High school teachers will inspire students to think like scientists with virtual science learning activities offered by Kognity for NGSS

CHICAGO – March 17, 2022 – At ASCD 2022, Kognity, a global edtech leader, will unveil Kognity for  NGSS, its new complete digital solution for teaching high school science, created to meet and align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Using Kognity’s platform, built for 21st-century teaching, U.S. high school science teachers will inspire their students to think like scientists through a combination of  physical and virtual activities, packaged into an engaging and scaffolded journey through the material.

The Next Generation Science Standards are a multi-state effort in the United States to create new education standards that are "rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education.” The standards were developed by a consortium of 26 states and by the National Science Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Research Council, and Achieve, a nonprofit organization that was also involved in developing math and English standards.

“When we looked at the learning resources ecosystem, we realized that there was a lot of work being done in edtech and then separately there was a good deal being done by content and curriculum providers. But there weren’t many who were working at the intersection of combining technology with pedagogy to elevate learning,” says Hugo Wernhoff, CEO and cofounder, Kognity. "That’s where Kognity lives – it's a merging of the two sides of the coin, in a format that’s very user-centric. In other words, we didn’t want to be ‘just’ an edtech company, or ‘just’ a content/curriculum publisher – Kognity for NGSS is a marriage of both those things.”

Kognity for NGSS, already being piloted in high schools around the country, is a comprehensive high school science curriculum featuring interactive materials centered around anchoring phenomena to get students thinking globally and locally about important questions. The flexible content is designed to engage students and promote inquiry and skills-based learning through features such as simulations, videos, and 3D models. High school science teachers can use Kognity’s framework to teach in their own way, with confidence that their instruction is aligned to NGSS performance expectations. Auto-graded assignments, real-time student insights, and facilitation tips help save time and allow teachers to focus on what matters most: teaching.

To implement its innovative new high school science curriculum in schools and districts around the United States, Kognity appointed an advisory board of top leaders in education technology, science learning, and education policy. The Kognity for NGSS  Advisory Board members are:

• Sheryl R. Abshire, Ph.D. As the recently retired Chief Technology Officer of Calcasieu Parish Public Schools Louisiana, Abshire is a longtime transformational technology innovation/integration expert. She has initiated the integration of technology into curriculum areas throughout districts and states, both nationally and internationally. As a school principal, teacher, library/media specialist, and assistant professor at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, Abshire is an accomplished grant writer/trainer and reviewer for the National Science Foundation. A founding member of the ISTE NETS/ISTE Standards and Accreditation Committee, she is involved in infusing technology into standards-based instruction.

• Erin Lark, Ed.D. Lark is an award-winning, National Board Certified STEM teacher who coordinates highly capable and differentiation services for Vancouver Public Schools in Washington State. She has taught students in kindergarten through college and is dedicated to identifying and supporting future innovators in the classrooms of today. Lark is an instructor in graduate teacher preparation programs, a professional development coordinator, academic journal editor, interdisciplinary curriculum writer, blogger, and podcaster who specializes in the intersection of STEM disciplines with social-emotional learning and social justice in education.

• Jeff McCoy. McCoy is associate superintendent of academics for Greenville County Schools, South Carolina, leading the academic division. Prior to assuming the associate superintendent role, McCoy held various district leadership positions and is starting his 21st year with the district. He serves on both state and national boards, including the National School Transformation Conference Advisory Board, the National Chief Academic Officers Working Group, and the Education Research and Development Institute Advisory Board.

• Julene Reed, Ed.D. Reed is an international consultant, presenter, researcher, instructional designer, author, and educator with more than 25 years of experience in K–12 education. She focused on environmental issues in her work with Jane Goodall and Roots & Shoots in Tanzania and the United States. As director of Polar Bears International’s Tundra Connections program, Reed delivered live broadcasts (with scientists and polar bear experts) on climate change, polar bears, and environmental sustainability to thousands of educators and students globally from a research buggy on the shores of the Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba.

• Jennifer C. Stimpson, Ed.D. Stimpson is a veteran science teacher, entrepreneur, and community leader, serving students through practice and innovative programming. She served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator, and is a Black female scientist and an HBCU, Big 12, and Ivy League alumna. Her global vision of promoting science literacy for middle school girls is reflected in her community, civic, and public mission and advocacy to promote justice in science education. Stimpson served as a U.S. Congressional Fellow to the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Albert Einstein Fellowship Program, advancing state and federal STEM education policy.  

Commenting on the advisory board, Wernhoff says, "I look forward to working closely with this illustrious group of education leaders and to leveraging their insights to continually improve Kognity for NGSS and support teachers and districts as they teach science and elevate learning for U.S. students.” For more information or to schedule a free demo of Kognity NGSS, visit www.ngss.kognity.com.