Episode 049: Practices and Computational Thinking in Elementary NGSS with Dr. Christina Schwarz

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Summary:

Dr. Christina Schwarz discusses practical ways elementary teachers can make the shift to NGSS and digs deeper in ways of teaching computational thinking in elementary education. Join us for this informative conversation!

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Show Highlights

• 01:30 - 05:00    Introduction to Dr. Schwarz & helping students make sense of the world with NGSS
• 05:00 - 09:00    NGSS and equitable learning environments
• 09:30 - 18:30    Making the shift to NGSS in your classroom
• 18:30 - 22:30    Teaching science literacy through NGSS
• 22:30 - 31:30    Computational thinking in elementary classrooms
• 31:30 - 34:30    The social aspects of science, identity and equity
• 34:30 - 39:00    NGSS resources Dr. Schwarz recommends for elementary ed teachers
• 39:00 - 45:00    Dr. Schwarz's last words of wisdom

 Show Quotes 

"There are two things about equity that I think NGSS enables us to do. It enables us to talk more with children, to listen to them, and to build on their resources in a way that just offering information doesn't do."  [6:15-6:25] Dr. Christina Schwarz

"I know a lot about what kids are likely to go to, and I have back pocket questions and aspects that I know I want to ask about so I make sure they experience some rich experiences or wonderment questions."  [17:20-17:35] Dr. Christina Schwarz

"One of my greatest joys when I started understanding science more as an undergrad what I had my very first insight into how science was created. I started doing a little bit of research and I finally understand how textbooks got created. And I thought 'oh my god, this is how science is generated.' I had just been learning lots of information but I finally understood and realized that I as a person could be somebody to think and create knowledge and not just learn about it. So in a lot of ways, we're trying to empower our students to be producers and users of knowledge, not just consumers of knowledge." [20:40 - 21:20] Dr. Christina Schwarz

"Everybody has expertise at something." [38:13 - 38:17] Dr. Christina Schwarz

Links

• Dr. Schwarz's book: Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices
• Next Gen Story Lines
• Phenomenal Science
• Talk Moves
• CT4EDU
• Code.org Activities
• Scratch
• PhET Interactive Simulations
• STEM Resource Finder
• Additional Text Resource: Grover, S. & Pea, R. (2018). Computational Thinking: A competency whose time has come. In Computer Science Education: Perspectives on teaching and learning, Sentance, S., Carsten, S., & Barendsen, E. (Eds). Bloomsbury.

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