OpenSciEd

What is OpenSciEd?

OpenSciEd is a free, high quality, NGSS-aligned secondary science curriculum. The materials are an Open Education Resource (OER), meaning they are free for all educators and students to use, customize, and share. Elementary-level curriculum is coming soon.

OpenSciEd

A state-wide partnership to accelerate student learning

The OpenSciEd WA project is led by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in close collaboration with the nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs), united as the Association of ESDs or AESD Network. The project is designed to support and accelerate student learning in secondary science programs. The ESD Regional Science Coordinators work together as a state team with OSPI to support teacher and administrator professional learning in newly developed and aligned OpenSciEd science learning materials for grades 6-12.

The AESD Network serves as a project management and coordinator for the statewide project by facilitating and hosting professional learning events; providing technical assistance and support for implementation; establishing structures for teacher networking across the state; and informing the development of additional instructional and assessment materials.

Background

Beginning in 2018, Washington State, along with several other partner states, began field testing the OpenSciEd Middle School (MS) curriculum. In the next 3 years, teachers and students gave feedback on these field test units and they were revised and reviewed by the NGSS peer review panel. In Spring 2022, the full curriculum was released to the public as an Open Education Resource.

Expanding on the success of the middle school units, OpenSciEd began the field test of their high school curriculum in summer of 2021. Once again, Washington State agreed to participate in the project and has 36 teachers from around the state engaging in the biology, chemistry, and physics courses. Funding to support the MS and HS field test has been provided by the ClimeTime grant.

 

2023 OpenSciEd HS Summer Institute

August 1 – August 3, 2023 | 8:00am – 4:00pm each day
ESD 112 | 2500 NE 65th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661

The OpenSciEd High School Summer Institute is a 3-day, in-person workshop will introduce high school teachers to the HS OpenSciEd curriculum and instructional routines that support student sense-making in secondary science. The focus will be on three specific units:

Participants will receive:

  • A stipend ($320 for each of day of training)
  • 24 STEM clock hours
  • Travel reimbursement

Optional Wrap Around OpenSciEd Facilitator Training

July 31, 2023 | 8:00am – 4:00pm & August 4, 2023 | 8:00am-noon
ESD 112 | 2500 NE 65th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661

In addition to the HS OpenSciEd curriculum introduction and unit specific training, we are offering an optional OpenSciEd Facilitator Training. As an ESD network, we are building a cohort of district leaders and classroom teachers to lead future professional learning in OpenSciEd as the use of these materials expands across the state. Learn more about the professional learning program that supports the OpenSciEd curriculum and gain confidence and skills to train teachers at your school, district, or across the state.

EdReports Review

Middle School Curriculum Top-Rated

The OpenSciEd middle school curriculum received a glowing review from EdReports!

Professional Development

As more teachers across WA state access OpenSciEd materials, there is a great need for ongoing professional development in these materials. Expansion of OpenSciEd professional development is funded through the ESSER Secondary Science Pathways grant and the Williams foundation.

Please explore this site to learn about all the professional development opportunities occurring in WA state.

Join a growing community of OpenSciEd teachers

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

2023 OpenSciEd MS Summer Institute

June 27, 28 & 29, 2023 @ 8am-4pm
ESD 101 – Spokane, WA

Join us for a three-day, in-person training introducing teachers to the instructional routines of OpenSciEd and the first unit at the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade.

Materials & Teachers Support

  • Digital and physical materials provided to participating teachers for their classroom
  • Stipend for teacher participation ($320 for each of three training days)

Register Now >

HS OpenSciEd Field Test Round 7 - March 6-7

OpenSciEd Community of Practice

September 27th @ 4-5:30 pm
October 25th @ 4-5:30 pm
November 29th @ 4-5:30 pm

Links and resources >

OpenSciEd Initial Use Trainings

Implementing OpenSciEd 6.4 Plate Tectonics and Rock Cycling
Tuesday, October 18th, 2022, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Zoom
Tuesday, November 1 2022, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Zoom

Implementing OpenSciEd 6.5 Natural Hazards
Mondays, January 9th and January 23rd, 4–6 pm
6 STEM clock hours

Implementing OpenSciEd 6.6 Cells and Systems
Wednesdays, March 1st and March 15th, 4–6 pm

Implementing OpenSciEd 7.4 Matter Cycling and Photosynthesis
Wednesday, October 26 2022, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Zoom
Wednesday, November 9 2022, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Zoom

