Mission: The Science Education Institute supports K-12 educators in teaching science more effectively by providing professional development to individual teachers and school districts with the goal of improving K-12 science education in New Jersey.

Our current focus is to support New Jersey school districts with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). We provide a series of eight one-day workshops during the school year and week-long Institutes during the summer.  We also work with school districts to develop a long-term professional development plan consisting of 3-5 workshops spread out over 1 - 2 years.

Science Education Institute
Science Education Institute
Science Education Institute

NGSS Workshops

The Vision Behind the NGSS

The vision behind the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is to provide students with the knowledge and skills so that later in life they can make sense of the natural world and construct explanations for natural phenomena (observable events). To make this vision a reality, the NGSS requires that students engage in Science Practices to explore how and why natural phenomena occur. As they construct explanations for these natural events they apply their understanding of Core Ideas in science and use Crosscutting Concepts to guide their thinking. In addition, the NGSS requires that students engage in Engineering Practices to define engineering problems and test and optimize solutions for them.

During the 2018-2019 school year, the Science Education Institute will be offering multiple professional development opportunities to support teachers and supervisors with the implementation of the NGSS. We recommend sending leadership teams of 3-7 teachers to at least three one-day workshops or the Summer Institute to develop a solid foundation for the NGSS. Dates, online registration, logistics, and detailed information about these professional development offerings are provided below.

NGSS Professional Development for Grades K-5

  • NGSS Summer Institute: Monday August 6 - Friday August 10, 2018
  • Using Crosscutting Concepts to Investigate Natural Phenomena: Wednesday November 14, 2018
  • Developing and Using Models to Make Sense of Natural Phenomena: Wednesday December 12, 2018
  • Constructing Explanations Supported by Arguments: Wednesday February 6, 2019
  • Planning NGSS-Aligned Lessons and Assessments: Wednesday March 13, 2018


NGSS Professional Development for Grades 6-12

  • NGSS Summer Institute: Monday July 23 - Friday July 27, 2018
  • Using Crosscutting Concepts to Investigate Natural Phenomena: Tuesday November 13, 2018
  • Developing and Using Models to Explain Natural Phenomena: Tuesday December 11, 2018
  • Constructing Explanations Supported by Arguments: Tuesday February 5, 2019
  • Planning NGSS-Aligned Lessons and Assessments: Tuesday March 12, 2019


Professional Development for Grades K-12

  • Starlab Training: Wednesday November 28, 2018

Register For Workshops

To Register for Workshops click here

Workshops Cancellation policy: If you are unable to attend a workshop for which you are registered, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible – but within five (5) business days. Cancellations received within less than five (5) business days from the date of the workshop will not be eligible for a credit or refund and will be billed. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Logistical Information

  • All workshops will be held at Raritan Valley Community College (Main Campus) in Branchburg, NJ. For Directions Click Here
  • The workshop leader, Dr. Wil van der Veen, is a nationally recognized expert in science education and is a member of the New Jersey State Leadership Team for the NGSS.
  • Participants will work in small groups that are facilitated by experienced classroom teachers from our NGSS Teacher Leader Program.
  • Workshops begin promptly at 9am and end by 3:30pm. (Starlab training will end by 4pm)
  • Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
  • For more information contact Mariel O'Brien at mariel.obrien@raritanval.edu or 908-526-1200 x8942.

Description of our Professional Development Offerings

NGSS Summer Institutes 2018
Grades: Separate Institutes for grades K-5 and 6-12
Core Ideas Focus: Using Core Ideas to construct explanations for natural phenomena; Using Core Ideas to develop solutions to engineering problems
Practices and Crosscutting Concept Focus: Develop understanding of all Practices and Crosscutting Concepts and how they mutually support each other; Using Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to develop Performance Tasks that can be used for instruction and assessment.

