Conceptual Shifts in the Next Generation Science Standards: Opportunities and Challenges by Pratt - Essay Example

The three key dimensions in performance expectation include disciplinary core ideas, engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts, which will make students successful. Most importantly, NGSS shows more clearly how the integration should occur. Through integration at the lowest grade levels certainly is the most challenging, there are instructional resources that can be used to achieve an interactive orientation.

Teachers should actively use the shifts in the NGSS for them to understand them better. The biggest challenge, however, is how science and engineering can be integrated into a lesson. This should be the number one problem that requires a solution. To be highly beneficial, the implementation of the changes has to be grounded in the science education vision as outlined in the Framework (NRC 2012) with careful planning and support. A deeper understanding of the framework should be of utmost importance as opposed to rushing through ideas.

A comprehensive plan should be developed in consideration of the phases of capacity building before the implementation deadline. The way in which assessment is to be done has to shift in order to meet the NGSS requirements. The development, approval, and implementation of new national and state assessments should take enough time to ensure the assessment is to give the best test to students. Despite the above challenges, the new standards will certainly revitalize science education quality and are also going to be highly supported to bring about a modern outlook of science education.

The opportunity should not be squandered by rushing through implementation prematurely. Neither should it be given light treatment while thinking of the shifts as minor, worrying that they cannot be implemented, or waiting for the whole system’s components to change. Careful planning together with careful execution is surely going to ensure the realization of the new vision.