SPICE helps teachers tackle the challenges of integrating both engineering and CT with project-based science instruction by providing a range of supporting resources. While working closely with our collaborating teachers, several specific types of supporting resources have emerged as especially helpful for promoting successful classroom implementation
The teacher guide provides lesson-level guidance on supporting students engagement with the NGSS dimensions; supporting connections among science, engineering, and computational modeling; promoting productive student talk; curriculum and lesson pacing; and suggested customizations.
Instructional slides are designed to be used by teachers to support classroom implementation. The slides provide supplementary materials for teaching such as videos and other visuals, activity guidance, and prompts for class discussion.
Computational modeling videos illustrate the development of a working computational model, the mathematical and scientific reasoning behind the computational model development, and how students can use the environment to design, test, and refine their engineering solutions. These videos serve as a just-in-time resource for teachers to make sense of how the computational environment supports science modeling and engineering design.
NGSS briefs are short reference documents that address key practices, concepts, and pedagogical principles for successfully and equitably implementing the SPICE curriculum materials.
Our professional development workshops involve collective participation and active learning through engagement in the inquiry, engineering design, and computational modeling activities themselves. These activities serve to strengthen teachers’ underlying understanding of the principles of the NGSS and the K-12 CS Framework, facilitate teachers’ sense making about engineering and computational thinking and their connections to science, and guide teachers in promoting integrated learning across science, engineering, and CT.