KnowAtom's Blog

Sara Goodman

Science is filled with stories that explain the world around us. It is constantly revealing new insights into everyday happenings, and answers to questions I haven’t even thought of yet. Goodman began her career as a science writer at an online publication focused on energy and the environment in Washington, D.C., where she covered chemicals, nanotechnology, and other science-related topics. Her articles have appeared on numerous websites, including the New York Times, Scientific American, and the Society of Environmental Journalists. After her stint in D.C., she moved to Texas, where she taught journalism at Texas A&M. Goodman holds a Master’s of Science from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Recent Posts

Expanding the Maker Movement with STEM

Nov 14, 2017 by Sara Goodman

When Paul McCarthy’s son was born without fingers two years ago, McCarthy decided to find a solution on his own. He began to search for an inexpensive, functional prosthetic hand online and came across an internet video for a hand that could be made out of plastic by a three-dimensional printer, along with free instructions for how to print the hand out of plastic.

Continue reading

Topics: STEM

Young Americans in STEM: From Recession to Optimism

Nov 10, 2017 by Sara Goodman

The Great Recession was tough on everyone, especially Generation Z now entering today's workforce.

So why should the next generation have reason to be optimistic about their futures?

The answer, for some, can be found in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education that empowers students to think critically and solve problems. 

A strong STEM education can transform students’ ability to create, evaluate, and analyze in any 

Continue reading

Topics: STEM

3 Steps to Make Sure Your Professional Development Supports Teachers as they Implement NGSS

Nov 2, 2017 by Sara Goodman

Educators sometimes underestimate the shifts in teacher practices that are required under the Next Generation Science Standards.

Continue reading

Topics: Next Generation Science Standards, Professional Development, Implementing New Science Standards, Three-Dimensional Learning

4 Features of All NGSS-Designed (Not Just Aligned) Curriculum

Oct 28, 2017 by Sara Goodman

Those educators responsible for choosing a curriculum will need to be critical consumers to avoid investing in resources that are superficially “aligned” to NGSS but don’t fully articulate the vision of the NGSS so students can achieve the levels of mastery that will be expected of them.

Continue reading

Topics: Implementing New Science Standards, NGSS-Designed Curriculum, Three-Dimensional Learning

Concrete Ways to Maximize Your NGSS Implementation

Sep 27, 2017 by Sara Goodman

The Next Generation Science Standards call for dramatic shifts in teaching and learning. It will be important to go about implementation carefully and thoughtfully.

There are concrete steps that educators and administrators can take to ensure a successful implementation.

Continue reading

Topics: Next Generation Science Standards, Implementing New Science Standards

Breaking Down the Cost of NGSS Implementation

Sep 18, 2017 by Sara Goodman

Educators frequently want to know what kind of investment is expected in order to implement NGSS in schools. This is a difficult question to answer.

The Next Generation Science Standards are inquiry-based standards, which inherently require students to be put into the role of scientist and engineer.

That requires certain materials because the NGSS standards are all about investigative phenomena happening in the classroom in real time.

Continue reading

Topics: Next Generation Science Standards, Implementing New Science Standards

7 Principles of Effective Next Generation Science Implementation

Sep 11, 2017 by Sara Goodman

Effective implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is not random or accidental. Rather, it requires a very intentional approach to putting the curriculum and performance expectations in place. It is unlikely – and probably impossible – that this will occur without careful attention to the correct approach.

There are seven principles of effective NGSS implementation that can guide teachers and administrators as they begin a new school year.

Continue reading

Topics: Implementing New Science Standards, Three-Dimensional Learning

Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, CEO of Ixcela, Talks Microbiomes and Women in STEM

Jul 10, 2016 by Sara Goodman

"I think that's what makes true mentors really exceptional. They're able to guide you to learn these different things, even if they know that what you're doing isn't going to work, but they know how to inspire you. They know how to help you build confidence and they know how to help you to think the right way. Ultimately, science is not about memorizing facts. We live in a society where we can look anything up online, but how do you use that information in a way that is productive, that builds something. Those are the critical thinking skills that everyone is talking about." - Dr. Angle

Massachusetts-based innovator Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle chats with KnowAtom CEO Francis Vigeant about her work with microbiomes, and the importance of female role models, mentors, and nurturing educators to inspire more women to pursue careers in STEM.

In their conversation, transcribed below, you'll learn about:

  • What microbiomes are and what Ixcela does to help people rebalance their internal fitness
  • How one sixth grade English teacher served as the catalyst for Erika's love of science 
  • Why cultivating a learning environment where mistakes can happen is vital
Continue reading

Topics: Guest Innovator, Innovation

Jennifer Berkshire: Five Key Debates

Jun 28, 2016 by Sara Goodman

Nationally recognized education journalist Jennifer Berkshire discusses big questions that will continue to shape the future of K-12 with KnowAtom CEO Francis Vigeant.

