psi district presentation 091210
TRANSCRIPT
Empowering Teachers …Leading Change
The US faces a serious challenge in math and science
education
► US student achievement is considered internationally uncompetitive
► The US percentage of the world’s scientists and engineers is shrinking
► Two useful reports: Rising above the Gathering Storm and The Perfect Storm
A major obstacle is a lack of coherence – what is “science”?
► The relationship between the subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth, Forensic, etc.) is unclear
► What content to teach within the subjects is unclear
► How we measure progress is unclear
Conflicting goals for “science” education
► State Standards
► NAEP Standards
► TIMSS
► Textbook driven curricula
► AP Curricula
Conflicting process goals
► Science Literacy (basic facts)
► Inquiry
► Mathematical Problem Solving
Solutions must work for both students and teachers to be
viable► A successful program must emerge from
and support teachers while teaching students
► A successful program must result in high student achievement and a high level of teacher morale
► A successful program must “grow its own” great teachers, not count on finding them elsewhere
The Progressive Science Initiative
► Began 10 years ago by the teachers at the school
► Aimed at improving math and science achievement
► Embraced the AP Curricula as setting a clear goal
► The resulting coherence helps teachers as much as it helps students
AP Performance and International Competitiveness
Teterboro Science InitiativeTeterboro Science InitiativeVertical and Horizontal Alignment to AP Vertical and Horizontal Alignment to AP
CurriculaCurricula
► Vertical alignment of both math and science Shows the usefulness of learned tools from
year to year
► Horizontal alignment of math and science Shows the usefulness of learned tools
between math and science
► AP exams used as landmark goals Adds value through recognition, self-esteem,
college credits and better college choices Especially for low SES and minority students
AP Exams by Department (as multiple of NJ Rate: NJ=1)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Science Math English Languages History Art & Music
AP Exams Passed (3+) (as multiple of NJ Rate: NJ=1)
0
1
2
3
4
5
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Science Math English Languages History Art & Music
AP Science Exams Taken (as multiple of NJ Rate: NJ=1)
0
5
10
15
20
25
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Physics B PhC Mech PhC E&M Biology
Chemistry Co.Sci A Co. Sci AB Env. Sci
AP Science Exams Passed (as multiple of NJ Rate: NJ=1)
0
5
10
15
20
25
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Physics B PhC Mech PhC E&M Biology
Chemistry Co.Sci A Co. Sci AB Env. Sci
Participation in Elective ScienceCourses Taken Per Senior
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
AP non-AP
Racial Composition of Site2009
Free or Reduced Lunch2009
Math SAT Scores
400
420
440
460
480
500
520
540
560
580
600
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
School
State
Verbal SAT Scores
400420440460480500520540560580600
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
School State
Key Design Elements
► Science Sequence: Physics - Chemistry - Biology
► AP exams as landmarks Provide subject area goals Drives vertical curriculum through backwards design Only AP science content taught in required courses
► Vertical and horizontal curriculum alignment
Defining AP Achievement
Participation and Passing Rates
Not the average score on the AP Exam
Reduces tracking while promoting vertical and horizontal curriculum alignment
Prior learning scaffolds future learning
Redundancy is minimized
More sections of fewer courses
Encourages Doing the Right Thing
► Increase participation in AP Courses Prepare all students for AP courses Encourage all students to take AP courses Encourage all students to complete the
courses Require all students to take the exam
► Increase AP Offerings
► Improve practices to raise scores
Progressive Science Sequence Grades 9 - 12
P hysics B iology
A lgebraA P
P hysicsA P
ChemA P B io
M A I M A II A P CalcG eom .
Chem
Progressive Science Sequence Minimal Version
P hysics B iology
G eom .A lgebraII & Trig
A lgebra
Chem
Traditional SequenceRigorous Version
B iology P hysics
G eom .Algebra.II & Trig
A lgebra
Chem
P recalc
Traditional SequenceMinimal Version
B iology
G eom .Algebra.II & Trig
A lgebra
Chem
Ninth Grade PhysicsThe Keystone to Science and Math
Achievement
► The foundation of the science sequence
► The foundation for math achievement
► The equalizer - social constructivist approach benefits all students
Social Constructivist SettingIn the Classroom
► Group Problem Solving Time in class mostly devoted to working on
problems in small or large groups
► Peer teaching Different prior math skill leads to peer teaching
► Flat playing field prior physics experience of students similar - minimal
Social Constructivist SettingIn the School
► Twice a week - 2 hours of after-school help available from teachers, peers and AP Physics students
► Ample teacher and peer tutoring available
► Since all students take the same course – study groups and peer help encouraged
Assessment
► Weekly formative assessments ► AP format for all major tests
Half free response Half multiple choice Questions from prior AP tests or similar
► Bi-weekly labs
► No grades for participation, homework, etc.
