Email: jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2577
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 380-997-0466
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusCitySchools/

"Tasks that ask students to perform a memorized procedure in a routine manner lead to one type of opportunity for student thinking; tasks that require students to think conceptually and that stimulate students to make connections lead to a different set of opportunities for student thinking."

(Stein & Smith, 1998, p.269)

Cognitive Demands represent the thinking students do as they learn science.

The Ohio Learning Standards for Science have 4 posted Cognitive Demands. These are Recalling Accurate Science (R), Interpreting and Communicating Science Concepts (C), Demonstrating Science Knowledge (D), and Designing Technological/Engineering Solutions Using Science Concepts (T).

Recalling Accurate Science requires the student to provide accurate statements about scientifically valid facts, concepts and relationships. Recall only requires students to provide a rote response, declarative knowledge or perform routine mathematical tasks. This cognitive demand refers to students’ knowledge of science fact, information, concepts, tools, procedures (being able to describe how) and basic principles. Recall can be rigorous as you can be asked to recall rigorous information. However, low cognitive demand tasks require minimum thinking or cognitive analysis, and rather focus on single, concrete answers that are solved using prior knowledge. Recalling Accurate Science is a part of the other three cognitive demands included in Ohio’s framework, because science knowledge is required for students to demonstrate scientific literacy. A student cannot process a science concept if they cannot remember it. The challenge is to not hang out in recall.

Interpreting and Communicating Science Concepts requires the student to use subject-specific conceptual knowledge to interpret and explain events, phenomena, concepts and experiences using grade-appropriate scientific terminology, technological knowledge and mathematical knowledge. The student must communicate with clarity, focus and organization using rich, investigative scenarios, real-world data and valid scientific information.

Demonstrating Science Knowledge requires the student to use scientific practices and develop the ability to think and act in ways associated with inquiry, including asking questions, planning and conducting investigations, using appropriate tools and

techniques to gather and organize data, thinking critically and logically about relationships between evidence and explanations, constructing and analyzing alternative explanations, and communicating scientific arguments. Doing a "cookie cutter, cookbook" lab with our students does not rise to the level of cognitive demand D. In fact, most are simply at the recall level.

Designing Technological/Engineering Solutions Using Science Concepts requires the student to solve science-based engineering or technological problems through application of

scientific inquiry. Within given scientific constraints, propose or critique solutions, analyze and interpret technological and engineering problems, use science principles to anticipate effects of technological or engineering design, find solutions using science and engineering or technology, consider consequences and alternatives, and/or integrate and synthesize scientific information.

The challenge now becomes bringing our students through experiences exposing them to higher-level cognitive demands (at least up to level D) in each science unit that we teach. If each secondary science teacher exposed his/her students to the different cognitive levels in each unit, then by the time the students take the 8th grade state test, they will have been exposed about 36 times to this type of processing. And by the time they take the biology state test, they will have been exposed about 60 times to higher-level processing of content.

-video: 4 Ways to Connect your Classroom to the World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMvsexTFbHc

-30 Sites for Students with Free Time on Their Hands: https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-sites-for-students-with-free-time-on-their-hands

NSTA:

-2022 Outstanding Trade Books: https://www.nsta.org/ostb23?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter

AP Professor:

-10 Ways to Learn the Skeleton Video: https://tinyurl.com/3nk9tdzd

PBS:

-Surviving Winter: Cool Ways Animals Adapt: Explore Now

-Compare Seasons on Earth and Mars: Explore Now

Discarded electronics continues to be one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. Electronics remain a popular gift during the holiday season, so SWACO is reminding families that buying refurbished electronics, as well as recycling and donating ones no longer in use, is easy to do and good for the environment.

E-Waste, or electronic waste, encompasses virtually any item that utilizes an electric cord and that has become outdated, unwanted or broken. This can include everything from small personal items like smartphones and tablets to TVs and other household items like washers and dryers, microwaves and refrigerators.

“More than 40% of what is thrown out in Franklin County, including e-Waste, could easily be diverted from the landfill through programs available today,” said Hanna Greer-Brown, Communications Manager for SWACO. “Central Ohioans have many convenient options available to them to give new life to the electronics they no longer want or need.”

