Science Educators and NJ Curriculum

Ashley Cardoso

 Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology
Major: Clinical Lab Science
Faculty Research Mentor: Adara Goldberg
 

Abstract:

Science educators have taken various steps into teaching New Jersey curriculum mandates despite the challenges and connections they must make. The New Jersey curriculum mandates have been in placed and continuously updating since November of 2024 and provide guidelines for educators to follow to prepare students for the future. There are various mandates depending on the grade the student would be in; the New Jersey Department of Education created these mandates. These mandates were created to provide a framework for educators to follow and teach students what they need to know for the future. Science educators have taken steps to create methods that can help connect their materials to the mandates effectively. These methods connect educators allow their students to understand the material and lessons in easier ways that might have been difficult in the past. This study examines the methods and challenges that science educators have faced with teaching New Jersey curriculum and what educators can do to improve in the future. The research aims to answer about which steps educators must take to follow the mandates depending on the grade they are teaching and how these mandates change how educators must plan their future plannings based on what the Department of Education deems important.