Texas Education Agency TEXAS REGIONAL COLLABORATIVES DIRECTOR’S MEETING SCIENCE UPDATE Austin, Texas Presented by: Chris Castillo Comer Director of Science

Texas Education Agency

TEXAS REGIONAL COLLABORATIVESDIRECTOR’S MEETING

SCIENCE UPDATE Austin, Texas

Presented by:

Chris Castillo ComerDirector of Science

October 16, 2006

TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

October 16, 2006 C.COMER

Executive Order RP53Signed by the Governor of Texas on December 16, 2005

EOC tests in Science: this will include Biology in ‘07, and Chemistry and Physics in ’08

A field-test window of four weeks for Biology and Geometry end-of-course exams has been set for April 23-May 16, 2007.

Note that these mandatory field tests are planned to be administered online only during this four-week window to students enrolled in Biology and Geometry courses at the time of field testing.


Curriculum Update

TSDS update: Ready for use; training in progress; next contract in negotiation;

TEKS revision: Tentatively Postponed to ’08

New Science TEKS for Engineering and ESS courses: set to begin in February of ’07

TEKS writers must be appointed by SBOE


SBOE Update:

Motion for second reading at November SBOE Meeting:

The SBOE has proposed increasing credits for the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) and the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) from 24 to 26 credits

Science: RHSP and DAP will include Biology, Chemistry and Physics and an additional approved laboratory-based science course.

Two new courses are to be included: Engineering and Earth and Space Science.

IPC can only be taken in the freshman or sophomore year. In 2011-2012, IPC will be phased out of the RHSP and DAP

These proposed changes could be amended after the November SBOE meeting


NAEP Science Content: 1996-2005 2009

1996-2005 Framework 2009 Framework

Few science standards available National Science Education Standards; Benchmarks for Science Literacy; TIMSS; PISA; state standards

Content presented as bullets and short phrases

Content presented as statements in tables organized by subtopics and grades

Boundaries not provided in Framework or Specifications

Boundaries on content provided in the Specifications

Systems, Patterns of Change, Models

Crosscutting content

Equal emphasis in grades 4 & 12; more emphasis on Life in grade 8

Equal emphasis in grade 4; emphasis on Earth/Space in grade 8; emphasis on Physical and Life in grade 12


Science Content: Topics and Subtopics

Physical Life Earth/Space

Matter-- Properties of matter

-- Changes in matter

Energy-- Forms of energy

-- Energy transfer

and conservation

Motion-- Motion at the

macroscopic level

-- Forces affecting

motion

Structures and Functions of Living Systems

-- Organization and

development

-- Matter and energy

transformations

-- Interdependence

Changes in Living Systems

-- Heredity and

reproduction

-- Evolution and diversity

Earth in Space and Time -- Objects in the universe

-- History of Earth

Earth Structures -- Properties of Earth

materials

-- Tectonics

Earth Systems -- Energy in Earth

systems

-- Climate and weather

-- Biogeochemical cycles


Science Content: Earth/Space Statements

Grade 4 Grade 8 Grade 12

Earth Systems

Climate and Weather: From local weather (4) to global weather patterns (8) to systems that influence climate (12).

E4.8: Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons.

E4.9: Scientists use tools for observing, recording, and predicting weather changes from day to day and over the seasons.

E8.13: Global patterns of atmospheric movement influence local weather. Oceans have a major effect on climate because water in the oceans holds a large amount of heat.

E12.10: Climate is determined by energy transfer from the sun at and near Earth's surface. This energy transfer is influenced by dynamic processes such as cloud cover, atmospheric gases, and Earth's rotation, as well as static conditions such as the positions of mountain ranges and of oceans, seas, and lakes.


Content Boundaries—Earth/Space Excerpts


Climate and Weather: Examples, Observations, and Phenomena

Changes in weather conditions during the day, from day to day, and over seasons

Large scale systems: storms, hurricanes, warm fronts, cold fronts

Major weather and climate phenomena: the jet stream, high and low pressure areas, and phenomena related to weather fronts

Climate and Weather: Instruments, Measurement, and Representations

Simple weather instruments (thermometers, weather vanes, anemometers, rain gauges) to measure weather conditions

Diagrams of weather systems and/or satellite images of Earth (e.g., showing storm systems)

Computer simulations (e.g., showing relationship between geological features and microclimates)


Content Boundaries—Earth/Space Excerpts


Climate and Weather: Technical Vocabulary

Exclusions:

Terms related to pressure and humidity

Exclusions:

Regarding drivers of weather and its effects, avoid technical terms where possible

Technical terms related to physics principles and weather and climate phenomena, although emphasis should be on understanding the processes rather than names of the processes

Climate and Weather: Clarification

Observations and direct measurements of weather conditions locally

Global weather patterns and how these affect weather locally

Key idea: How energy moves through Earth systems


Science Content: Crosscutting Content

Biogeochemical Cycles

Physical Science Life Science Earth/Space Science

P12.7: … An important example is carbon atoms, which can bond to one another in chains, rings, and branching networks to form a variety of structures, including synthetic polymers, oils, and the large molecules essential to life.

L12.5: The chemical elements that make up the molecules of living things pass through food webs and are combined and recombined in different ways …

E12.12: … Carbon, for example, occurs in carbonate rocks such as limestone, in coal and other fossil fuels, in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas, in water as dissolved carbon dioxide, and in all organisms as complex molecules that control the chemistry of life.


Science Content: Item Distribution

Grade 4 (%) Grade 8 (%) Grade 12 (%)

Physical 33.3 30.0 37.5

Life 33.3 30.0 37.5

Earth/Space 33.3 40.0 25.0

Note: Percentages refer to student response time


Science Practices: SummaryC

omm

unicate accurately and effectively

Identifying Science Principles

Describe, measure, or classify observations

State correct science principles

Make connections for closely related content

Connect different representations

Using Science Principles

Explain observations

Predict observations

Suggest examples of a science principle

Evaluate alternative predictions or explanations

Using Scientific Inquiry

Design and critique investigations

Conduct investigations Find patterns in

data

Use evidence to draw conclusions

Using Technological Design

Design and critique technological solutions

Choose among alternatives

Apply science principles to design decisions


NAEP Websites of interest:

NAEP:

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

National Center for Education Statistics:

http://nces.ed.gov/

National Assessment Governing Board:

http://www.nagb.org/


Master Science Teacher Certification

University of Texas - El Paso

Jan 14 2005 Master Science Teacher EC-4 Lamar University

Mar 6 2006 Master Science Teacher 4-8 Texas State University-San Marcos

Aug 11 2005 Master Science Teacher 4-8

University of Texas – AustinAug 11 2005 Master Science Teacher 4-8


Master Science Teacher Certification

University of Texas - El Paso

Jan 14 2005 Master Science Teacher 4-8 Texas State University-San Marcos

Aug 11 2005 Master Science Teacher 4-8 University of Texas – Austin

Aug 11 2005 Master Science Teacher 8-12 University of Texas - El Paso

Jan 14 2005 Master Science Teacher 8-12


Who to Contact for MST:

Janice Reyna

Educator Standards

512.936.8226 (office)

Texas Education Agency

Who to Contact:

Chris Castillo-ComerDirector of Science

[email protected]: 512-463-9581

Fax: 512-463-8057


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Texas Education Agency TEXAS REGIONAL COLLABORATIVES DIRECTOR’S MEETING SCIENCE UPDATE Austin, Texas Presented by: Chris Castillo Comer Director of Science