instruction around investigation and design can improve learning in middle and high schools and help students make sense of phenomena in the world around them. Current approaches to science in many classrooms do not reflect this approach and constrain the opportunities afforded to students, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Changing instructional approaches will require significant and sustained work by teachers, administrators, and policy makers, the report says.

Overview of Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center

This webinar provides an overview of the recently released consensus study report, Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. When investigation and design are at the center, classes focus on students asking questions, collecting and analyzing data, and using this evidence to better understand the natural and built world around them. Centering classes in this way requires a dramatic shift from the traditional classroom dynamic, both the role of the students and the role of the teachers is altered.

Webinar 2: Instruction with Investigation and Design at the Center

This second webinar provides additional information on the recently released consensus study report, Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center. Two members of the study committee, Joe Krajcik and Erin Furtak, discuss approaches to instruction that place investigation and design at the center of middle and high school science and engineering learning. They describe how to run classes that focus on students asking questions, collecting and analyzing data, and using this evidence to better understand the natural and built world around them. Specific example are provided that will help illustrate the changing roles of both teachers and students.

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