Evaluation Rubrics

Twig Science Next Gen was built from the ground up for the NGSS by award-winning STEM education specialists.

 

Reviewing our program, you’ll find:

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  • A clear conceptual flow across the program, clearly set out in the program NGSS Framework Alignment. 

  • Modules that bundle different scientific disciplines including engineering and environmental principles and concepts, aligned 1:1 with the NGSS Topic Alignment.

  • Phenomena and investigative problems at the heart of each module, with Grade Scope and Sequence tables that show how the dimensions flow and build in sophistication across each grade.

  • Module Contents that tell the story of how students apply the three dimensions in a module, with Driving Questions that scaffold their learning journey.

  • Three-dimensional lessons and assessments that clearly outline the dimensions applied.

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This is why we score so highly on NGSS-based rubrics such as NextGen TIME Paper screen evaluation. But don’t take our word for it—take the word of educators who have reviewed our program.

Designed for NGSS: Foundations

The use of the three dimensions to make sense of phenomena and solve problems is integral to the instructional design of Twig Science. The rubric here explains where to find evidence of this across all our modules and, likewise, how the three dimensions follow a logical sequence. The short video complements this rubric, helping you to navigate the program quickly. Module-specific rubrics are below.

Designed for NGSS: Student Work

Twig Science has been designed to drive student learning by progressively building students’ skills and knowledge through a series of investigations to make sense of engaging phenomena and solve real-world problems. Every module embeds tools to help elicit students’ prior knowledge to further their thinking and offers strategies to develop their metacognitive abilities. The rubric here explains where you can find evidence of how we engage students and motivate their learning across all modules. The short video provides a visual tour. Module-specific rubrics are below.

Designed for NGSS: Student Progress

Developed in partnership with Stanford University’s SCALE team, the Twig Science 3-D assessment framework supports teachers to evaluate student attainment of the NGSS’s three dimensions and Performance Expectations using a variety of measures. The rubric here explains our assessment framework with details of where you can find evidence of our assessments across the program. The short video provides a visual tour. Module-specific rubrics are below.

Teacher Support (includes Equity & Access)

NGSS will transform the way science is taught in our schools. Twig Science supports teachers every step of the way. A comprehensive and easy-to-use Professional Learning system provides background knowledge of the phenomena/problems, three dimensions, and instructional shifts of the NGSS at the point of use, just when teachers need it. Videos model how students apply the three dimensions to make sense of phenomena/problems. The rubric here explains where you can find evidence of teacher support across all modules. The short video provides a visual tour. Module-specific rubrics are below.

Designed for NGSS: Program

Twig Science builds progressive and logical use of the three dimensions. Explicit connections to the dimensions across grades, within grades, and within modules help students and teachers to connect prior learning, current learning, and future learning. The assessment framework provides data to monitor student progress toward the required grade-level proficiency. The rubric provides evidence of these strengths.