The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is a multi-state initiative to create new education standards for students from K-12. It establishes a progression of performance expectations spanning the elementary through high school years that promote growth in students' abilities to participate in science and engineering.
Rich in content and practice, an NGSS curriculum should deliver a coherent learning experience across disciplines for a grade specific and internationally benchmarked education in STEM subjects. There are three foundations of the NGSS standards which are the NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science and Engineering Practices, which together guide the development of K-12 science curriculum, instruction, and assessments that form the most critical areas of science education.
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas ( DCI ) are fundamental scientific ideas that form the content of an NGSS curriculum. They cover four domains:
NGSS core ideas represent the main domains of factual understanding that students should develop within each discipline. A core idea must meet at least two of the four criteria:
The structure of NGSS DCIs are different from previous standards. Each core idea represents a conceptual whole that guides student thinking. It also links to other core ideas to help develop a deep and meaningful understanding of the world around us.
NGSS core ideas support a new vision in STEM education. Instead of memorizing numerous disparate science concepts, DCIs help students develop a connected understanding of critical STEM ideas that they can use to understand real-world phenomena and design practical solutions to problems.
The DCIs work in conjunction with NGSS's science and engineering practices (SEPs) and crosscutting concepts (CCCs) to provide opportunities for students to apply these practices and concepts to the four domains.
Each idea is broken down into various topics (e.g., LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes), each of which contains several subtopics (e.g., LS1.A: Structure and Function).
Here's an overview of the four NGSS DCIs:
The implementation of NGSS core ideas requires educators to change the nature of instruction. Schools should provide the support teachers need to succeed.
Communicate a vision that aligns with the NGSS framework. Administrators, science specialists, and other resources (e.g., professional development) will need to support teachers in making incremental and continuing changes to improve their classroom practices
Teachers will need professional development to unpack how they’ll nurture a classroom culture that supports this new vision of science education. This means looking at how to make formative assessment strategies part of the way science is taught through performance tasks, open-ended questions, technical writing, student journals, scientific discourse, and more.
To successfully implement NGSS DCIs in the classroom environment, you need a three-dimensional learning approach that turns NGSS disciplinary core ideas into a hands-on discovery of a student’s place in the world.
Use or design a curriculum that offers a big-picture narrative of what science and engineering are. Then use storylines to tie the lessons together and bring the content to life by empowering students to investigate phenomena and engage in problem-solving.
The best NGSS-based STEM curriculum features research-based design, next-generation assessment, learning progressions, hands-on learning, technology integration, digital resources, state-specific versions, and more. It helps schools and educators deliver a robust learning experience to students of all ages.
Talk to a curriculum specialist to see how we can help you bring NGSS DCIs to life.