Implementing OpenSciEd 7.5 Ecosystem Dynamics
Thursdays, January 19th and February 2nd, 4–6 pm
6 STEM clock hours

Implementing OpenSciEd 7.6 Earth’s Resources and Human Impact
Tuesdays, February 28th and March 14th, 4–6 pm

Implementing OpenSciEd 8.4 Earth in Space
Thursday, October 20 2022, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Zoom
Thursday, November 3 2022, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Zoom

Implementing OpenSciEd 8.5 Genetics
Wednesdays, January 11th and January 25th, 4–6 pm
6 STEM clock hours

Implementing OpenSciEd 8.6 Natural Selection and Common Ancestry
Wednesdays, March 8th and March 22nd, 4–6 pm

Sign up for updates!

We’ll keep you informed on the latest OpenSciEd news and professional learning opportunities!

Past Learning Opportunities

HS OpenSciEd Field Test Round 6

WSTA Fall 2022 Conference

HS OpenSciEd Field Test Round 5

Vancouver Summer Institute - July 25-29, 2022

HS OpenSciEd Field Test Round 4

Access is restricted to field test teachers only. If you are interested in becoming a WA state OpenSciEd HS field test teacher, please contact Will Baur.

View Agenda

Wenatchee Summer Institute - August 8-12, 2022

OpenSciEd Equitable Assessment Project - August 18-19, 2022

What teachers are saying about OpenSciEd

“Working in a small district and having been transferred from middle school to high school in 2020, I’m in the unique position of having taught the same students OpenSciEd since they were in 7th grade.”

What teachers are saying about OpenSciEd

“Just this week, I have seen evidence that the use of anchoring phenomenon, storylines, and student-led sense-making is building long-lasting understanding for my students. A student said, “Can we please learn about M’kenna? I mean, I know we know she has celiac disease, but maybe we could look at something else about her.” Another student, who has failed almost every high school class and rarely came to school during the pandemic, said yesterday in a discussion about ecosystem interactions, “Well, we know that trees aren’t getting their food from soil, because we proved that plants can grow without soil in middle school when we grew the plants in hydroponics.” This student learned that in our OSE Matter Cycling unit in 2018!”

What teachers are saying about OpenSciEd

“It is very rewarding to see students remember what they learned in my class 5 years later. This is the impact of high quality science curriculum.”

What teachers are saying about the Vancouver Summer Institute

“I really appreciated seeing the process in its fullest. When I taught the unit before PD, I did what was comfortable and modified the assignments to be more tailored to how I thought my students could learn. I was worried that they weren’t ready for some things, but seeing how it was taught by my facilitator, I am less hesitant to try it with my kids.”

What teachers are saying about the Vancouver Summer Institute

“I plan to take the student centered approach to learning back to my classroom. I believe the interactive nature of Open Sci Ed will work very well with my students.”

What teachers are saying about the Vancouver Summer Institute

“This was one of the best inservice trainings I’ve ever been to. Most useful experience. Not just a sales pitch for a new curriculum. Real training.”

What teachers are saying about the Vancouver Summer Institute

“This was some of the best Pro-D I’ve ever done. You tapped into what I know and stretched me to new ways of thinking and doing things.”

What teachers are saying about the Wenatchee Summer Institute

“Excellent PD, probably the best I have ever been to! The perks to this training were also amazing, so thank you for that. I am leaving very excited with hopes to be able to teach all the units to my 6th graders.”

What teachers are saying about the Wenatchee Summer Institute

“The coordination among the ESD’s for statewide implementation is fantastic. To be able to put a face to a region and their combined group knowledge of the processes of science…the work that is being done across the state. As a teacher, to tap into this larger network of collective intelligence has been immeasurable. The coordination amongst the ESD’s and the shared vision for implementation…we need more of this to launch state-wide initiatives….to provide equitable PD for ALL teachers across the state….we learn more, when we can share more, with more people.”

What teachers are saying about the HS Field test in Bothell

“Really excited about this…I’ve been disappointed by things that have been released in the name of NGSS that really aren’t aligned. This does a great job of incorporating SEP and CCC with the DCI in ways that others do not.”

OpenSciEd Contacts

If you can’t get in touch with Will Baur, try connecting with your ESD’s regional science coordinator to learn about other educators using OpenSciEd in your region.

Will Baur

WA ESD Network OpenSciEd Project Manager / Teacher Leader