National Science Foundation
This project will identify key aspects of the science and engineering practices articulated in the Next Generation Science Standards, and develop and validate an instrument to be used as an indicator of science classroom coverage of content and practices. To meet these goals, an expert panel will be convened in a modified-Delphi process to identify the key aspects of science practices at different grade bands and domains of science. The resulting framework will be used to develop selected-response survey items for measuring teachers’ use of the practices. Cognitive interviews, observations of teachers’ classroom practices, and factor analysis of a pilot test of the items will be conducted to validate the measures. A user manual will be produced that includes evidence of the items’ validity and scale reliability so that the instrument might be used by other researchers and contribute to future nationally representative studies.