Science Education in Wisconsin
The study of science allows Wisconsin students to experience richness and excitement of the natural world. As adults they will face complex questions requiring scientific thinking, reasoning, and the ability to make informed decisions. Scientific knowledge prepares students for the future and helps them acquire new knowledge and skills to hold meaningful and productive jobs. The standards recognize that science is for ALL students-- the essence of science literacy.
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) second draft is available from January 8 through January 29, 2013. Click here to find a copy of a draft to review.
Background:
Step One: Getting the Science Right, The National Research Council (NRC), the staff arm of the National Academy of Sciences, began by developing the Framework for K–12 Science Education. The Framework was a critical first step because it is grounded in the most current research on science and science learning and identified the science all K-12 students should know. The NRC released the final Framework on July 19, 2011. Read more about the Framework online here.
Step Two: States Developing Next Generation Science Standards, in a process managed by Achieve, states will lead the development of K–12 science standards, rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally-benchmarked science education. The NGSS will be based on the Framework and will prepare students for college and careers. The standards will be published on this website when they are completed, in late 2012 or early 2013. For details about NGSS click here.
Links
Science Equivalency Resources and Links
- Agriculture and Science, click here
- Technology Education and Science, click here
- Family and Consumer Science and Science, click here
Evolution Position Statement
In 1982 the department released a position statement on the teaching of evolution in the science classroom. The department has just updated that statement. A copy of the position statement, On the Nature of Science and the Teaching of Evolution, can be obtained at Evolution Position Statement.
- National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
- Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers (WSST)
- National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
- National Academy of Science (NAS)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- ENC Online--a K-12 math and science teacher center
- American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
- Wisconsin Chapter of Physics Teachers (WAPT)