Encourage Success
► Maximize student effort and morale
► Maintain high standard
► Most students do well – almost none fail
► Modified AP curve used for most assessments
► Students may retake all assessments (new version) - only higher grade counts
SMART Technology
► SMART boards and notebooks support a faster moving dynamic 21st Century classroom
► SMART Responders provide real time
ongoing formative assessment raising student engagement and instructional efficiency
► SMART Lesson Study creates better instruction, supports continuous improvement and raises teacher morale
Algebra
► All students must master Algebra I by the end of 9th grade Fundamental to all later math Fundamental to much of later science Necessary to be literate in math and science
► Algebra weakness is a key reason for algebra-based physics – not a reason to avoid algebra in physics
Physics Supports Algebra
► Algebra-based: All students enrolled in Algebra, or completed it in a prior year
► No trigonometry
► Provides a setting to show the usefulness of the mental tool of mathematics
Physics Supports AP Physics B
► All objectives taken from Physics AP B About 40% of AP B completed
► Completes 90% of Mechanics and E & M excludes only the 10% requiring trigonometry
► All students prepared for AP B makes 9th Grade Physics very useful
► All students accepted into AP Physics B
Physics Supports Chemistry
► Fundamental concepts such as: Energy Electrostatic force – fundamental to chemistry Atomic & Quantum Theory
► Problem solving experience
► Experience with units and calculations
► Inquiry Experience
Chemistry► Supports AP Chemistry
All objectives drawn from AP Chemistry about half of AP Chemistry completed
► Supports AP Physics B all AP B students also in chemistry shared objectives taught in chemistry first (gas
laws, atomic energy levels, etc.) Saves time in AP Physics and eliminates
redundancy
► Supports Biology Much of biology based on physics and chemistry
Biology
► Supports AP Biology All objectives drawn from AP Biology about half of AP Biology taught in this course
► Supports Anatomy and Physiology
► Supports AP Chemistry Reviews chemistry, so AP Chemistry doesn’t
need to
The Teachers @ Bergen Tech - Teterboro
► All ten current teachers were hired and trained during the program’s development
► None had previously taught an AP course
► Seven of the ten are currently teaching an AP science course
► Zero turnover: no teacher has left the school in more than 5 years
Teacher Collaboration @ Bergen Tech - Teterboro
► Weekly meeting of all teachers to develop shared materials by consensus Unit Plan, assessments, worksheets, labs, etc. Major tests given on same dates All classes take same tests, etc. All content must come from AP B objectives
► Raises teacher and student morale through coherence and focus
Teacher Collaboration @ Bergen Tech - Teterboro
► Common schoolwide assessments: structures the work of teachers who are new, or new to a course
► Maximize the number of teachers for each course rather than minimizing “preps”: more teachers for a course increases support and cooperation
► Frequent (at least weekly) meetings between all teachers for a course
Teacher Collaboration @ Bergen Tech - Teterboro
► New teachers given time to “take” course with students before teaching it the next year
► All materials (tests, quizzes, notes, HW assignments, etc.) shared between all teachers
► After school tutoring for all students, regardless of teacher
► Moving to shared use of Smart materials
Great teachers: a cause and a result of a successful program
► A coherent program with clear goals and strong teacher support attracts both strong teachers and strong prospective teachers
► It honors the expertise of experienced teachers while supporting new teachers: it offers continuous professional growth
► Successful recruitment, training, induction and retention are the causes and the results of an excellent program
Expanding PSI
www.njctl.org
Click on “PSI”Click on “PSI”
Progressive Science Initiative
► Research shows that PSI raises the science achievement of average US students to international levels
► A solution to raising national student achievement is to spread PSI to more schools (it’s not clear there are other solutions)
► That requires more PSI teachers, but PSI provides the method to train/certify new science teachers
Progressive Science Initiative
► Traditional “Alternate Route” programs seek to get current science professionals to become teachers. The problem is:
We have a shortage of science professionals; that’s why we need to improve US science education
It’s not clear they want to leave their jobs It’s not clear that they will be good teachers
► We question the assumption that:
“Science is hard: teaching is easy”
Progressive Science Initiative
► PSI has shown “all students can learn science”.
