Science Assessment System Through Course Task Resource Bank

• The Science Assessment System Through Course Task Resource Bank is now available with at least one task at each grade level (kindergarten through high school). 
• Additional tasks will be added as they become available for at least 2 tasks per grade level.
• These tasks can be accessed through the SharePoint Science Assessment System Through Course Task Resource Bank.
• These tasks are only available through SharePoint for Kentucky educators; log-in is required for access.  Please read the home page of the SharePoint site for additional information.

TCT

Click on the "Through Course Task Bank 2017-18" link to the left to access tasks developed for grades kindergarten through high school.

  (It is recommended to click on return to classic SharePoint in the bottom left corner of the Through Course Task Bank 2017-18 page.)

Commissioner’s Corner August 15, 2017

2017-18 Through Course Task (TCT) Expectations

All teachers of science (each grade, K-high school) must facilitate at least 2 TCTs during the 2017-18 school year using the recommended collaborative TCT process. Each district will submit one piece of student work for each of 2 different tasks at each grade level (rather than two pieces for the same task) in the late spring of 2018. 

The TCT is one component of the Science Assessment System, and it is intended as an instructional resource rather than an assessment for accountability purposes. Thus, District Assessment Coordinators may wish to work with instructional supervisors, if applicable, to manage TCTs for the district and provide support for effective use of the TCTs within the Science Assessment System. This should help convey the appropriate message: TCTs are resources to support teaching and learning, and to facilitate an effective transition to our three-dimensional science standards. . Collected student work will be used for teacher professional learning, and not to evaluate teachers, schools, or districts. 

Instructional Resources

Sean Elkins

Click  on picture for video presentation

Kentucky Department of Education

Power Point-Assessment Summit

Science Summative Pilot Annotation

Science Voacbulary

Pike County TCT Feedback

Updated Information 11-17

NGSS Standards

Click NGSS Standards link to connect to the  NGSS standards.

Appendix F

Appendix G

New

Teacher Rubric

Student Rubric 

Dr. Steven Pruitt 

Kentucky Commisioner of Education

Click to listen to Dr. Pruitt explain the future of science in Kentucky

Dr. Pruitt is a former senior vice president at Achieve, Inc., an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit education reform organization.  During his time at Achieve, Pruitt led the development of the Next Generation Science Standards -- the new set of academic guidelines that teachers across Kentucky put into practice last year.

Much like the Common Core Standards in math and language arts – which have been adopted by 43 states -- the science standards describe what students need to know before they complete each grade level. To date, 14 other states, as well as Washington, D.C., have implemented the science standards.

Pruitt said the standards are “certainly a foundation for good science instruction," but it's just as important to give children "authentic experiences in science."

"Kids are natural-born scientists, we need to embrace that," .

 Source:  http://www.wdrb.com/story/30194616/kentucky-education-commissioner-stephen-pruitt-to-make-240k-start-oct-16

In collaboration with representatives from the Kentucky Department of Education, Future Ready Assessment Team, Expeditionary Learning Fellows and the Appalachian Leadership Lab, the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative has committed to supporting the implementation of the state science assessment system.  A major component of this system is through course tasks.  In this first video of an upcoming series, Johnny Belcher and Katrina Slone facilitate a conversation with Chris Bentley and Teresa Emmert of KDE about their work across the state with science through course tasks.  Teachers and administrators will find the discussion helpful before and even if they have already started this year’s pilot.

In collaboration with representatives from the Kentucky Department of Education, Future Ready Assessment Team, Expeditionary Learning Fellows and the Appalachian Leadership Lab, the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative has committed to supporting the implementation of the state science assessment system.  In this video Johnny Belcher and Katrina Slone discuss frequently asked questions regarding through course tasks with Chris Bentley and Teresa Emmert of the Kentucky Department of Education.  This segment works best as a companion to the Getting Started Video.  We hope the discussion here serves to help clarify frequently asked questions and misconceptions about this year’s pilot of science through course tasks.