Explore Micro-credential Offerings

Accelerating learning: science

Description:  This micro-credential extends the learning done as part of the “Accelerating Learning Foundations” micro-credential, specifically looking at resources and procedures to help with “Step 4: Identify, Assess and Scaffold Unfinished Learning” in regards to science standards. Participants will examine the considerations for this step that are specific to science and develop a plan for how to identify, assess and plan for potential unfinished learning in a science unit.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

elementary science integration with Seesaw

Description:  Explore best practices and classroom examples of using the Seesaw tech tool for science in the classroom, with alignment to grade level content standards. Participants will investigate pre-made Seesaw activities for science and develop a plan for integration in their classroom.

Intended Audience: K-5 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

Exploring Science and Engineering Practices

Description:  As one of the three dimensions of the science standards, the science and engineering practices often represent the “doing” part of science, like asking questions, analyzing data and engaging in argument from evidence. This micro-credential will take a closer look at these practices as a whole, how they mesh with the science standards, and how students should engage with them over the course of their K-12 journey to become a scientifically literate person.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 3 hours

exploring the crosscutting concepts

Description:  Crosscutting concepts, one of the three dimensions of the science standards, have application across all domains of science. As such, they are a way of linking the different domains of science together and provide a framework for us to make sense of the world around us. This learning block will take a closer look at the importance of these concepts as a whole, how they mesh and support one another within the science standards, and how students demonstrate their understanding of them over the course of their K-12 journey to become a scientifically literate person.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 3 hours

exploring the google teacher center

Description:  Educators working in a Google district domain have an abundance of training resources to support their work through the Google Teacher Center. Teachers who pursue a micro-credential for credit can create their own personalized professional learning opportunity with the training courses and learning paths already available within this stellar training resource.

Intended Audience: Educators, Administrators, and Paraeducators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

Focusing on SEPs: Analyzing and INTERPRETING data

Description: This micro-credential takes a deeper dive into the practice of Analyzing and Interpreting Data, exploring what is specifically expected of students at different grade bands, how it connects to other practices and students engaging with the practice might do in the classroom. Specific strategies and resources will be shared as support for implementation in the classroom. *This micro-credential assumes you are comfortable with/have completed the objectives outlined in the “Introduction to the Science Standards” micro-credential and the Exploring the Science and Engineering Practices micro-credential.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

Focusing on SEPs: Asking Questions & Defining Problems

Description: This micro-credential takes a deeper dive into the practice of Asking Questions & Defining Problems, exploring what is specifically expected of students at different grade bands, how it connects to other practices and students engaging with the practice might do in the classroom.  Specific strategies and resources will be shared as support for implementation. This micro-credential assumes you are comfortable with/have completed the objectives outlined in the Introduction to the Science Standards micro-credential and the Exploring Science and Engineering Practices micro-credential.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

Focusing on SEPs: Developing and Using Models

Description: This micro-credential takes a deeper dive into the practice of Developing and Using Models, exploring what is specifically expected of students at different grade bands, how it connects to other practices and students engaging with the practice might do in the classroom.  Specific strategies and resources will be shared as support for implementation in the classroom. This micro-credential assumes you are comfortable with/have completed the objectives outlined in the Introduction to the Science Standards micro-credential and the Exploring Science and Engineering Practices micro-credential.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

focusing on SEPs: Planning & Carrying Out Investigations

Description:  This micro-credential takes a deeper dive into the practice of Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, exploring what is specifically expected of students at different grade bands, how it connects to other practices and students engaging with the practice might do in the classroom. Specific strategies and resources will be shared as support for implementation in the classroom.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 3 hours

getting started with science notebooks

Description:  A notebook/journal is a personal space for students to capture their observations of the natural world. The initially blank page invites students to document evidence in a variety of forms. Data charts, drawn models, written reflections, peer exchanges are all curated in one space, allowing students to use their own investigative evidence to support scientific claims. This Getting Started resource focuses on tips for organization and establishing routines to use with students.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

Introduction to the Science Standards

Description:  This micro-credential explores the structure and new vision of the Iowa Science standards.  Engaging in this work sets the stage for future learning around the three dimensions of the science standards and how to best put the new vision into practice.  Participants will reflect on their current teaching and learning reality related to the science standards and identify future work to move the vision forward in their own classroom.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 2 hours

Let's Talk Science! Productive Discussions and Nine Talk Moves

Description: Most students use talk daily to express their feelings in a given moment, to get questions answered, or to make plans with friends. Unlike everyday conversations, academic conversations are different. Students are asked to compare different explanations, argue with evidence, critique a model, or unpack a claim, provide specific feedback. Teachers who want to foster the use of productive academic discourse with ALL of their students have to design regular opportunities for them to try out new ways with words, and support them throughout the process of learning to talk academically.

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators, Instructional Coaches

Approximate Completion Time: 3 hours

seesaw integration: Early Childhood (K-3) and the Iowa Core

Description:  This learning opportunity will focus on integrating technology in the early classroom with a focus on using Seesaw.

Intended Audience: K-3 Teachers

Approximate Completion Time: 15 hours

using phenomena in the classroom

Description:  Utilizing phenomena is a key shift in the NGSS. It requires learners to observe what is happening in the world around them and challenges them to use science to explain their observations and potentially engineer solutions to problems. This micro-credential explores identifying an academically productive anchoring phenomenon and how it is an important starting point to set the tone for learning, emphasizing “figuring out” versus “learning about."

Intended Audience: K-12 Educators

Approximate Completion Time: 3 hours