Seasonal Holiday Lights Recycling Programs

• Plain Township Fire Department located at 9500 Johnstown Rd. Recycle Your Holiday Lights! Keep our environment merry and bright! | Plain Township, Franklin County, Ohio
• Dublin Service Center located at 6555 Shier-Rings Rd. Recycle Your E-waste – City of Dublin, Ohio, USA (dublinohiousa.gov)
• Grove City – Several locations Holiday Light Collection – Grove City, Ohio (grovecityohio.gov)
• New Albany Village Hall located at 99 W. Main St. Recycle Your Holiday Lights! Keep our environment merry and bright! | Plain Township, Franklin County, Ohio
• Upper Arlington Municipal Services Center located at 3600 Tremont Rd. Solid Waste Services – City of Upper Arlington (upperarlingtonoh.gov)
• Westerville Electric Division (WED) accepting strands of holiday lights in exchange for LED light bulbs at the Electric Division, 139 E. Broadway Ave. Westerville, OH Holiday Light Recycling | City of Westerville, OH

Year-Round Electronic Drop-Off Locations

• Blendon Township Government Complex at 6350 Hempsted Rd. Westerville, OH E-Waste | Blendon Township, OH (blendontwp.org)
• Jackson Township Administration Office 3756 Hoover Rd. Grove City, OH. Services Provided – Jackson Township (jacksontwp.org)
• Dublin Service Center located at 6555 Shier-Rings Rd. Recycle Your E-waste – City of Dublin, Ohio, USA (dublinohiousa.gov)
• Upper Arlington Public Service Center located at 4100 Roberts Rd. Upper Arlington, OH Solid Waste Services – City of Upper Arlington (upperarlingtonoh.gov)
• Worthington Department of Service and Engineering located at 380 Highland Ave. Worthington, OH Other Wastes | Worthington, OH - Official Website

Visit RecycleRight.org for a full list of electronic drop-off locations: Recycling Locations | Recycle Right

Captial University:

Capital University in Columbus, Ohio is hosting the 60th Ohio Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) on Friday, March 3, 2023. We invite all interested science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) high school students (Grades 9-12), who are conducting original research, to join us in a state-wide and national competition that recognizes and awards students for their research efforts.

At the Ohio Regional JSHS event, students will compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of their research before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. Winning projects will receive college scholarships that are jointly sponsored by the United States Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Five Ohio high school students will advance to the national JSHS competition held later in the spring of 2023 where they will present their research to judges and students from the other 47 regional competitions. Additional scholarship and awards are available at each level.

For more information and to register for the JSHS Symposium, please visit https://www.capital.edu/jshs/. Registration closes on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 5 p.m.

The National Academy of Engineering:

The National Academy of Engineering's annual EngineerGirl essay contest for students in elementary, middle, and high school is now underway. Winners can receive up to $500. Submissions are due February 1, 2023. The prompt is essentially: Write a piece that shows how female and/or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.

Full details, including specifications for the various grade bands, can be found at HERE.

Grants:

Developing a Competitive Application for Shell Teaching Awards

Shell is offering two awards for K–12 classroom teachers: the Shell Science Teaching Award, which has a $10,000 prize, and the Shell Urban Science Educators Development Award, which has an $1,800 prize. Both awards include funding to attend NSTA’s National Conference in Atlanta in 2023. For details visit NSTA Shell Awards or learn more in this web seminar recording.

Environment Teachers: National Geographic Slingshot Challenge

Amplify your student’s voice and make a difference for the planet. Encourage your students to join the Slingshot Challenge today! With their ideas, we can create a better world for everyone.

Through the Slingshot Challenge, your students are helping National Geographic aim for a better tomorrow. By empowering young changemakers to come up with practical solutions to the issues facing our planet, we can educate and inspire a new generation of earth defenders.

Participating in the challenge is simple. Encourage your students to:

1. Sign up for the Slingshot Challenge to receive resources and next steps

2. Submit a one-minute video outlining an innovative solution to a current environmental issue that they’re passionate about by February 24, 2023

Winning videos will be selected by a panel of judges to receive cash prizes—up to $10,000—as well as an invitation to the iconic National Geographic Explorers Festival in Washington, D.C.

Are your students ready to accept the challenge?

NSTA:

-February 9, 2023; and March 9, 2023 | Virtual Network • Online

Learn, Share, Collaborate: Ohio Grade Band Meetings

-January 30–31, 2023 | STEM Scholars & Achievements • Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center, Lewis Center, Ohio

2023 SECO SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM

-February 12–14, 2023 | Conference • Marriott East-Indianapolis

HASTI/ICTM Conference

-March 3–4, 2023 | Education Development • Lansing Center and Radisson Lansing Hotel, Michigan

MSTA Conference

-Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers: https://tinyurl.com/58ekunsm

Ohio Ed:

-2022-2023 Meetups Launched to Focus on Support for New Science Educators

The first convening of the 2022-2023 Science Meetups commenced on October 18, 2022. This series is designed to provide resources for new educators of science and their supporters as they implement the Ohio Learning Standards for Science.

Meetups occur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. except for December, which will occur on December 13, 2022.

Meetup topics are listed below. Registration is still available for remaining sessions

January 17, 2023 - Instructional Frameworks

February 21, 2023 - Assessing for Understanding

March 21, 2023 - What about NGSS?

April 18, 2023 - Looking Ahead – Planning for Next Year

5th Annual Student Wildlife Research Symposium will be held at Deer Creek State Park Lodge on Thursday, April 13, 2023.

Call for Proposals is now available. Deadline to submit is February 1, 2023 .

-Any middle or high school aged student can present a poster on research related to native Ohio wildlife and their habitats. Paper presentations are selected by a panel to fill a limited number of presentation slots. Paper presentations must be completed research. Posters can be either completed or ongoing research.

More Information

Questions can be directed to Jen Dennison at 614 265 6316 or jen.dennison@dnr.ohio.gov

Empowering Education Free SEL Webinars:

-Trauma-Informed Teaching: Part I

With almost half the nation’s children experiencing one or more serious traumas before the age of 18, it is more important than ever that schools use trauma-informed practices. This introductory training will introduce concepts and definitions of trauma-informed teaching.

January 31, 2023,

6-7:30 PM ET

-Trauma-Informed Teaching: Part II

Part II of the Trauma-Informed Teaching Training builds on the definition of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Together, we will take a deep dive into the needs of students who have experienced trauma and offer specific trauma-informed teaching interventions.

February 16, 2023,

6-7:30 PM ET

-Restorative Practices

This training defines the theory of Restorative Practice and gives you practical tools to use in the classroom. We’ll cover community-building and relationship-strengthening techniques that help teachers productively respond to conflict.

April 18, 2023,

6-7:30 PM ET

-How Can My School Pay For SEL?

If you don’t know where to turn for SEL best practices, curriculum, resources, and funding, we're here to help. Come to our special workshop for tips on how to get funds for your SEL program.

May 9, 2023,
6-7:30 PM ET

See embedded link below for information and to register:

-5 Ways to Prep Students for Onlline Learning Success: https://tinyurl.com/ytfcbrcs

Edutopia:

-Guiding Students to Become Independent Learners: https://tinyurl.com/2p8uz976

Edweek:

-Teen Brains Aged Prematurely during the Pandemic: https://tinyurl.com/37z8hxu8

-What Schools Can Do to Ease Students' Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/39ucc68b

-Subtle Ways to Check on Students' Well-Being: https://tinyurl.com/2hpdpb69

-Learning Loss Interventions Are Falling Short on Implementation: https://tinyurl.com/fzf7pu45

-Long Hours; Second Jobs: New Federal Data Give a Snapshot of the Teaching Profession: https://tinyurl.com/25v46zpj

-How to Build Girls' Interest and Confidence in STEM Learning: https://tinyurl.com/2s3sckzx

-Students Are Addicted to Screens. What It Means for Learning: https://tinyurl.com/2nkrubhm

ASCD:

-Creating the Safe and Calm Classroom: https://tinyurl.com/mpw2a2hu

The Scientist:

-How Cold Weather May Help You Catch a Cold: https://tinyurl.com/4w3d9n3s

Science News:

-The Metric System Is Growing: https://tinyurl.com/mvwurwsb

https://www.smore.com/wjpuh

Check out the flyer below for the January open house. These are great family fun...come join us!

Brian Morton, Director of Secondary Curriculum

Sonja Dill, Secondary Curriculum Supervisor

Laura Schnebelen, K-5 Coordinator, lschnebe@columbus.k12.oh.us

Jennifer Nord, 6-12 Science Coordinator, jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us

Heather Allen, K-12 Spruce Run Coordinator, hallen704@columbus.k12.oh.us