Michigan Science Teachers Association Conference 2020 (MSTA)

Too many students engage in years of science education, only to leave 12th grade thinking "I'm not a science person." Many important efforts to help engage diverse learners more deeply in scientific enterprises focus on choosing phenomena that connect to student interest and identity, or giving students a more active role in engaging in science through the practices--is this the whole story? In this session, we will explore how an often under-valued aspect of three-dimensional science teaching and learning--the crosscutting concepts--can be the missing link in supporting all learners develop agency and identity in science.