"We're seeing the whole conversation around testing start to shift. The conversation around the relationship between charter and district schools is going to, if not shift, get sort of more concrete and out in the open. I think that as we have this sort of bigger debate about the future, about what kind of jobs people are going to have, it's going to be impossible to talk about schools without having a more vigorous argument about what schools are supposed to be doing." -Berkshire

In this transcript of their conversation, Jennifer and Francis discuss these Five Debates:

  1. What is school for?
  2. Should school be about adults pulling or kids pushing?
  3. What should the relationship between charter schools and traditional school districts be?
  4. How should we measure school quality?
  5. What is the relationship between schools and neighborhoods?

Continue reading

Topics: STEM, STEAM, STEAM Curriculum

New Jersey Educators Focus Summer on Fall Science Implementation

Jun 7, 2016 by Sara Goodman

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have received considerable support from many states, 17 have already adoptedNGSS, and this summer many K-12 educators will be working the 3-dimensions into new science curricula for the first time. New Jersey is one such state, and its educators are hard at work making their New Jersey Science Curriculum more robust and better aligned with these new standards.

Having adopted the standards in 2014, New Jersey administrators are trying to meet the New Jerseytimeline for integration of the NGSS standards, with full integration of these standards beginning in the 2016-2017 school year for grades 6 through 12. Full implementation for Kindergarten through 5th grade is expected to occur in September of 2017, the following year. 

But at the same time its classroom educators who are ramping up their science curriculum efforts, some are going even further, they’re raising an interesting question: wouldn’t STEM be better off as STEAM--including the arts

Continue reading

Topics: interactive science, state-level standards, New Jersey

Delaware Science Classrooms Align to New Standards, Testing Lags

May 27, 2016 by Sara Goodman

 

Continue reading

Topics: Next Generation Science Standards, state-level standards

New West Virginia Science Standards: Mining for Uncertainty

May 24, 2016 by Sara Goodman

 

The adoption of new West Virginia Science Standards has hit a major snag in the form of the potential conflict of said standards with the state’s already troubled mining industry. The standards, which include human impact on climate change as an element students need to consider, has touched nerves around the state, especially in light of an economy that is presently struggling mightily with environmental issues and financial concerns. 

Continue reading

Topics: Next Generation Science Standards, West Virginia, state-level standards

Kentucky's New Science Standards Inspiring Resources for Students and Teachers

May 18, 2016 by Sara Goodman

Kentucky Science Standards have received widespread support from teachers around the state, who cite the new standards as having the power to both support learning and truly interest students in science and engineering. For that reason, the Next Generation Science Standards – better known in the state as the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science (Science KAS) – have drawn praise and acclaim from educators.

As Tricia Shelton wrote in a November 2015 Courier-Journal piece, “As a science educator for more than 20 years, I have seen countless new initiatives come and go. Some of these efforts, while well-intentioned, weren’t very effective in supporting student learning and igniting students’ innate curiosity.  But the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science (Science KAS) – which are based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – have the potential to do both, and science teachers across our state have embraced them.” 

Continue reading

Topics: state-level standards

Data Results: Urban Schools in Massachusetts' Lynn District Try the Next Gen Science Approach

May 9, 2016 by Sara Goodman

The Lynn Public School district faces all of the challenges of an urban school district serving near 20,000 students daily. Lynn is also one of a few cities nationwide that serves as a refugee relocation point for the United Nations.

Due to low student performance on state science assessments and a desire to increase student engagement and teacher resources, Lynn Public Schools began partnering with GE Aviation to pilot KnowAtom in 2009, phasing in a pilot cohort of four schools over three years.

The dramatic increases in student engagement and proficiency levels on state-level science standardized testing (Massachusetts Common Assessment Program) led the Lynn Public Schools to scale the program to half the district for test year 2012 and finally district-wide in the following school year.

Continue reading

Topics: Next Generation Science Standards, Case Studies, Three-Dimensional Learning

Dr. Stephen Immerman: Where Art, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Connect as STEAM

Mar 18, 2016 by Sara Goodman

 

"When we codify, we run the risk of losing innovation. That's why you see so many technical companies now hiring artists, because the opportunity to include problem solvers that potentially think differently. Innovation and creativity go hand in hand. There's no question about it. As members of society, we have a responsibility to leave the next generation better off than we found it, and I think we run the risk of losing that capacity by homogenizing and standardizing." -Dr. Stephen Immerman

KnowAtom CEO Francis Vigeant discusses the connection of art to science, technology, engineering and math in K-12 classrooms with special guest Dr. Stephen Immerman, president of Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts. 

In this transcript of their conversation, you'll read about:

• Beyond aesthetics: What is art?

• Why STEM educators are welcoming art and calling it "STEAM"

• How art education can leverage science and engineering practices

• Where you can get involved in the national movement from STEM to STEAM

Continue reading

Topics: STEM, STEAM, STEAM Curriculum

Teach to Transform with Free Next Generation Science PD Sessions. Learn More!

Posts by Topic

see all

Stay Up to Date With Our Latest Posts

Pick How Often: