2006/20072006/2007

Brennon Brennon SappSappLarry TibbsLarry Tibbs

Science Transformation

First StepsFirst StepsLets look at the pastLets look at the past

– Most of the school improvingMost of the school improving According to Science IndexAccording to Science Index According to distribution of novice, apprentice, According to distribution of novice, apprentice,

proficient, distinguished scoresproficient, distinguished scores According to ACT and SAT scoresAccording to ACT and SAT scores

– Most schools around us improvingMost schools around us improving– Most schools in our area moving ahead of us in Most schools in our area moving ahead of us in

sciencescience– Students NOT taking science classesStudents NOT taking science classes– Counselors “sticking”Counselors “sticking” kids in our classes when kids in our classes when

they have no where else to gothey have no where else to go– Every gap imaginable unchanged in scienceEvery gap imaginable unchanged in science– Ask students about scienceAsk students about science– Dixie is moving to Dixie is moving to Schools of StudySchools of Study

82.82.77

78.78.44

74.74.88

2003 2004 2005 2006

Reading 75.1426 79.9460 86.7956 85.9667

Math 79.5679 80.9792 80.0623 86.3243

Science 70.7808 71.5436 74.5514 73.2131

Social Studies 70.6905 82.3678 82.3600 83.8541

Arts & Humanities 74.8644 83.1203 79.0167 84.8504

Pract. Living/Voc Stud 86.2501 89.1234 89.2119 87.8471

Writing 67.5604 62.0861 70.7782 71.8933

Total 74 77.2 79.8 81.3

Dixie KPR-Total

60.065.0

70.075.080.0

85.090.0

95.0100.0

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Dixie KPR-Science

60.065.0

70.075.080.0

85.090.0

95.0100.0

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Dixie Gender Gap-Science

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Female

Male

Dixie Social-economical Gap-Science

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Free & Reduced (Approved)

Free & Reduced (Notapproved)

Dixie DisabilityGap-Science

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

No Disability

Disability

0

50

100

150

200

250

Novice App+Prof Distinquished

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Novice Apprentice Proficient Distinquished

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Distinquished

App+Prof

Novice

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Nov+App

Prof+Dist

Dixie Science & Other Schools

60

65

70

75

80

85

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Ryle

Simon Kenton

Boone

Dixie

Scott

Cambell County

Dixie Science

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Dixie Science

Dixie Total

Goal Line

Assistance

Second StepsSecond Steps

Let everyone know and ask the hard Let everyone know and ask the hard questionsquestions

Don’t allow any blame (especially Don’t allow any blame (especially toward the kids)toward the kids)

Don’t allow excusesDon’t allow excuses Review the new core contentReview the new core content Entertain and explore any and every Entertain and explore any and every

option your team can come up withoption your team can come up with Move forward with or without the Move forward with or without the

“naysayers”“naysayers”

Why?Why? No BlameNo Blame No ExcusesNo Excuses We have to try something new—We have to try something new—

What we are doing is NOT working!What we are doing is NOT working! Kids are different each and every Kids are different each and every

year, is our teaching?year, is our teaching? We have more and more We have more and more

responsibility, are you helping responsibility, are you helping students with more and more?students with more and more?

--Slides we used with our --Slides we used with our teachers--teachers--

Why?Why? No BlameNo Blame We have to try something new—What We have to try something new—What

we are doing is NOT workingwe are doing is NOT working What does the data indicate?What does the data indicate? Life Science needs the most Life Science needs the most

improvement (it is also the major focus improvement (it is also the major focus on the new core content)on the new core content)

Open responses produce to many 0’s & Open responses produce to many 0’s & 1’s1’s

--Slides we used with our --Slides we used with our teachers--teachers--

What Can We Do?What Can We Do?&&

What Did We Do?What Did We Do?

Our ConclusionsOur Conclusions Students don’t take science classes Students don’t take science classes

because they are not interested in sciencebecause they are not interested in science Students do not score well on Students do not score well on

standardized test becausestandardized test because– They don’t like scienceThey don’t like science– They don’t take a lot of scienceThey don’t take a lot of science– They may not be in science when they take the They may not be in science when they take the

test test – THEY DON’T THINK SCIENTIFICALLYTHEY DON’T THINK SCIENTIFICALLY

Much of tested science is more related to Much of tested science is more related to thinkingthinking than content than content

Students spend a lot of time repeating Students spend a lot of time repeating content our students have been exposed content our students have been exposed to in an earlier gradeto in an earlier grade

Our Old ScienceOur Old Science Three Required ClassesThree Required Classes

– Biology (1 credit-freshman)Biology (1 credit-freshman)– Earth/Space Science (1 credit)Earth/Space Science (1 credit)– Integrated Science (1 credit)Integrated Science (1 credit)

ElectivesElectives– Chemistry (1 credit)Chemistry (1 credit)– Anatomy & Physiology (1 credit)Anatomy & Physiology (1 credit)– Physics (1 credit)Physics (1 credit)– Environmental Science (1 credit)Environmental Science (1 credit)– AP Chemistry (2 credits)AP Chemistry (2 credits)– AP Biology (2 credits)AP Biology (2 credits)

Science NowScience Now

Three and a Half Credits RequiredThree and a Half Credits Required Freshman YearFreshman Year

– Scientific Investigations (½ credit)Scientific Investigations (½ credit) Sophomore–Senior Years Sophomore–Senior Years

– at least one science per yearat least one science per year– Core Life Science (½ credit)Core Life Science (½ credit)– Core Earth/Space Science (½ credit)Core Earth/Space Science (½ credit)– Core Physical Science (½ credit)Core Physical Science (½ credit)– Elective Life Science (at least ½ credit)Elective Life Science (at least ½ credit)– Elective Earth/Space Science (at least ½ credit)Elective Earth/Space Science (at least ½ credit)– Elective Physical Science (at least ½ credit)Elective Physical Science (at least ½ credit)

What Electives Should We What Electives Should We HaveHave

Ask the students where there interest lieAsk the students where there interest lie Ask the teachers where some of their Ask the teachers where some of their

passions liepassions lie Scan the media for the more popular Scan the media for the more popular

topics of the day (Forensics)topics of the day (Forensics) Survey the studentsSurvey the students Write course descriptionsWrite course descriptions Find teachers willing to participateFind teachers willing to participate Give others the old required classesGive others the old required classes

What Electives Do We What Electives Do We Have?Have?

ElectivesElectives– Chemistry A & BChemistry A & B– Anatomy A & BAnatomy A & B– Physics A & BPhysics A & B– Environmental Science Environmental Science – ForensicsForensics– ZoologyZoology– AstronomyAstronomy– Chemistry & CommunityChemistry & Community– Oceanography/Marin BiologyOceanography/Marin Biology

– Medical ScienceMedical Science– Radio TechnologyRadio Technology– HorticultureHorticulture– GeologyGeology– MeteorologyMeteorology– Anatomy for ArtistAnatomy for Artist– AP ChemistryAP Chemistry– AP BiologyAP Biology

Now All We Have to Now All We Have to do is Make it Workdo is Make it Work

The kids have responded!The kids have responded!

These Classes are Full!These Classes are Full!

Conferences—ExternshipsConferences—Externships

Resources—ProfessionalsResources—Professionals