New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning Empowering

New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning Empowering Teachers …Leading Change www. njctl. org bob@njctl. org

Science and Mathematics Science and mathematics are becoming priorities to states and countries for reasons of Social Justice AND International Competitiveness

Science and Mathematics Social Justice requires that we provide fair access for all students to math and science Global competitiveness requires the same; societies prosper by realizing the capacity of all their people

The Current System has Failed In most countries, too small a percentage of students are successful in math and science Students have been screened out of science and mathematics, not welcomed them in This is no longer acceptable

The Current System has Failed The traditional system of education is inefficient Pushing on it harder stresses students and teachers, but doesn’t improve student learning or test results Like forcing a key in the wrong lock; turning it harder breaks the key, but doesn’t open the lock

Progressive Science Initiative (PSI) & Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI) A new technology-enabled efficient system Student learning and enjoyment rise Teacher satisfaction and effectiveness improve Rigor and stress are decoupled

A New System of Education New technology pushes complexity to the system, and away from the user The total complexity of using a computer to do a calculation is higher than using paper and pencil But the stress and complexity is taken on by the hardware and software creators The user’s work is easier AND better

A New System of Education The burden shifts to teams of teachers who create courses that are shared, used and improved by all The cost (more than $1, 000 per year) is borne by sponsors who believe in this mission Then shared with students and teachers for free at www. njctl. org Free and Open-Source

Bipartisan Support § Democrats and Republicans § Business and unions § Teachers and Administrators § Students and Parents

Major Sponsors § § § § § New Jersey Education Association National Education Association Bayer Healthcare Verizon Xcel Energy SMART e. Instruction Morgridge Family Foundation Overdeck Family Foundation National Education Association Foundation

Rapid Expansion • Developed in 1 NJ school, starting in 1999 • Extended to 100 NJ schools, starting in 2007 • Extended to Argentina in 2010 • Extended to Rhode Island Colorado in 2011 • • Extended to The Gambia, West Africa (World Bank and Peace Corps) in 2012 NEA funding entry to more states in 2013 (VT)

Web Site Use – Last 12 Months 2. 9 Million Pageviews from 154 countries 160, 000 Unique Visitors

Web Site Pageviews June 2009 – November 2013 Monthly Pageviews Annual Pace 6, 000 4, 800, 000 3, 600, 000 2, 400, 000 1, 200, 000 0

Web Site Teacher Registrations

Three Threads of PSI-PMI 1. Demystifying math and science to make them accessible to all 2. Correcting the high school science sequence 3. Filling the shortage of physics and chemistry teachers

The PSI-PMI System of Education Integrates: Pedagogy Curriculum Assessment Professional Development Converges: The Written Curriculum The Taught Curriculum The Assessed curriculum

Pedagogy Social Constructivism • • • Round Tables Group Problem Solving Heterogeneous setting

Pedagogy Direct Instruction • • • Interactive White Board (IWB) Notebook presentation Student Response Formative Assessment Teacher as part of social group

Formative Assessment Interactive White Board files connect direct instruction and social constructivism through real-time student polling

Direct Instruction Example: Direct Instruction - Adding Decimals

Direct Instruction Example: Direct Instruction - Adding Decimals

Formative Assessment

Formative Assessment

The Key: The correct answer isn’t revealed All students must defend their answers Students like talking and debating Students focus on short direct instruction and the arguments at their table so they can get the next questions right. Demonstrations and labs become extensions of this model, with open-ended labs driving inquiry

Structure of Classroom Learning Each topic has direct instruction and about 6 formative assessment questions Topics (with demonstrations) comprise units Units (with labs) comprise courses The sequence of courses comprise education

Neuroscience, Vygotsky and Video Games People like to struggle, and then win If there’s no struggle, it’s boring If there’s no win, it’s frustrating Releases endorphins, resulting in pleasure and memory retention