► We extend that to “all teachers can learn science”
► We propose to use PSI to teach science to highly skilled teachers.
► Our goals is to get the best teachers to become science teachers: our assumption is:
“Teaching is hard; science is easy”
PSI & SMART Technology
► PSI instructional materials have been collaboratively developed using Smart/Senteo technology; improving educational efficiency
► This has also increased teacher collaboration through Smart “lesson study” approach
► Extending this to a virtual interschool PLC will enable scaling up PSI to new schools and teachers
PSI Provisional Certification ► Teachers will learn the science content, and
how to teach the science content, in PSI classes
► Teachers will be certified to teach a first level PSI course, after completing it successfully
► Teachers will continue taking PSI courses while teaching their first PSI course.
► Teachers will be mentored on site and meet twice weekly with their cohort to take subsequent PSI courses and discuss their field experience
Full Certification
► After completing a PSI sequence, and the field experience, teachers will be able to teach any standard course in their content area
► Teachers will need to pass the appropriate Praxis
► Teachers will then be fully certified and will be able to teach both PSI and non-PSI courses in their content area
Courses and Certifications
PSI Program LAUNCH
Summer 2009
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
Summer 2010
Fall 2010
Spring 2011
Summer 2011
Fall 2011
Spring 2012
Summer 2012
Fall 2011
Spring 2012
Physics Teacher
Courses & Certifications
Physics I &
Physics 9 Certification
Physics II
Physics III &
Physics Certification
Physics High School
Courses 9th Grade Physics
9th Grade Physics &
10th Grade Physics AP B
ChemistryTeacher
Courses & Certifications
Physics I
Chemistry I&
Chemistry 10
Certification
Chemistry II
Chemistry III&
ChemistryCertification
Chemistry High School
Courses 10th Grade Chemistry
10th Grade Chemistry & 11th Grade
AP Chemistry
Biology Teacher
Courses & Certifications
Physics I
Chemistry I
Biology I &
Biology 11Certification
Biology II
Biology III&
Biology Certification
Biology High School
Courses 11th Grade Biology
11th Grade Biology & 12th Grade AP Biology
www.njpsi.org
► All the materials developed to teach PSI courses are being posted on this site
► Teachers will be able to access all of them
► Students will be able to access all but assessments
www.njpsi.org
► A discussion board, open to all teachers and students, is part of the site:
► Teachers and students will be able to upload their improved versions of materials
► The site is the backbone of a virtual Professional Learning Community
District Requirements► Adopt the PSI Approach in participating
schools Course sequence Curriculum Pedagogy
► Create PSI Classrooms Up to date Computer Projector Smart board Smart Response System Round Tables
District Requirements
► Provide certified teachers (for any subject) who are interested in learning and teaching science
► Pay the graduate school tuition for the
PSI coursework for those teachers
► Teachers receive training and graduate credits at no cost, except their time
First PSI Physics Teacher Cohort
Physics - June 29, 2009
► 42 teachers
► 4 school Districts
► 21 Schools
► 1200 students
► Taught by Teterboro faculty as Kean University Adjunct Faculty
AP Physics B RequestsHigh School Students Surveyed on 12/9
Second PSI Physics Cohort January 2010 through June 2011
► Algebra-based Physics classes every Tuesday night and third Saturday through June
► No Summer Classes
► Teachers begin teaching Physics in Fall 2010
► AP Physics B from September through June every Tuesday night and third Saturday
First PSI Chemistry Cohort January 2010 through mid-May 2011
► Algebra-based Physics classes every Tuesday night and third Saturday through June
► Chemistry classes for July (alternate Fridays off)
► Teachers begin teaching Chemistry in Fall 2010
► AP Chemistry from September through mid May every Tuesday night and third Saturday
PSI Partners ► New Jersey Center for Teaching and
Learning
► New Jersey Department of Education
► New Jersey Educational Association
► Kean University
► Bergen County Vocational Technical Schools
► Jersey City Public Schools
► Newark Public Schools
► Paterson Public Schools
► SMART Technology, Inc.
