The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
All Standards, All Students – Appendix D
Diversity and Equity Series
Series Overview: Members of the national NGSS Diversity and Equity writing team collaborated to
Promoting
excellence in science
teaching and
learning in Illinois
Advancing learning
through effective
educational
leadership
develop a series of nine webinars addressing NGSS teaching and learning, focusing very specifically
from the perspective of the diversity and equity issues faced by students and their teachers of science.
The NGSS offers a vision of comprehensive and rigorous science and engineering learning that
challenges all students, particularly students who have been traditionally underserved in science
education. Case studies feature examples of NGSS being met in authentically diverse classrooms,
employing effective strategies based on current pedagogical research.
An in-depth overview of the document, Appendix D - All Standards, All Students, is the
introductory webinar (Part 1) and is recommended to be first in the sequence for viewing. Other
webinars can be viewed in any order, depending on the need of the audience.
The case studies of Appendix D attend to the following groupings in the webinar series:
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Economically disadvantaged students, in a 9th grade Chemistry class: Part 2
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Students from major racial and ethnic groups, in an 8th grade life science class: Part 3
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Students with disabilities, in a 6th grade space science unit: Part 4
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English-language learners, in a 2nd grade earth science unit: Part 5
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Girls, in a 3rd grade engineering unit: Part 6
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Students from an alternative education program, in a 10th-11th grade chemistry class: Part 7
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Gifted and talented students, in a 4th grade life science unit: Part 8
Part 9 is a combination of engineering content and diversity foci for English language learners, girls,
and economically disadvantaged students in 2nd grade earth science, 3rd grade life science, and 9th
grade chemistry units.
Objectives:
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Providing
educators the
professional
development
content and
capacity building
professional
network you need
to do what's best
for your students
and learning
community
ELN States’
Principals
Association
Members:
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Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Ohio
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
To raise awareness of the realities of diversity and equity issues in our classrooms and how
teachers of science, specifically, can transform their teaching to address those needs.
 To raise awareness of how blending the three dimensions of NGSS with instructional strategies
can help diverse students meet NGSS.
Part 6 Synopsis: Girls in 3rd grade engineering unit: This webinar demonstrates that girls can
become leaders in the area of engineering when effective classroom strategies are employed. The
presenters illustrate a real classroom example of engaging girls in an engineering unit. The students
define and solve an engineering problem through habitat restoration and provide food for native
species in their local ecosystem. Students engage with NGSS to blend the three dimensions, including
an engineering disciplinary core idea, and classroom strategies. The objective of this segment is to
encourage the audience to question how to provide for the needs of girls in your NGSS implementation
plans.
Facilitator guidance: NGSS W/ELN developers suggest the following ideas and strategies that may
promote an even more positive learning setting for individual and group participation in this webinar
series:
General Facilitation Suggestions:
 Familiarize yourself with all of the segments in the series and their sequenced order, the suggested
resources, and the action-planning template that can be adapted to the local setting and utility.
 Suggest that the participants prepare for the webinar(s) by knowing the goals set for the series and the
individual session, along with the follow-up intent of the facilitator/ administrator.
 Review resources prior to the group or individual sessions, as applicable.
 Prepare adequately for the technology access for all participants.
 Consider that audience response may necessitate repeated viewing of some segments.
 IF viewed through the Ed Leaders Network: Anticipate the generalized ELN evaluation
component. Certificates for participation can be printed for CPDU awards, following the completion of the
survey at the end of the webinar session for each participant.
IF viewed through the ISTA-IL.ORG website: Use or modify an action planning template to meet your specific
needs and documentation. The suggested headings may include: action items assigned to and by when,
success indicators, documentation options, and projected next steps. Submission of information about
webinar utility, impact, and next steps will be requested through the ISTA-IL.org NGSS with ELN page.
 Allow for brainstorming for additional segments that are needed to help insure the success of NGSS
implementation where you are. Review reflections statements for continuation and refinement of NGSS W/
ELN webinars at your location. Such suggestions or reflections can be submitted through the ISTA-IL.org
NGSS with ELN page.
Specific preparatory and facilitation suggestions for more effective use of your time.
It is suggested that the facilitator provide a copies/or access for participants to read and reference from Case
Study 5: Girls*, prior to viewing:
* http://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/ngss/files/%285%29%20Case%20Study%20Girls%206-14-13.pdf
 Each webinar has a “Turn and Talk” question near the end for reflection about and planning for the
implementation of NGSS and classroom strategies to help diverse student groups meet NGSS. Additional
questions for possible consideration:
o How do these strategies help engage diverse student groups in science and engineering?
o How do the examples relate to your experience with diverse student groups?
o What questions do the case studies raise for you?
o What implications do the case studies have for science education in your setting?
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Additional resources
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Next Generation Science Standards for Today’s Students and Tomorrow’s Workforce: For States, by
States, through Achieve, Inc.: http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards
NGSS Appendix D All Standards, All Students: http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-sciencestandards
Case Studies: http://www.nextgenscience.org/appendix-d-case-studies
NGSS@NSTA: www.nsta.org (click on logo in upper right corner)
A Framework for K-12 Science Education…Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas, National
Academies Press, 2012.
Evaluation
IF VIEWED THROUGH ED LEADERS NETWORK (MEMBERS ONLY): Please complete the evaluation located
at the end of the video to receive completion certification and provide ELN/ISTA with baseline information
regarding the training.
IF VIEWED THROUGH ISTA-IL.ORG WEBSITE: Please feel free to use the action planning template noted in
Facilitator Guidance above and complete the ISTA survey. Please click to NGSS in IL page for review and
submission of your insights.
Project Partnership Overview
NGSS through ELN: Next Generation Science Standards through the Ed Leaders Network
Powered through the ten-state Ed Leaders Network, the unique partnership of the Illinois Principals
Association with the Illinois Science Teachers Association provides resources, guidance and expertise
for collaborative, broadened awareness of the NGSS for teachers of science AND their administrative
leaders while expanding interest in learning more deeply about NGSS. Our collective goal is to create
and share effective resources among Illinois members initially and through ELN states’ principals
associations and the science teachers associations in those states.
ELN provides access to the Leadership Management System that can track continuing professional
development credits for all participants.
Additional resources are being considered and suggestions are welcomed to meet identified needs
to insure the success of the preliminary and on-going understanding of NGSS and the implementation
strategies that we are creating and testing ourselves.