Web Seminar Series

This topic study on assessing three-dimensional learning will move our learning community from research to practice over the course of four weeks. We’ll use high-quality instructional and assessment materials to identify the similarities and differences between tasks designed for instruction and assessment tasks.

Participants will leverage knowledge of these similarities and differences to better take advantage of research-based assessment tools to revise and design multi-dimensional (two or three dimensions) assessment tasks for use in their classroom. We’ll use samples of K-12 assessment tasks which elicit the targeted elements of the three dimensions and create opportunities for students to communicate what they know and are able to do.

The fall 2022 topic study Assessing Three-Dimensional Learning: Using the Critical Aspects of Sensemaking to Design Assessments Meaningful to Both Teachers and Students was held on October 11 and ran through November 1, 2022. A fifth "bonus" web seminar was offered on Tuesday, November 8.  No recording is available for this program. Presenters evaluated an assessment tool provided by one of the participants.

To better serve all participants, if you are teaching in a state, district or school that has not adopted or adapted the Next Generation Science Standards, you may want to read NGSS Appendix A: Conceptual Shifts to familiarize yourself with the three dimensions of teachings and learning and the conceptual shifts represented in the standards. Participants may also benefit with familiarizing themselves with commonly used acronyms such as DCI (disciplinary core ideas), SEP (science and engineering practices), and CCC (crosscutting concepts) to support their learning throughout the web seminar series.

Program dates:

The four live web seminars are scheduled from 7:00 – 8:30 PM Eastern time on the dates below:

• October 11, October 18, October 25, and November 1, 2022

During the four-part series participants have access to:

• Digital resources and all NSTA online community tools (My Library, My Profile, Discussion Forums).
• Web seminar series archives including program recordings and curated collection of supporting resources (continued access after the series ends).

By the end of the series, participants will be able to:

• Use the four critical aspects of sensemaking to evaluate and revise existing assessment tasks.
• Design questions that elicit student responses for targeted elements of the three dimensions and create opportunities for students to communicate what they know using multiple modalities.
• Create a scenario-driven, multi-dimensional assessment task.

Participants will receive a certificate from NSTA after each live web seminar (1.5 hours per web seminar) as evidence of their attendance and participation.

Have questions? Contact a member of the NSTA Team at ([email protected]).

Groups of teachers:

Science Leaders Can Sponsor Groups of Educators!  Are you a state, district, or school leader responsible for providing professional learning experiences for K-12 educators?  Consider sponsoring a cohort of teachers to participate in the Assessing Three-Dimensional Learning: Using the Critical Aspects of Sensemaking to Design Assessments Meaningful to Both Teachers and Students topic study.

Cost to groups:

• $1,500 flat fee per cohort of 25 participants, regardless of their NSTA membership status. Additional participants (beyond 25) charged at $60 per person.

If you are interested in sponsoring a group of at least 25 individuals, please contact Flavio Mendez via email ([email protected]) for a quote.

Note: Rates below are for individual registration.