Science teachers, professors and advocates are coming together to collaboratively develop, share, and implement the use of quality professional and learning science resources. These resources, in part, target specific standards such as the new Common Core Standards for Science and Technology. The standards-aligned resources added by participants, can in turn, be integrated into engaging, rigorous science activities (e.g., discussions, labs, field-based data collection) incorporated in units of study or even full-blown science courses.

What can I do here?

First, you have your own virtual science locker!  You can upload PowerPoint, SmartBoard, Excel, image, video, and many other file types.

But, that is just the beginning.

You can also create online content that include Activity, Bookmark, Calendar, Checklist, eBook, Folder, Form, Location, Outline, Portfolio, Presentation, Rubric, Learning Task, Test, Text, Unit, Web Archive, Web Page, and Work Sample resources.  Here is more information on each one of these resources.

So, you might say that is a lot of work to create all the resources I would want to use in my science courses. But, what if you could share? 

Hence, the Science Collaborative!

What might the scenarios look like?

In the collaborative, teachers are able to access the resources others have shared.

This virtual locker allows you to share (if you want) resources that you have developed. Within this folder sharing environment or virtual locker teachers drive the direction of what is discussed and developed.  This might involve:

• Biology I teachers uploading classroom products to be smashed up or integrated into benchmark test items (e.g., photographs, videos, data),
• Lesson study activities that generate "common" lessons/labs,
• Zoology teachers constructing a course outline,
• Pacing calendars for various subjects and their units of study,
• A district's administration wants to develop units of study based on unwrapped common core and PASS in order to reduce textbook costs.
• Rubrics aligned with PASS process standards that can be used across all science subjects,
• Physics folder used to archive LoggerPro files with classroom data,
• Meteorology folder that houses the WeatherScope files,
• Concrete example and the story behind it.

In each of these teacher defined scenarios, standards may be tied to the resources.  ALCA is in the process of unwrapping standards so teachers may more readily align resources they develop.  To see what unwrapped Common Core Science/Technical Literacy standards looks like, click on the Info button on this resource.  Standards are already in the Arch system. However, not all standards are unwrapped due to the possible impending update of the PASS science standards.  In any case, after science PASS is updated in spring, the new standards will be in place for use.

PLEASE keep this in mind!

Consider this effort with a constructivist mind set.  There are presently at least two moderators to facility the process and to model sample content.  Since this is an openly public access site, it is expected that all science collaborative members will use professionalism in working with peers. Also, it is anticipated eventually interested participants will serve as mentors to others.  When you upload or construct the various online resources please share, BUT DO NOT give rights to other folks to delete!  Accidents do happen.  

ALCA does reserve the right to remove inappropriate material as well as edit content (e.g., typos).  ALCA reserves the right to remove users for inappropriate activities.

What about copyright?

Important!  No copyrighted material should be uploaded to these public, shared folders.  After registering, a teacher may upload materials into their own personal folder.  This is located under the "Resources" tab that appears after login.  If one comes across material that may be copyrighted, contact archsupport@alcaweb.org.  Within the email, please include the web address at bottom of the resource.