NJ Teachers Explore Next Generation Science Standards during New Initiative by Rutgers Alternate Route

In fall 2021, Rutgers Alternate Route launched its Content Conversation Series. The Content Conversation Series is an initiative created for educators to learn collaboratively. A volunteer facilitator is selected by Rutgers Alternate Route to lead a virtual hour-long session on a skill, topic, or resource relevant to an instructional content area.  

The inaugural workshop took place in November 2021 and was facilitated by veteran science educator, Minal Thakur. Ms. Thakur is an experienced Physics educator with 10 years of classroom experience in the United States and India.  A high school physics teacher at Essex County High School, Minal wears many hats in the district, including science curriculum writer, summer science programming coordinator, and new teacher support panelist.  

Using her experience providing professional development for science teachers, Minal led fall Content Conversation attendees through an exploration of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). NGSS are K–12 national science content standards that were developed by states to improve science education for all students. Standards set expectations for what students should know and be able to do.  

The Content Conversation participants were science teachers from across New Jersey. The facilitator provided an overview of implementing NGSS and led participants through a collaborative role-play to think through a NGSS-based lesson as students.  As part of the exploration, attendees worked through an investigation together using a real example, or phenomena, from Minal's own class, tardy students. The question presented to the group was, why are some students always late to Minal’s homeroom class? Participants looked at the facts of the problem: 

• Students are dismissed from the auditorium at 8:20 AM. 

• Students should be in the classroom by 8:25 AM 

The group brainstormed a target explanation for student tardiness and the disciplinary core ideas of time, distance, and speed. Check out the recording of the Fall Content Conversation to see how teacher participants tackled the lesson's question.  

Are you interested in hosting a future Content Conversation? Fill out this interest form and a member of the Rutgers Alternate Route will be in touch.