The week-long Summer Institutes are designed to support teachers and supervisors with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Participants will receive an in-depth introduction to the vision behind the NGSS and its three dimensions: Core Ideas, Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts. Participants will engage in NGSS-aligned investigations in a variety of science content areas to deepen their understanding of NGSS Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Participants will experience NGSS-aligned investigations in a variety of science disciplines and engineering. The investigations will engage participants in Performance Tasks that are modelled after the NGSS Performance Expectations by combining Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Using the investigations as examples, participants will learn how to use natural phenomena in their science lessons or engineering scenarios in engineering lessons. They will use Core Ideas to construct explanations or design engineering solutions. They will develop and sequence Performance Tasks that can be used for instruction and assessment. These Performance Tasks will help guide students as they make sense of natural phenomena and design solutions for engineering problems. Participants will use an extensive lesson planning guide and a nationally field-tested template to plan NGSS-aligned lessons and assessments.
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Developing and Using Models to Make Sense of Natural Phenomena
Grades: Separate workshops for grades K-5 and 6-12
Practices Focus: Developing and Using Models; Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Crosscutting Concept Focus: Systems and System Models; Patterns

This one-day workshop is designed to support teachers and supervisors with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Participants will engage in NGSS-aligned investigations in a variety of science content areas to deepen their understanding of NGSS Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Although participants will experience a variety of Practices and Crosscutting Concepts, the main focus will be on the ones listed above and how they mutually support each other. They will take away strategies to help students analyze and interpret data, investigate natural systems, and represent them using a variety of models that can be used to construct explanations for natural phenomena. Participants will experience and reflect on how Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas are meaningfully integrated in instruction and assessments using Performance Tasks. There will be time for reflection and to plan NGSS-aligned lessons.
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Constructing Explanations Supported by Arguments
Grades: Separate workshops for grades K-5 and 6-12
Practices Focus: Constructing Explanations; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Crosscutting Concept Focus: Cause and Effect

This one-day workshop is designed to support teachers and supervisors with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Participants will engage in NGSS-aligned investigations in a variety of science content areas to deepen their understanding of NGSS Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Although participants will experience a variety of Practices and Crosscutting Concepts, the main focus will be on the ones listed above and how they mutually support each other. They will take away strategies to help students construct and write explanations and support them with arguments for how the evidence supports the explanation. They will learn how to set norms and use strategies to ensure productive classroom discussions and respectful arguments and how to help students support claims with evidence and/or reasons. Participants will experience and reflect on how Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas are meaningfully integrated in instruction and assessments using Performance Tasks. There will be time for reflection and to plan NGSS-aligned lessons.
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Using Crosscutting Concepts to Investigate Natural Phenomena
Grades: Separate workshops for grades K-5 and 6-12
Practices Focus: Developing and Using Models
Crosscutting Concept Focus: Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter; Stability and Change

This one-day workshop is designed to support teachers and supervisors with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Participants will engage in NGSS-aligned investigations in a variety of science content areas to deepen their understanding of NGSS Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Although participants will experience a variety of Practices and Crosscutting Concepts, the main focus will be on the ones listed above and how they mutually support each other. Participants will learn how to use Crosscutting Concepts to frame questions for class discussions and to guide student thinking to make sense of natural phenomena. They will take away strategies to help students define systems related to the natural phenomena they are investigating. Specifically, they will investigate how to trace the matter and energy into, within, and out of systems, and consider how these systems are changing, and on what scale. Participants will experience and reflect on how Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas are meaningfully integrated in instruction and assessments using Performance Tasks. There will be time for reflection and to plan NGSS-aligned lessons.
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Planning NGSS-Aligned Lessons and Assessments
Grades: Separate workshops for grades K-5 and 6-12
Core Ideas Focus: Using Core Ideas to construct explanations for natural phenomena
Practices and Crosscutting Concept Focus: Using Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to develop Performance Tasks that can be used for instruction and assessment.

This one-day workshop is designed to support teachers and supervisors with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The first part of this workshop will focus on the explicit use of Core Ideas to write teacher-level explanations for natural phenomena. These can be used to define science content goals for instruction and assessments. The second part of this workshop will focus on writing Performance Tasks that meaningfully combine Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. These Performance Tasks will help guide students as they make sense of natural phenomena and will prepare them for the NGSS Performance Expectations. Participants will use an extensive lesson planning guide and a nationally field-tested template to plan NGSS-aligned lessons and assessments.
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Starlab Training
Grades: One training for grades K-12
Training Focus: Setup, take-down, and use of the Starlab equipment
Content Focus: Increase familiarity with the night sky; increase familiarity with a range of projection cylinders in astronomy, earth science, and biology.

