Is it time to update PA’s science curriculum?

Next Generation Science Standards evaluated as an option

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 iStock

Think about how much the world has changed in the past 20 years. Now, narrow that change down to just science – how much technology has made our lives and many other aspects of life on this planet different in the last two decades. Picture how much more we know about the Earth, space, communication, diseases and illnesses, human ancestry and other animal species — all through scientific research.

Then, there is perhaps the most significant science project of all – climate change.

Why focus on the changes of the past generation? Because, that’s about how long it’s been since the science curriculum in Pennsylvania’s public schools has been updated.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has begun a review of the state’s science standards. These standards serve as the basis for curriculum development and instruction in schools.  The Department will evaluate the standards against the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which are aligned with current research and practices.

Penn State University / Penn State University

Carla Zembal-Saul, Ph.D., Professor Penn State College of Education, Science Education, appears on Smart Talk, October 2, 2019.

Appearing on Smart Talk Thursday to discuss science education are Matt Stem, Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Carla Zembal-Saul, Ph.D., Professor Penn State College of Education, Science Education, and Jeff Remington, who is one of ten National STEM Teacher Ambassadors from a program administered by The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and funded by the National Science Foundation and a science teacher at Palmyra Middle School.

Smart Talk

Dep. Sec. Matt Stem and Jeff Remington