Science
On this page you will find:
Science and the TASC
First, a word on the challenges. The science content on the TASC represents a substantial shift from the science content found on the current G.E.D. On the G.E.D. the science section is essentially a reading comprehension assessment, focused on science content materials. This is very different from the TASC science section, which will require students to have actual background knowledge of science content and science practices. No longer is being a strong reader enough for students to demonstrate their competency in science. The TASC is designed to assess the science content detailed in the Next Generation Science Standards - see below.
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Content Areas
There will be three content areas on the TASC questions evenly distributed among each. The table below illustrates the division, and explains how much time students will have to complete the exam, and the number of items they will face. Click on the content areas in red for a more detailed descriptions of concepts and topics in each.
Click here to read a description from TASCtest.com about the content on the TASC.
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Scientific Thinking
What is Scientific Thinking? While learning content will become much more important on the TASC for science, the emphasis will not on rote memorization and recitation of facts, but rather on scientific thinking. The Common Core stresses that there are ways of scientific thinking that extend across all scientific disciplines. Students will need to be problem solvers and apply these problem solving skills creatively across the three major content areas.
Essentially, students need to think like scientists. This isn't as daunting as it sounds, though; it does not mean that Adult Educators who perhaps do not have traditional training in the sciences need to be PHd's. Too often science is presented as a complicated study limited to experts. But thinking like a scientist really means that we must get our students to approach scientific study as problem solvers.
The Physicist Richard Feynman addresses the creative approach involved in thinking like a scientist in the animation below:
Richard Feynman - Ode To A Flower from Fraser Davidson on Vimeo.
Types of Scientific Thinking There are three types of scientific thinking that students will be required to practice to successfully complete the TASC. Each type will be integrated across all content domains. This means that any of the three types of Scientific Thinking practices could appear in any of the Content areas. Click on the links in red to learn more about the different types of Scientific Thinking.
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Best Teaching Practices
Previously, adult educators had to focus less on actual science content and more on making sure that students had the literacy skills necessary to comprehend science texts and answer questions about them. In some ways, this hasn't changed; the lack of time that adult educators have with students makes it impossible to cover all of the content that students will be expected to know. Thus, teaching practices and the activities created for the classroom will still have to emphasize literacy. The challenge that adult educators face is blending literacy skills with knowledge of the content.
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The Science of How People LearnResources that look at current findings in neuroscience, and explore the implications for classroom instruction
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The Standards
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General Resources
Here are a few sample videos:
To see a summary of Derek's research (and why his approach might be more helpful for our students than say the Khan Academy), see the video below.
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Professional Development
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