Learning Progressions A Discussion Ravit Golan Duncan Rutgers

Learning Progressions: A Discussion Ravit Golan Duncan Rutgers University

Learning Progressions § What are they (nature of LP) § Why we need them (motivation) § How do we build them

Commonalities § Progression over larger time units § Deepening of ideas and level of sophistication (conceptual framework) § Change in terms of what kids can do over time (performances) § Based on research on student learning

Contrast to standards § Propositional § Performance § Limited research base § More extensive research based § Organization based on big ideas/practices § Organization is problematic, and too many ideas § Not conducive to design of assessments that track student learning over time. § Leads to development of assessments that can evaluate progression § Older content § Strives for cutting edge

Differences § Motivation- what was the driving force to develop the progression § Nature of progression- what does it mean to move along the progression § The “stuff” of progressions- what are the big ideas? § How do we know what we know? Building progressions § Questions that remain

Motivation § Environmental literacy- informed and active citizenry

Environmental literacy Theoretical Framework-Key Practices for Literacy § (1) Scientific inquiry: developing and evaluating scientific arguments from evidence, § (2) Scientific accounts: using scientific accounts of the material world, § (3) Application: using scientific accounts as tools to predict and explain, and § (4) Citizenship: using scientific reasoning for responsibl citizenship.

Motivation § Environmental literacy- informed and active citizenry § Students superficial understanding of current school science content (standards-based)

Motivation Students who can write this equation for combustion: CH 4 + 2 O 2 CO 2 + 2 H 2 O often cannot answer: "When a house burns to the ground and only a few pieces of charred wood and ashes are left, what happens to the rest of the mass of the house? ” (AAAS Project 2061 conference 2001)

Motivation § Environmental literacy- informed and active citizenry § Students superficial understanding of current school science content (standards-based) § Integrate cutting edge science into curriculum; Discrepancy between Atlas progressions and understandings students need for nano-scale science (as well as science education research on student learning, learning not linear)

Motivation Based on Benchmarks, AAAS developed a progression of concepts for several aspects of the ‘Structure of Matter’ Atoms & Molecules States of Matter Conservatio n of Matter Chemical Reactions Propertie s of Matter Rather linear and ordered progression Forces & Interactions

Nature of Progression § Developing practices of environmental literacyunderstanding and using environmental science to make decisions at different levels (apply principles to different systems) § Progress along model from novice to expertnotions- recognition - formulation- construction -generation § Making connections- developing web of interconnected ideas

The “Stuff” of Progressions § Interdisciplinary- coupled human and natural systems life, physical and earth science ideas § Tightly woven with inquiry and practices of responsible citizenship From observations to models and theories Applying fundamental principles to processes in systems (carbon and water cycles; systems) Democratic participation and reconciling values and consequences

The “Stuff” of Progressions Progress variables linked to curriculum student understanding expert novice 5 Generation: Research 4 Construction: Examining assumptions, relating models 3 Formulation: Relating ideas and concepts, simple models 2 Recognition: Language, definitions, symbols algorithms 1 Notions: Everyday experience, logical reasoning

The “Stuff” of Progressions Matter Student levels of understanding number III. Formulation mole mass Change particulate macro conservation II. Recognition Atomic symbols, octet rule Chemical equations, conservation of mass I. Notions Solid, liquid, gas Stuff happens (atoms/stuff/grams)

The “Stuff” of Progressions States of Matter Atoms & Molecules Forces & Interactions Multidimensional Conservation of Matter Properties of Matter Chemical Reactions An intricate web of interconnected concepts

How do we know? § Prior research literature § Pre-post tests across multiple grades (traditional instruction) § Short intervention experiments § Developing carefully designed assessments to gauge learning performances § Tracking individual student progress over time § Interviews with individuals of varying levels of expertise

Common Students Difficulties § Connecting across levels/ contexts/representations (atom vs. electron diagram, dry ice vs. . match, hierarchical) § Reasoning about invisible stuff (ground water) § Mechanisms and processes (ground water transport) § Vernacular interference / leverage (match vs. fat) § Model and theory-based reasoning

Questions § Nature of progression: Path/ paths/ landscapes? Nature of movement -cycles, multiple states Context dependence § Nature of learning performances: Integrate big ideas and practices Quantifiable variables that measure learning outcomes § Nature of evidence: Can we really rely on short terms studies, will we (and if so when) need to actually follow student learning over grades? Wont instruction fundamentally change what students can do , and therefore the progression § Challenges for teaching

Questions you had § What are essential attributes (nature & stuff) § How do we track student learning (tomorrow) § Language to describe LPs- What are they exactly? (what sort of framework) § Link between LPs and instruction § LPs impact of teaching and PD § How does an LP deal with external (prior) knowledge