[Photo: OpenSciEd students and teachers, 2022]

3 Big OpenSciEd Trends to Watch in 2023

Hello Karen!

Welcome to our final Activate OpenSciEd newsletter for 2022!

After an unprecedented and challenging year of getting students and their learning back on track in the aftermath of the pandemic, we know that hardworking educators everywhere are looking forward to (and deserve!) the long holiday break.

As the holiday break begins this week, you’re no doubt already looking ahead at 2023 and setting goals for you and your students. In this final newsletter issue for the year, we’re taking a brief look back at 2022 and share how OpenSciEd and its inspiring community of rockstar science teachers will evolve and grow in 2023. 

Although this year was challenging for teachers who very worked hard to recover pandemic learning loss and establish an effective “new normal,” there were many triumphs along the way as well. Students began regaining their footing and recovering learning loss at accelerated rates and school districts across the country began to embrace standards-aligned, innovative science curriculum like OpenSciEd to bring equitable STEM learning to schools. 

If 2022 was the year we were finally able to do a hard post-pandemic reset, then 2023 is the year we will see the fruits of our collective labor and continue to build momentum as more states adopt OpenSciEd. In 2023, OpenSciEd will engage the minds and hearts of even more students! Below is our pick of three big OpenSciEd trends to watch (and prepare for) in 2023.

And last, but certainly not least, without you, there is no us. Thank you for your support of the work we do to help teachers across the country bring equitable, high-quality, STEM learning to students everywhere!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

The Activate Learning Team

[Image Credit: 7th grade OpenSciEd students testing salt combinations to make the most effective egg incubators. Photo by @MrsEtense on Twitter]

1.) More School Districts Rush to Adopt OpenSciEd

To recover pandemic learning loss, not only are teachers expressing the urgent need for more engaging science curriculum that truly prepares students for the future, but school leaders are struggling to find and implement the right equitable, standards-based learning resources as well.  Before the pandemic, the road to adopting NGSS-aligned, high quality teaching materials was long and bumpy but, today, that road has been made a lot smoother, thanks to OpenSciEd. States are taking notice of how OpenSciEd is changing the game for teachers and students, according to a recent article in The 74 article, COVID & School Recovery: Washington Hopes New Science Curriculum Will Boost Student Engagement.

And, with the recent announcement by the Biden administration about the launch of their Vision to Transform and Enhance the U.S. STEMM Ecosystem program, which will fund and support programs that offer equitable learning in science, technology, engineering, science, and medical fields (STEMM), district leaders have the permission and support to move forward boldly with new, innovative curriculums. Currently, ten states are piloting OpenSciEd and are already seeing early success with their programs. The movement to OpenSciEd is quickly picking up pace. In 2023, as the pressure to regain learning loss and prepare students for STEM careers intensifies, expect to see more districts pilot and adopt OpenSciEd (we are already seeing this with our OpenSciEd customers). 

2.) Customized Science Curriculum Using OpenSciEd

Gone are the days when teachers had to adhere to out-of-the-box learning materials that made it difficult to create personal learning experiences relevant to their students. Today, thanks to the power and flexibility of NGSS-aligned curriculum like OpenSciEd, more school districts are designing customized science curriculum for their schools. This is particularly important for districts that want teachers to have equitable and culturally relevant science curriculums (Off-the-Shelf or Custom-Made? Why Some Districts Are Designing Their Own Curriculum). 

As an OpenSciEd partner and licensed distributor offering complete implementation support, Activate Learning has been at the forefront of this innovative trend. We recently supported Ascension Parish Schools in Louisiana with designing and implementing custom, NGSS-aligned curriculum using both OpenSciEd and IQWST (our Tier-1-rated, middle-school curriculum). Not only are Ascension educators very happy with the results, but The 74 just named Louisiana “one of fourteen states that have figured out how to prioritize the use of evidence-based, teacher-endorsed, high-quality materials,” (How 14 States Are Making Sure Teachers Have High-Quality Materials Students Need).

We expect to see more districts designing their own science unique curriculums with OpenSciEd in 2023. Lookout for the publication of our case study detailing how we helped Ascension Parish design and implement their custom, OpenSciEd/IQWST curriculum program! 

3.) School Districts Increase and Improve Teachers Support Programs Throughout Curriculum Implementation and Beyond!

Teachers who feel unsupported cannot successfully implement new curriculum and engage students effectively. They also run the risk of burnout which is already at an all-time high in education. As Tracy Marmolejo (Professional Development Manager at Activate Learning) said recently, “The biggest challenge implementing new curriculum is when school systems implement a new science program without giving the requisite time for proper teacher training.” (Three Challenges to Avoid When Implementing OpenSciEd Curriculum)

The RAND Corporation’s most recent report on their American Instructional Resources Survey explores state leadership in supporting district and school implementation of quality curriculum, noting the  (How States Are Creating Conditions for Use of High-Quality Instructional Materials in K–12 Classrooms), noting that statewide support for ongoing teacher professional development is crucial to the success of curriculum implementation. Post-pandemic, district leaders are rethinking professional development and school leadership programs, and are empowering teachers by creating professional learning communities for educators. 

Tennessee offers state funding to support professional learning for educators as they implement new, quality instructional materials. Delaware and Massachusetts have unique programs to incentivize continuous professional development. And again, Ascension Parish in Louisiana is an inspiring example of how a school district can go above and beyond to support their teachers throughout the implementation of new science curriculum with great success. They engaged Activate Learning early in their OpenSciEd implementation journey, kept us on speed dial in case they needed immediate help or teacher training, and empowered “teacher curriculum ambassadors” as trained spokespeople to share their experiences with (and advocacy for) quality materials and professional learning among their peers. Now that’s what we call winning!

This isn’t just a trend. In 2023, this will become the new norm for schools that adopt OpenSciEd. Extensive teacher support is built into the implementation process (How to Create a Successful OpenSciEd Implementation Strategy). We’re supporting districts as they make this seismic shift, and we couldn’t be more excited about it! 

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There are many other trends on the horizon for OpenSciEd and its thriving community of innovative educators. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements, more opportunities, and many more students realizing their full science potential with OpenSciEd in 2023!  😊



At Activate Learning, we believe there is a better way to engage students in STEM. Our K-12, interactive curriculum engages students with authentic learning and phenomena that are relevant and meaningful. We inspire teachers with research-based curricula that support three-dimensional learning and prepare students for the careers of tomorrow.

To learn more about how we can help bring transformational learning to your classroom, submit your info below and one of our curriculum specialists will contact you.