Constructing Phenomena–based Units for High School
A Professional Learning Opportunity
Translating the Arizona Science Standards into Instruction and Classroom Assessment
ASTA’s A Deeper Dive: Constructing Phenomena-based Units in partnership with Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is a rigorous professional learning program that establishes a meaningful context for teachers to develop an understanding of The Framework, Working with Big Ideas of Science Education, and the AzSS. The professional learning series utilizes steps and processes to support high school educators in translating science core ideas, practices and crosscutting concepts into multiple-lesson instructional sequences to create AZ Science Standards (AzSS) units with assessments.
A Deeper Dive into Constructing Phenomena-based Units will include multiple days of professional learning as well as outside time for collaborative unit and assessment development. All in-person sessions will be held in the Phoenix area. Participants will receive $1200 in compensation for completion of the professional learning and unit development. In addition, one member of the team will serve as the team leader and receive additional compensation up to $1000 for additional work and meetings.
Dates and Deadlines:
- January 25, 2023: Question & Answer Session about the program. Click here to view the recording of the Q & A Session.
- April 1, 2023: Applications Due
- March 1, 2023: Applicants are notified on a rolling basis.
- June 12-16, 2023: Professional Learning Session I: Unpacking standards, experiencing model lessons, developing Evidence of Learning statements (EoLs), using rubrics to select resources, and beginning development of a sequence of instruction. In person
- June 22 or 29, 2023: Instructional Sequence Development Check-in. Half-day Virtual
- July 13, 2023: Professional Learning Session II: Performance tasks. Virtual
- July 27, 2023: Instructional Sequence Development Check-in. 1.5 hour Virtual Between July 27-August 31, 2023: Scheduled Check-in with Leadership Team
- August 31, 2023: Draft Unit Submission to Leadership Team for Review
- October/November, 2023: Scheduled sessions with reviewers to receive feedback on draft units (Dates & time determined by teams). Virtual
- November 2-3, 2023 (Tentative date): Professional Learning Session III: Sharing units and
- Celebration during ASTA conference. In Person
- December 1, 2023: Final submission of unit to leadership team
- December 20, 2023: Evaluation Submission and optional webinar
To apply click here.
Important: In order to complete the unit development process, additional collaboration time with your team will be needed beyond the professional learning sessions.
Interested applicants should use the following criteria as a guide for deciding whether they are a good match to the program:
Cost:
$150 commitment fee per team of 3, or $50 commitment fee per person, if accepted. (ASTA will invoice districts, schools, or individuals, as needed.)
Who can apply?
High school science teachers who are willing to collaborate to create a phenomena-based, 3D unit of instruction for a topic within the core ideas of the standards.
A team can be made up of educators within the same school/district or from multiple districts within the same region. Individuals may also apply and will be teamed up with other individuals*.
Criteria for participants include:
Demonstration of a commitment to improving science teaching and learning through the planning of 3-dimensional phenomenon-focused units of instruction and classroom assessment (to ensure readiness it would be valuable for participants to review the 3 dimensions of science)
Readiness to plan three-dimensional phenomenon-focused instruction and classroom assessment
Adaptability and flexibility to function individually and collaboratively, and
Genuine interest in improving the rigor and relevance of curriculum, instruction and assessment at the local and state level by creating an instructional unit for a specific grade level that will be shared with others across the state.
Preference will be given to teams of three or individuals who:
- are interested in a specific core idea within a science discipline.
- commit to complete the evaluation of the program.
- commit to participate in all days of the Deeper Dive experience.
- include members of ASTA.
- have an interest in developing units for AzSS high-need core ideas.
To Apply
- Communicate benefits and commitments to potential team members (see chart below). Potential team members should possess an in-depth knowledge of the 2018 AzSS at their grade level.
- Provide complete contact information for each team member and principal on the application form. One application can be submitted per team.
- Suggest a core idea that the entire team will collaborate to develop a unit of instruction. There will only be one team per focus area, so provide a second choice as well.
- In 250 words or less, respond to the application questions. Responses must address all five questions and will be scored with the accompanying rubric. We understand that individuals may have different experiences with curriculum writing and 3-dimensional teaching and learning. It is not a requirement to have these experiences, but it provides the facilitators an idea of background knowledge of participants. Please remember that this is a professional learning opportunity where one would expect to grow in these areas.
a. Why is the team interested in this professional learning experience?
b. If selected, how does your team envision incorporating what you learn into your curriculum?
c. How does the team anticipate this program will impact your teaching practices?
d. Share how your team has created or developed curriculum resources in the past.
e. How has your team evaluated curriculum resources?
5. Complete and submit the application (only one per team) or as an individual teacher (you will be matched with other individuals).
If you have any questions contact deeper_dive@azsta.org.
Applications must be received no later than 10 pm on Wednesday, April 1, 2023 to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be considered.This program is limited to 36 participants.
Benefits and Commitments
Participant Benefits of Program: Commitments to Program
| Participant Benefits of Program: | Commitments to Program |
| ● Participants develop a unit of based upon the AzSS that will be implemented in their classrooms and used as a model across the state. | ● Attend all professional learning sessions: ● Attend online team meetings with leadership team and fellow teams to discuss progress of unit ● ● Attend face-to-face team meetings (Dates TBD by team) |
| ● Honorarium of $1,200 per participant. $600 given following summer professional learning, $300 given following draft submission, $300 given following the submission of completed curriculum documents and evaluation ● Additional $300 honorarium per team for teams willing to host a webinar to share and explain their unit ● If needed, a $200 transportation stipend per team member for travel 50+ miles one way or a $275 transportation stipend per team member for travel 150+ miles one way to attend June Training Session. ● Free registration to 2023 ASTAConference (if needed, a $100 transportation stipend per team member for travel 50+ miles one way or a $175 transportation stipend per team member for travel 150+ miles one way to attend conference. | ● Work as a collaborative team to create and implement a phenomena- based, 3-dimensional instructional unit utilizing the 5E instructional model ○ Utilize feedback from outside curriculum reviewers ○ Reflect upon instructional design using video tape and/or classroom observation |
| ● Honorarium up to $1000 to the team leader to compensate for additional work and meetings. | |
| ● Participants will have the experience, access to resources, and knowledge to take units back to their district and lead curriculum work at the local level. | ● Complete evaluation |
| ● Participants will work with curriculum development experts. | ● $150 per team registration fee, or $50 per individual curriculum development experts. |
A Deeper Dive: Constructing Phenomena-based Units Rubric for Team Selection
| CRITERIA | ——– | LEVELS OF QUALITY | ——– |
| 3 Points: Outstanding | 2 Points: Satisfactory | 1 Points: Limited | |
| Completed Application | Careful attention to detail is evident throughout. | Application is complete but several areas need clarification. | Application lacks clarity or provides insufficient information. |
| Preferred Qualifications | ● Indication of ability and desire to work both individually and collaboratively. ● Commitment to improving classroom practices. ● Genuine interest in learning and teaching using inquiry-based approaches. | Demonstrates only two of the preferred qualifications. | Demonstrates only one or none of the preferred qualifications. |
| Responses to Five Questions | Responses to questions: ● are well organized ● are presented clearly and concisely ● convey careful planning, thought and commitment. | Responses to questions are inadequate and/or convey little planning or thought. | Responses to questions are inadequate and/or convey little planning or thought. |
| ASTA Membership | ASTA Member | ||
| Team Commitments | Team agrees to both commitments |
