About
Launched in 2018 in response to Iowa’s statewide adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Iowa Science Phenomena is an innovative website and hybrid program to create, curate, collect and share a growing collection of online media-based, standards aligned, user generated science phenomena resources for use in Iowa classrooms and beyond.
Program Background
Iowa implemented the Iowa Core Science Standards/Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in 2016, and since that time Iowa schools and teachers have continued to undergo a dramatic shift in science content expectations and pedagogy. A key part of this instructional shift is the emphasis on connecting student interests, experiences and equity through the use of locally relevant, real-world issues and phenomena. Science “phenomena” are observable events that occur in the universe, and might include a unique situation, wonderment, or something that is puzzling or that reveals an important pattern or engineering problem. By centering science education on phenomena that students are curious to explain, the focus shifts from learning about a topic to using science to figure out why or how something happens.
"The point of using phenomena to drive instruction is to help students engage in practices to develop the knowledge necessary to explain or predict the phenomena. Therefore, the focus is not just on the phenomenon itself. It is the phenomenon plus the student-generated questions about the phenomenon that guides the learning and teaching. The practice of asking questions or identifying problems becomes a critical part of trying to figure something out."1
A 2019 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, "Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center" summarizes research that “Teachers can use students’ curiosity to motivate learning by choosing phenomena and design challenges that are interesting and engaging to students, including those that are locally and/or culturally relevant.” The focus on locally relevant phenomena also helps teachers connect science learning experiences to students' sense of place, cultural perspectives and community issues. This local approach supports equity for students, teachers, and communities.
The emphasis on student-focused content is also supported by the 2019 report "Excellence in K-12 Environmental Education 2019" by the North American Association for Environmental Education, which emphasized that instructional materials need to help learners connect with their local environment as a base for moving into larger systems, issues, causes and consequences; instruction that is guided by student's interests and community helps to ensure instruction is equitable and inclusive; and a local connection helps students develop a sense of personal stake and responsibility towards the environment.
With so many in the science education community seeing the importance of phenomena-based instruction, several sources for media-based phenomena (photos, videos) were created. However, PBS saw still unmet needs. A need for an ever growing pool of phenomena with a large breadth of ideas, while still maintaining a high level of both media-quality and standards-alignment. One that connects to concepts of a national framework for science standards, while still representing and resonating the uniqueness of Iowa’s teachers, students and communities.
Iowa Science Phenomena was launched to address these unmet needs and answer this challenge through an innovative website and program to create, curate, collect and share a growing collection of online media-based, standards aligned, user generated science phenomena resources for use in Iowa classrooms and beyond.
Program Goals
Iowa Science Phenomena program goals include:
- Representing the breadth of Iowa by offering at least one phenomenon from each of Iowa’s 99 counties;
- Connecting with the full range of teacher curricular needs by offering at least one phenomenon aligned with each of the NGSS K12 Science Standards;
- Offering a rich and authentic depth of phenomena through connections, professional development and user-generated content from educators across disciplines and sectors of Iowa’s science education community;
- Continual highly quality resources and improvement through on-going peer input and documented review process.
Education Community Involvement
There are several ways you can be involved in this project:
- Explore the site to find an Iowa-based phenomenon to align to your learning standard.
- Equip your students to engage their own curiosity and be phenomenon-finders for themselves by integrating phenomena into your lessons.
- Capture and contribute your phenomena to the project.
Questions? Please contact us at phenomena@iowapbs.org.
1 The Next Generation Science Standards, “Using Phenomena in NGSS-Designed Lessons and Units” (2016)
2 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering. 2018. Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center.
3 Simmons, Bora, Susan Clark, Billy Bennett, Drew Burnett, Jill Carter, Kathayoon Khalil, Kim Martinez, et al. 2019. Guidelines for Excellence K-12 Environmental Education. Google Books. NAAEE.
Funding for Iowa Science Phenomena Provided By
