National Science Education Teaching Standards

Sally Ride EarthKAM supports teachers has they try to address the Science Teaching Standards, possibly developing new skills and teaching methods. Teachers can address all of the Teaching Standards through Sally Ride EarthKAM, but the program particularly supports the following:

• Teaching Standard A
• Teaching Standard B
• Teaching Standard D
• Teaching Standard E

Teachers of science plan an inquiry-based science program for their students. In doing this with Sally Ride EarthKAM, teachers:

• Select science content and adapt and design curricula to meet the interests, knowledge, understanding, abilities, and experiences of students.
• Select teaching and assessment strategies that support the development of student understanding and nurture a community of science learners.

Teachers of science guide and facilitate learning. In doing this with Sally Ride EarthKAM, teachers:

• Focus and support inquiries while interacting with students.
• Orchestrate discourse among students about scientific ideas.
• Challenge students to accept and share responsibility for their own learning.
• Recognize and respond to student diversity and encourage all students to participate fully in science learning.
• Encourage and model the skills of scientific inquiry, as well as the curiosity, openness to new ideas and data, and skepticism that characterize science.

Teachers of science design and manage learning environments that provide students with the time, space, and resources needed for learning science. In doing this with Sally Ride EarthKAM, teachers:

• Structure the time available so that students are able to engage in extended investigations.
• Create a setting for student work that is flexible and supportive of science inquiry.
• Make the available science tools, materials, media, and technological resources accessible to students.
• Identify and use resources outside the school.

Teachers of science develop communities of science learners that reflect the intellectual rigor of scientific inquiry and the attitudes and social values conducive to science learning. In doing this with Sally Ride EarthKAM, teachers:

• Display and demand respect for the diverse ideas, skills, and experiences of all students.
• Enable students to have a significant voice in decisions about the content and context of their work and require students to take responsibility for the learning of all members of the community.
• Nurture collaboration among students.
• Model and emphasize the skills, attitudes, and values of scientific inquiry.