Funding Agency: Private funders
Project Website: https://www.openscied.org/elementary/
HRI Role: Evaluation
Project Description
OpenSciEd was launched to improve the supply of and address demand for high quality, open-source, full-course science instructional materials, while at the same time supporting the implementation of middle school science instructional units. The goals of OpenSciEd are to ensure any science teacher, anywhere, can access and download freely available, high-quality, locally adaptable full-course materials. The materials are free for all educators and students to use, customize, and share.
The final set of middle school materials were released to the public in early 2022, and development of high school materials began in 2021. In fall 2022, a consortium was selected to develop instructional materials and supporting professional learning materials for K–5 students.
Northwestern University leads the OpenSciEd Elementary consortium, which also includes BSCS Science Learning, Carolina Biological Supply Company, Michigan State University, Oakland University, and The University of Texas at Austin. The consortium aims to create a set of exemplary K–5 science instructional materials that are:
- designed for and aligned to the Framework for K–12 Science Education and the NGSS;
- based on research regarding how students learn, what motivates learning, and the implications for teaching;
- developed with educators and extensively tested by teachers and schools;
- designed to be used with low-cost, standard laboratory equipment and materials amenable to large-scale deployment; and
- improved over time based on feedback from teachers and field-testing.
Evaluation Services
HRI is leading the design and implementation of the OpenSciEd Elementary field test as well as leading data collection and analysis for grades K–5.