Neuroscience, Vygotsky and Video Games People are social Work done in a group is more fun The group moves all individuals forward faster than they would move alone Vygotsky’s Social Constructivism – Keeping students in their Zone of Proximal Development

Teacher Created Digital Courses Creating these courses is complex and time consuming - beyond the capacity of a single teacher Teams of teachers create digital courses The artisan model of lone teachers handcrafting lessons and assessments is obsolete

Free Open-Source Digital Courses These courses are posted for the free use of all at www. njctl. org They are free AND open-source: they can be used, and edited, by anyone Users drive continuous improvement – creating a global professional learning community Teachers register to see assessments

Free Open-Source Digital Courses English language materials 60, 000+ slides 2500+ Word Documents It would take about 21 days, at 30 seconds a slide, just to see all the slides Spanish language versions being completed

www. njctl. org

High School Science Courses • • Algebra-Based Physics AP Physics B (trigonometry based) AP Physics C: Mechanics (calculus based) AP Physics C: E&M (calculus based) Chemistry AP Chemistry Biology AP Biology

Grade Level Math Courses (CCSS) • • • Pre-K (being developed) Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 accelerated Grade 8 / Algebra I Geometry Algebra II / Trig Pre-Calculus AP Calculus A/B AP Calculus B/C

Domain Level Math Courses • • • Expressions & Equations Measurement and Data Fractions Functions Geometry Operations and Algebraic Thinking Numbers in Base Ten The Number System Ratios and Proportions Statistics and Probability

K-8 Science • • • 18 teacher-writers The first units have been posted and will continue to be updated throughout the year Irvington has adopted the 6 -8 th grade curriculum and is informally rolling it out to their K-5 teachers

Correcting the HS Science Sequence 9 th Grade 10 th Grade 11 th Grade 12 th Grade

PSI Sequence: Required Courses 9 th Grade 10 th Grade 11 th Grade 12 th Grade

PSI Sequence: Required & APs 9 th Grade 10 th Grade 11 th Grade Algebra II Pre Calculus 12 th Grade

Social Justice: Equity and Access Equity requires that all high school students: Study one year of mathematically rigorous physics Have the option of taking Advanced Placement (AP) Physics

Social Justice: Equity and Access Many U. S. schools don’t offer physics at all and, if they do, not to all their students Less then 35% of U. S. students study physics, and it’s often not mathematically rigorous Less than 3% of U. S. students study AP Physics

Social Justice: Equity and Access Schools with high poverty and underrepresented minorities are least likely to offer physics Less than half of New York City high schools offer physics Fewer than 20% of New York City students study physics or chemistry in high school

A classic “bootstrap” problem There are not enough physics teachers to teach all students physics, so courses aren’t offered Until there are physics courses, there are no jobs for physics teachers New physics courses must be started, and the teachers of them created, at the same time

Creating Physics & Chemistry Teachers § PSI has shown that all students can learn physics § PSI has shown that all teachers can learn physics § PSI teaches physics to skilled teachers § And provides teachers the tools to teach physics § To get the best teachers to become the best physics teachers: “Teaching is hard; science is easy”

PSI Creates Physics Teachers

Increasing AP Physics B Participation New Jersey 2011 -2012 Data Source: 2012 NJ School Performance Report (http: //education. state. nj. us/pr) AP Participation Rates calculated by dividing the number of exams taken for AP Physics B by the average number of students per grade

Learning Forward – National Report

Learning Forward – National Report “The New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning (NJCTL) has been doing groundbreaking professional development work in math and science instruction as well…using the innovative curriculum of 2006 New Jersey Teacher of the Year Robert Goodman…to create the Progressive Science Initiative…. ”

2011 IMS Learning Impact Award The Progressive Science Initiative and the Progressive Mathematics Initiative: an effective new approach to student learning and teacher training – SMART Technologies and New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning

2011 IMS Learning Impact Award

New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning Empowering Teachers …Leading Change www. njctl. org bob@njctl. org