Science

Science Assessments 

Science Assessments will continue to be aligned to the 2014 Oklahoma Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science (download) in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. The 2020 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science will begin to be assessed in 2022-2023.

• Subject-specific assessment materials (such as blueprints and test and item specifications) can be found on the OSDE Assessment webpage.

Find resources such as the Oklahoma Science Frameworks, Science PD on Your Plan Modules, and additional resources aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science.

• http://sde.ok.gov/sde/Science-Implementation

National Science Teaching Association

The National Science Teachers Association is an organization that supports science education across the nation. With NSTA, you’ll find leading resources for excellence in teaching and learning and experience growth through robust professional development.

• http://www.nsta.org/

Oklahoma Science Teaching Association

The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association is the statewide professional association specifically addressing the interests and concerns of science teachers. In addition to receiving regular newsletters (now exclusively through this OSTA blog), OSTA members are entitled to participate in OSTA’s annual fall conference as both presenters and attendees.

• http://oksta.org/

PD on Your Plan is an effort to provide educators with professional development in bite-size offerings that could be completed by a teacher on their plan period, a group of teachers during a department meeting or a group of educators during a devoted professional learning community (PLC) time. 

A series of PD on Your Plan Modules have been developed to assist educators in understanding the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science and the three dimensions of science embedded in the standards. 

• PD On Your Plan

STEM Teaching Tools offers a wide variety of open education resources for professional development around three-dimensional science standards. There are available sessions starting at 30 minutes, all the way to multi-day. These PD sessions provide multiple entry points, no matter where a teacher is in their understanding of the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science.

Session Spotlight: Incorporating Scientific Argumentation into Your Classroom

 The practice of argumentation—that is, developing, exploring, analyzing, and refining lines of reasoning and explanation in evidence-based ways—is essential to the work of scientists and to scientific thinking and learning. This short course is designed to help educators think about how the practice of argumentation relates to the practice of explanation, research- and practice-based strategies that can foster rich forms of student argumentation, and how argumentation opportunities can be implemented in more equitable ways. 

What are the Oklahoma Academic Standards?

See the Oklahoma Academic Standards webpage for clarification. http://sde.ok.gov/sde/oklahoma-academic-standards

When are science textbooks and supplemental resources up for adoption?

See Textbook Adoption Web page: http://www.oktextbooks.ok.gov/

For any questions contact Rebecca Morales, Director of Instructional Materials, Rebecca.Morales@sde.ok.gov, or 405-521-3546.

What textbooks and supplemental resources do you recommend?

Because we are a public agency, we cannot endorse any private vendor. We would be more than happy to assist you in determining which vendors meet your particular needs.

Link to view state-approved titles at the Oklahoma Textbook Committee website.

What science courses are required for graduation?

For information about what Science courses are required for graduation, click here.

Math/Science Partnership

The Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) is a competitive grant program intended to encourage institutions of higher education, local school districts, elementary schools, and secondary schools to participate in professional development activities that increase the subject matter knowledge and teaching skills of mathematics and science teachers.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

This awards program is open to practicing public, private, and parochial school teachers with a minimum of five years of teaching experience.

National Math and Science Initiative

NMSI’s mission is to improve student performance in the critical subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). NMSI’s programs transform teaching, transform schools, and are transforming education in the United States.