Abstract:

This study focused on the professional development (PD) of 27 in-service teachers (third through fifth grades). The PD was designed to support the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with lessons in schools with large underrepresented, diverse populations of students.

The Spring 2022 Hawai‘i Statewide Science Assessment (HSA) proficiency data for Grade 5 revealed that Hilo Complex schools continued to be below the state average (12 percent versus 18 percent) in the three separate science content domains–earth/space, life, and physical science. Students were only able to perform “at/near proficiency” on 2 of the 12 performance benchmarks in the Life Science content domain. Students were only able to perform “at/near proficiency” on 5 of the 17 performance benchmarks in the physical science content domain.

An Elementary Teacher NGSS Needs Survey was conducted prior to the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. Survey results revealed that 34 percent of the teachers felt “not at all” or “slightly prepared”, whereas only 19 percent felt “very well prepared” to teach the life science benchmarks. Similar results for physical science revealed 37 percent of the teachers reported “not at all” or “slightly prepared” versus 19 percent reporting “very well prepared”.

In another portion of the survey, teachers responded to the question, “What is your greatest need in the area of teaching to the NGSS?” The top teacher responses included time for lesson planning, lesson prep/gathering materials, developing an understanding of the content, and practicing the lessons they were going to teach. These self-reported results emphasized the need for professional development and content lessons specific to the three content area domains.

Content development for the 2022-2023 school year focused on the 10 “below proficiency” life science benchmarks and the 12 physical science performance benchmarks. For each grade level, lessons were developed to address the “below proficiency” performance benchmarks. Additionally, professional development work sessions with the participating teachers, supported their needs for understanding and practicing the lessons they were going to teach.

Through these teachers, 800+ students interacted with NGSS lessons that addressed the areas of greatest need, as revealed on the Hawaii Statewide Science Assessment (HSA) for Grade 5.

Keywords:

Next Generation Science Standards, NGSS, science content development, elementary science, elementary teachers.