Starlab is the prefect tool to make science come to life for students. It helps teachers implement aspects of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by allowing students to make observations, collect and analyze data, and construct explanations for natural phenomena in astronomy, earth science, and biology. Astronomical phenomena such as the daily and yearly motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, and constellations are easily observed with Starlab. Data from these observations present students with the evidence to develop models and construct explanations for these phenomena. Starlab also includes cylinders related to Earth Science concepts such as Ocean Currents, Weather and Climate, and Plate Tectonics; and Biology concepts such as the cell.
During this one-day Starlab training, participants will learn how to set up, maintain, and repack the Starlab system and become more familiar with the night sky and the many Starlab cylinders that are available. This training certifies K-12 teachers to rent one of our Starlab Portable planetariums.
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NGSS Teacher Leader Program

The NGSS Teacher Leader Program prepares educators to take a leadership role in New Jersey’s implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Teacher Leaders co-facilitate a series of workshops focused on supporting their colleagues as they begin to bring the new national standards into their classrooms. The program provides opportunities for K-12 classroom teachers to deepen their understanding of all aspects of the NGSS while developing collaborative and leadership skills, with the ultimate goal of sharing their expertise with their district colleagues.

The program was developed in response to the adoption of the NGSS as New Jersey’s state science standards and the need to support school districts in preparing for and implementing these new standards. The program is part of a Higher-Ed consortium consisting of the Science Education Institute at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), the Rider University Science Education and Literacy Center (SELECT) and the Princeton University Teacher Preparation Program.

The NGSS present a research-based approach to improving and transforming science education, focusing on three dimensions of science learning: science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. Implementation of the NGSS will change how science is taught and learned, creating opportunities for students to build a deep understanding of science over time. Effectively implementing these standards will require that teachers make a significant shift in the content and manner in which they have been teaching. It will also require everyone involved in education – teachers, administrators, and parents – to understand the foundation of the NGSS. To be successful, teachers need significant and long-term support to embrace the instructional strategies that support student learning in the NGSS.

Through their involvement with the program, Teacher Leaders are provided with multiple opportunities to co-facilitate the consortium’s professional development programs. These currently include the NGSS Summer Institute and the NGSS Professional Development Workshop Series at Raritan Valley Community College, the CONNECT-ED program and a series of NGSS workshops at Rider University, and the QUEST Program at Princeton University. To support their co-facilitation responsibilities, Teacher Leaders are provided with workshop designs and resources as well as mentoring and support.

Teacher Leaders have multiple roles in the workshops. They provide feedback on workshop designs, they lead portions of the workshop, and they facilitate table groups of participants. During the workshop they share their own classroom experiences with the NGSS and assist workshop participants with lesson planning. This opportunity for Teacher Leaders to collaborate with higher education experts will build capacity to support other teachers in their own and neighboring school districts.

Currently the NGSS Teacher Leader Program consists of forty K-12 educators from different New Jersey school districts. These educators were selected based on the following criteria:

  • Prior professional development experiences with the NGSS
  • Experience with implementing aspects of the NGSS in their classroom
  • Ability to work well with colleagues from all grade levels
  • Support from school and district administration for participation as well as implementation of lessons learned in the district.

Frequently Asked Questions about the NGSS Teacher Leader Program

1.    How do I apply to become a Teacher Leader?
Currently there is no formal application process. Participation in the program is by invitation only. Teacher Leaders are selected based on the selection criteria outlined in the Program Description. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Teacher Leader should submit a Letter of Interest describing their prior NGSS professional development experiences and classroom implementation efforts and arrange for a separate Letter of Support from a district administrator.

2.    What is the time commitment for participation in the NGSS Teacher Leader Program?
The requirement is that Teacher Leaders participate in at least two workshops per school year (September 1 – June 30 and thus will be out of the classroom a minimum of two days during the school year – or more if they chose to do so. Teacher Leaders should discuss this with their school and district administrators. Our current Teacher Leaders were out of the classrooms between 2 and 6 days last school year. There will also be additional workshop opportunities during the summer.

