Creating journeys : interactive NGSS aligned reading passages for secondary science classrooms that integrate current science and engineering research

Abstract

Science teachers need curricula and resources to support the teaching of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In order to create interactive reading passages that engage students in scientific literacy and to connect science educators with current science from all over the world through scientist and engineer interviews, I created the Journeys concept, pilot and delivery method. I then gauged its NGSS alignment, usefulness and relevance with science teachers based on teacher preliminary surveys, pre-interviews and their resulting feedback using a pilot Journey called Researching Dolphins. Each Journey reading passage focuses on students researching various topics highlighted in NGSS and culminates real and new science issues, engineering education and citizen science opportunities. The pilot Journey focuses on High School Life Science and integrates other standards including Science & Engineering Practices. The process and result of my journey to create Journeys, or interactive NGSS aligned reading passages that integrate current science and engineering research for secondary science teachers and their classrooms, is provided.