The STEELS Standards were adopted by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education in July 2022 and will be a requirement for all Pennsylvania school districts for the 2025-2026 school year.
To help with the implementation process, the IU13 Teaching and Learning Collaborative has created a tool with a progression of professional learning first and then curriculum writing.
Contact Information:
Jason Zimmerman
717-947-1883
jason_zimmerman@iu13.org
Contents
STEELS Institute 2.0
The vision of the IU13 STEELS Institute 2.0 is to build a collaborative community of educators and administrators dedicated to advancing STEELS education. Our goal is to enhance leadership capacity and equip educators with the skills and knowledge needed to implement innovative practices in the classroom. We aim to empower educators to inspire curiosity, foster scientific literacy, and prepare students to tackle real-world challenges.
Objectives:
- Build collaborative networks across our region to strengthen and support STEELS education
- Enhance leadership capacity with skills and strategies to drive STEELS implementation
- Improve classroom practices by refining teaching methods to promote curiosity and engagement
- Develop effective assessment strategies for high-quality, three-dimensional, and authentic assessments.
- Increase the rigor and relevance by focusing on science and engineering practices (SEPs) and crosscutting concepts (CCCs)
Event Dates:
Day 1: Sensemaking - October 15, 2024
Day 2: Assessments - November 13, 2024
Day 3: Rigor - January 28, 2025
Day 4 Options: Choose Your Own
February 3, 2025 [Physical / Earth Science]
February 12, 2025 [Life Science]
March 25, 2025 [T&E Experience Hall]
March 31, 2025 [Environmental]
The 3-Dimensional Framework & STEELS Overview
Discover how the researched approach of the 3-Dimensional Framework revolutionizes science, tech & engineering, and environmental education by bringing the curriculum to life.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
Phenomena-Based Learning
This hands-on workshop is a journey of discovery, offering educators of all levels a chance to explore the power of natural phenomena as a way to address the STEELS standards.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates, except where noted. Click each date to register.
STEELS Preparation Overview
A combined workshop for any teachers/administrator new to the STEELS standards. It will overview the standards, 3-dimensional framework, and classroom examples.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
Ensuring Science for All (virtual)
Discover how the PA STEELS standards are transforming science education and learn how to ensure access to quality science education for all students in your district.
Click each date to register.
STEELS Forward: A Blueprint for Admin Implementation (virtual)
In this virtual workshop, strategies for creating a comprehensive implementation plan integrating curriculum development, technology & engineering, and environmental literacy & sustainability standards will be showcased.
Click each date to register.
PIL Course: Supporting STEELS as a School Leader (Act45)
This 40-hour PA Inspired Leadership Program’s Supporting STEELS as a School Leader is designed to equip school and system leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the Pennsylvania STEELS standards effectively. This course emphasizes phenomena-based learning, the integration of science, technology, engineering, and environmental education, and effective curriculum design and assessment strategies. Participants will learn to support teachers in enhancing student engagement and conceptual understanding through innovative instructional strategies.
The big ideas that will be explored in this course include:
- Knowing the components of the PA STEELS standards and the 3-Dimensional Framework developed by the National Research Council
- Understanding how phenomena-based learning enhances student engagement and conceptual understanding
- Supporting teachers in integrating science, technology, engineering, and environmental education
- Understanding STEELS curriculum design and assessment strategies that align with the standards and the 3-dimensional framework
The key competencies addressed in this course include:
- Develop and articulate a vision for STEELS education in their schools
- Understand the components of the 3-dimensional framework
- Define and describe phenomena-based learning.
- Identify the benefits of phenomena-based learning for student engagement.
- Apply instructional strategies for phenomena-based learning.
- Identify and understand the application of the components of the 3-dimensional framework in classroom settings
- Identify and describe SEPs/CCCs/DCIs in classroom settings and understand how to differentiate expectations at each grade level
- Support teachers in creating and implementing phenomena-based and problem-based learning experiences
- Understand the elements of 3-dimensional assessments
- Identify multiple scoring methods and grading practices for STEELS standards
- Understand feedback loops for STEELS teachers to support continuous improvement and evaluation
- Create a STEELS implementation plan for the school/school district
Winter Date (coming soon)
PIL Course: Supporting STEELS as a School Leader (Act45)
IU13 will be hosting an administrator STEELS Summer Leadership Academy on June 25 + 26. This Act-45 conference will focus on teacher and school district support for the new PA STEELS standards effective Fall 2025.
Save the date!
June 25 & 26, 2025
Becoming MWEE Ambassadors
This workshop builds a partnership with local state parks to instill environmental literacy and sustainability standards and have an opportunity to become MWEE certified.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM. Click the date to register.
Parks & Pedagogy
Parks & Pedagogy is an outdoor workshop aimed at transforming K-12 STEELS and social studies education in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties empowering educators in fostering environmental literacy and aligning with the new PA STEELS and PA Social Studies standards.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
Shared Waters Workshop
Experience real classroom instruction with a 10-lesson watershed unit for grades 4-8, covering all 3-5 and most 6-8 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (EL&S) standards. This isn't your typical workshop- we will go beyond theory to see what the new standards will look like in the classroom. Walk away with a classroom-ready STEELS-aligned unit of instruction that will make learning come alive for your students!
Hosted by Dr. Nanette Dietrich
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
K-5 Tech & Engineering STEELS Implementation Planning Workshop
In this workshop, we will focus on how to integrate technology and engineering into elementary education. Explore innovative ways to implement the Pennsylvania STEELS standards in regular science classes, STEM courses, and more. Collaborate with fellow educators to develop customized implementation plans. Learn practical strategies for hands-on, engaging lessons that foster curiosity and critical thinking in young learners.
Click each date to register.
September 17, 2024
8:30 AM-3:30 PM
Secondary Tech & Engineering STEELS Implementation Planning Workshop
In this workshop, we will focus on how to integrate technology and engineering into secondary education courses and how to re-design T&E courses for the 21st century.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
Assessments Beyond Recall
In this transformative workshop, we'll explore innovative strategies for assessing students' conceptual understanding through real-world, authentic scenarios. We will focus on how traditional multiple-choice tests give way to 3-Dimensional assessments, spotlighting science and engineering practices (SEPs) and cross-cutting concepts (CCCs) alongside disciplinary core ideas (DCIs).
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
STEELS Teacher Coaching
Teacher Coaching
Comprehensive instructional coaching is available to support educators in effectively implementing the STEELS standards within their classrooms. Support can be provided through personalized guidance on three-dimensional teaching, instructional shifts, and the integration of phenomena-based learning, assisting teachers in fostering deeper student engagement and meeting the requirements of the STEELS standards.
If you are interested in instructional coaching, please contact Jason Zimmerman (jason_Zimmerman@iu13.org) for more information.