3.    What is the Teacher Leader's home district's commitment in terms of release time during the school year and other resources?
The district is responsible for subs when a Teacher Leader is out of the classroom (a minimum of 2 days per school year). There are no other costs or fees for the district. The regular workshop fees (typically $125 per day) are waived for the Teacher Leaders.

4.    Do Teacher Leaders receive a stipend for participation in the program?
Teachers Leaders will be paid a stipend of $50 per day for preparation during the school year. For workshop school holidays or vacations (including the summer break) the stipend is $150 per day including preparation time.

5.    What is the duration of participation in the NGSS Teacher Leader Program?
Teacher Leaders may participate in the programs for as long as they prefer and for as long as funding for the program is available; the program is not limited to one school year. The program is restricted to classroom teachers.

6.    Can more than one teacher per school district participate?
The program is currently limited to one teacher per school district in order to reach as many districts as possible. We are in the planning stages to expand the program to 2-3 teachers per district.

7.    Are science supervisors or principals eligible to participate in the NGSS Teacher Leader Program?
We are currently expanding the program to two teachers per district for some selected districts.

8.    How is the NGSS Teacher Leader Program funded?
The NGSS Teacher Leader Program is currently funded by donations from the 3M Corporation, the Investors Bank, the PSE&G Corporation, and the Sanofi North America Corporate Social Responsibility.

Current Teacher Leaders:

  • Fern Archer (Newark; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Tiffany Baskerville (Newark; Middle School Teacher)
  • Christine Blenx (Millburn; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Katie Bower (Cherry Hill; K-8 Coach)
  • Jennifer Caban (Newark; Middle School Teacher)
  • Marisa Castronova (Montville; Middle School Teacher)
  • Ann Marie Christou (Warren; Middle School Teacher)
  • Joseph D’Amato (Ramey; Middle School Teacher)
  • Debbie Ericksen (Bridgewater-Raritan; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Jodi Costanza (West Orange; High School Teacher)
  • Suzanne Fenkel (Manalapan-Englishtown; Middle School Teacher)
  • Martha Friend (Princeton; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Jessica Glover (Montgomery; K-5 Science Supervisor)
  • Heather Higgins (North Plainfield; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Michelle Hill (Hillsborough; High School Teacher)
  • Patricia Johnston (Union Township; Middle School Teacher)
  • John Jones (Howell; Middle School Teacher)
  • Alyson Kasper (Denville; Middle School Teacher)
  • Melissa Kearney (Oakland; Middle School Teacher)
  • Brianna Kehoe (Mendham; Middle School Teacher)
  • Jane Kirshenbaum (Jefferson; High School Teacher)
  • Diana Loiacono (Montgomery; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Lara Lovett (Sparta; High School Teacher)
  • Alessandra MacFarlane (Tewksbury; Middle School Teacher)
  • Megan Madison (Jefferson; Middle School Teacher)
  • Denise Magrini (Mendham; Middle School Teacher)
  • Teresa Maone (West Windsor-Plainsboro; Middle School Teacher)
  • Lauren Massa (Farmingdale; Middle School Teacher)
  • Allison Massa (Linden; High School Teacher)
  • Ann McDonough (Westfield; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Jessica Nathan (Warren Township; K-5 Coach)
  • Saudia Ransom (Hillside; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Tara Sain (Ocean Township; Middle School Teacher)
  • Mike Schmidt (Little Egg Harbor; Elementary School Teacher)
  • Chris Schrenk (New Brunswick; High School Teacher)
  • Donna Stumm (Flemington-Raritan; Middle School Teacher)
  • Deborah Szmaida (Lebanon; Middle School Teacher)
  • Shawn Templin (Hillsborough; High School Teacher)
  • Patricia Volino-Reinoso (Rahway; High School Assistant Principal)
  • Elizabeth Ziemba (Immaculate Conception School; Elementary School Teacher)

Next Generation Science Standards

“It is essential that all students have access to a high-quality science education that provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to be well-informed citizens, to be prepared for college and careers, and to understand and appreciate the scientific enterprise.” The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) made this statement in its recent endorsement of a new set of science education standards – the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).  The NGSS are based on what we now know about teaching and learning science and the needs of the 21st century. The NGSS include several important innovations

