NCSE's Ann Reid and Brad Hoge were among the science educators and leaders in California asked by EdSource (January 11, 2018) what they'd like to see happen in the world of science education in 2018, as the state enters the final stages of implementing the Next Generation Science Standards.
Reid answered, "I wish for all teachers to have access to the professional development they need to teach climate change confidently and accurately; our survey found that more than 67 percent of middle and high school science teachers want and would benefit from such professional development," adding, "While I'm at it, I'd like science teachers to have the resources they need to provide state of the art inquiry-based learning, including laboratory equipment and supplies, data analysis tools, field trip expenses, and professional development, especially as they implement the Next Generation Science Standards."
Hoge answered, "I would like to see more chemistry and physics teachers teach about climate change. I would like to see more hands-on lessons using local data developed for place-based learning, especially around extreme weather events. I would like to see more project-based learning used for science lessons in general, in response to the Next Generation Science Standards framework. I would like to see more evolution topics taught in elementary and middle school. And I would love to live in a world where teaching evolution and climate change is expected and welcomed!"
Also responding were the president of the California Science Teachers Association, the non-profit Education Trust — West, the director of the STEM Network at Children Now, a member of the state board of education, an elementary science teacher, and the chief executive of the environmental education non-profit Ten Strands.