BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life Professional Development Leader Institute

BSCS Science Learning recently released a brand new, NGSS-designed high school biology course. Teachers say it is already changing how their students learn and use science in their everyday lives. And now, we are offering the BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life Professional Development (PD) Leader Institute.  

The BSCS Biology program is entering its second year on the market. As the number of program adoptions increases, we will need PD Leaders to meet a growing need for professional learning to support successful implementation. This institute will prepare a select group of teachers and leaders to facilitate professional learning for adopting districts. As the number of program adoptions continues to increase, additional PD Leader Institutes will be scheduled.

The deadline for submitting applications was March 29, 2023. Notifications will be made no later than April 12, 2023.

Institute Goals

• Deepen understanding of the Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model as implemented in BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life.
• Deepen understanding of and increase abilities to lead PD as a transformative experience for teachers.
• Discuss how and when to make decisions when leading and reflecting on curriculum-based PD aligned with the program goals and curriculum.

Facilitator Institute Schedule

May 16-19, 2023

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Morning: travel to institute Afternoon: institute starts	All day: facilitator institute	All day: facilitator institute	Morning: institute closing Afternoon: travel home

Expectations of this Institute:

• Pre-work
• Homework during institute
• Post work (synchronous and asynchronous virtual work)

What’s included for participants:

• Transportation costs to and from the Institute
• Lodging
• Lunch and snacks every day
• Facilitator materials

What to expect after the Institute:

Participants completing the Institute will be part of the BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life PD Leader cadre. Based on the number of PD contracts with adoptions, we will reach out to members of the cadre with opportunities to provide PD to adopting districts. Because we do not know the demand for PD, we cannot guarantee contracts for all cadre members.

Five Tools and Processes for Translating the NGSS into Instruction and Classroom Assessment

As a teacher, how can you plan for instruction and classroom assessment based on the new science standards and Framework for K-12 Science Education? As a leader, how can you support teachers as they navigate this process?

Discover an effective pathway at a Five Tools Institute. The Five Tools and Processes to support educators in translating disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations into a coherent unit plan for (NGSS-aligned) phenomenon or problem-focused units of instruction.

Which Five Tools Institute is right for you?

BSCS customizes Five Tools Institutes based on the target participants’ needs and goals. The most popular examples of what we offer and for whom include:

Five Tools Institute 1: Learning the Process

Learning Goals

• develop a deeper understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Framework for K-12 Science Education.
• using a middle school example unit, learn how to design and plan three-dimensional, phenomena or problem-driven units of instruction.
• leverage facilitation guides and other resources to help you navigate the Five Tools model of professional development.

Target Participants

• K-12 Teachers, Teacher Leaders, District Leaders

Five Tools Institute 2: Developing a Unit of Instruction and Classroom Assessment

Learning Goals

• develop a deeper understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Framework for K-12 Science Education.
• learn how to design and plan three-dimensional, phenomena or problem-driven units of instruction.
• use the tools and processes to develop a unit of instruction and classroom assessment.
• access facilitation guides and other resources to help you navigate the Five Tools model of professional development.

Target Participants

• K-12 Teachers, Teacher Leaders, District Leaders

Five Tools Institute 3: Leadership Development

Learning Goals

• develop a deeper understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Framework for K-12 Science Education.
• Learn how to support educators in designing and planning three-dimensional, phenomena or problem-driven units of instruction using the Five Tools.
• Access, review, and practice using facilitation guides and other resources to help you lead educators in navigating the Five Tools model of professional development.

Target Participants

• Science supervisors
• K-12 teacher leaders (leaders of teams can include classroom teachers)
• District/school administrators
• Science consultants
• University faculty

How can you participate in an institute?

When BSCS has an institute available for public registration, we will post the opportunity on this page.

If we don’t currently have an institute available that meets your needs, contact us about how we can collaborate with you on developing and/or hosting one.

BSCS can support the design and implementation of Five Tools Institutes of various sizes across the country.

Each Professional Development (PD) Provider Institute is a 4-day experience designed to support you as a PD provider by deepening your knowledge, increasing your confidence, and enhancing your abilities to support the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards and the recommendations put forth in A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas in Science Teaching. The entire program generally consists of a series of four institutes.

The typical series of institutes includes:

• Institute 1: Developing and Using Models (Practice 2)
• Institute 2: Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Constructing Explanations and Engaging in Argument from Evidence (Practices 4, 6, and 7)
• Institute 3: Asking Questions and Planning Investigations (Practices 1 and 3)
• Institute 4: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information (Practices 7 and 8)

Who should participate?

• Science supervisors
• K-12 teacher leaders
• Science consultants
• University faculty

What are the benefits?

By participating in this Institute, PD providers will

• enhance their understanding of the research and literature underpinning the NGSS and be better able to support teachers’ translation of research into the classroom,
• deepen their understanding of all eight scientific and engineering practices laid out in the NGSS, and
• be part of a community that can support PD providers’ work.

After participating in the program, PD providers will be able to

• plan, lead, and evaluate workshops that help teachers use scientific practices in their classrooms;
• use a variety of “close-to-the-classroom” strategies to support teachers as they use the scientific practices in their classrooms;
• make adjustments to plans based on data and understandings about change; and
• increase intentionality in leadership practices.

Details

Details vary for each institute. Join our email list to stay informed on upcoming programs.

Are you planning to adopt new science instructional materials for your districts and schools? If so, you know the adoption of instructional materials is a costly investment with long-term impacts. This decision-making process is critically important because instructional materials can either support or inhibit improvements in teaching and learning.

Discover an effective pathway through this process at the NextGen TIME Leadership Institute. NextGen TIME is a suite of tools and processes for curriculum-based professional learning that supports educators to evaluate, select, and implement instructional materials designed for next generation science.

Why participate?

During this immersive experience, you will:

• develop a deeper understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Framework for K-12 Science Education;
• be guided through the evaluation, selection, and planning for implementation of materials that will help teachers enact the vision of next generation science in their classrooms;
• learn how to analyze and select materials based on key criteria and scoring guidance; and
• access handouts, powerpoints, facilitation guides and other resources to help you navigate the NextGen TIME process.

Who should participate?

• Science supervisors
• K-12 teacher leaders (teams of leaders can include classroom teachers)
• District/school administrators
• Science consultants
• University faculty

Details

Details vary for each institute. Currently, there are no NextGen TIME Leadership Institutes available for registration. Join our Email list to stay informed on upcoming programs.