  1. Focus on deep exploration of core ideas
    The NGSS move away from a science curriculum that is “a mile wide and an inch deep” to focus more on a limited number of core ideas.  This allows students to develop a deeper understanding of important science concepts that can be used to explain natural phenomena (observable events) and solve engineering problems.
  2. Focus on science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts
    Science and engineering practices and concepts that cut across all sciences, such as patterns or matter and energy, are critical tools for scientists and engineers. Research has shown that engaging students in these same practices and crosscutting concepts develops an integrated and deeper understanding of science. In addition, students develop skills that are critical in the 21st century, such as working collaboratively in groups; analyzing data and developing and using models; and developing critical thinking, a skill which has been shown to increase academic achievement across the board.
  3. Inclusion of engineering and applications of science
    Many of us may have wondered why we need to learn the science that is presented to us in school. The NGSS are the first standards that integrate science and engineering from kindergarten through grade 12 and go far beyond the typical egg drops or robotics classes. They are intended for ALL students and not a selected few. Not only will this help prepare our students at a time that most jobs require a background in science and engineering, it will also provide a motivation for why we have to learn the science in the first place.

For more information about and resources for the NGSS see:

Starlab Training & Rental Program

STARLAB TRAINING


Starlab is the prefect tool to make science come to life for students. It helps teachers prepare for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by allowing students to make observations, collect and analyze data, and construct explanations for natural phenomena in astronomy, earth science, and biology. Astronomical phenomena such as the daily and yearly motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, and constellations are easily observed with Starlab. Data from these observations presents students with the evidence to develop models and construct explanations for these phenomena. Starlab also includes projection cylinders related to Earth Science concepts such as Ocean Currents, Weather and Climate, and Plate Tectonics and Biology concepts such as the cell.

Participants will learn how to set up, maintain, and repack the Starlab system and become more familiar with the night sky and the many Starlab cylinders that are available.

To register for our Starlab Training on Wednesday November 28, 2018 click here.

The training certifies K-12 teachers to rent one of our Starlab Portable planetariums.

More Information


Customized training at your district site is also available for up to five teachers per day. For more information, please contact Mariel O’Brien at 908-526-1200 x 8942 or email at mariel.obrien@raritanval.edu

Starlab Rentals

Our portable planetarium can bring the stars down to the Earth - and to your school!

Starlab is a portable planetarium made of fabric, which is inflated by a fan and capable of accommodating approximately 25 students. A star projector recreates the sky, including the Sun, Moon and Planet positions on the dome, for any time or place on earth. Starlab is compact enough to fit into a small car and is easily set up in 15 minutes. It requires a clean floor space of 20' x 22' and a 12' ceiling.

Any teacher who has attended an NJACE Starlab certification course is eligible to rent a Starlab. Our Starlabs are available for rent for $375 per week and $275.00 for each additional consecutive week. The cost includes the dome, blower, various accessories, Northern Sky and Greek Mythology cylinders and up to 4 additional additional optional cylinders. Teachers must pick up the Starlab at RVCC on a Friday between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Teachers may submit a request for their preferred pickup and drop-off times, and they will be contacted with information about whether those requested times are available.

Please note that March, April and May are the busiest months for Starlab rentals.   Please register early or consider renting at a different time.


Cylinder Descriptions

The following cylinders are available for rentals: (PDF sizes range from 367 - 2,703 KB)

If you are interesting in bringing a Starlab to your school with a presenter, check out the Planetarium’s Starlab Outreach Program.

Staff Biographies

  • Wil van der Veen
    Wil van der Veen
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  • Mariel O’Brien
    Mariel O’Brien
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Our Education Partners

To support New Jersey school districts with the implementation of the Next generation Science Standards (NGSS) a consortium of three higher education institutions has been established:  the Rider University Select Program, the Princeton University Teacher Preparation Program and the Science Education Institute at Raritan Valley Community College.  Together, we have been planning for the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards state wide and have designed a number of professional opportunities to support teachers' success in implementing the NGSS.

Other partners include: