ADVOCACY

A statement from HASTI on laboratory activities during COVID-19:

The start of the 2020 school year is definitely causing pre-K-12 science educators to rethink and reflect on how they provide science instruction for their students.  The planning of laboratories, group work and teacher interactions with students will not look like the 2019 school year.  Many questions are present on how we maneuver classroom activities in the presence of COVID-19 and CDC guidelines.  HASTI understands the questions and concerns that Indiana educators have as they plan the 2020-21 school year.  We recommend to educators striving to implement the Indiana Science Standards that engage their students in the disciplinary core ideas, cross-cutting concepts and science and engineering practices to utilizing the resources and recommendations provided by the National Science Teaching Association.

We encourage educators, administrators and parents to review a recently published NSTA article from Drs. Ken Roy and Kevin Doyle.  They recommend possible laboratory strategies that can be implemented that follow the CDC guidelines and also meet the Indiana laboratory guidelines.   The strategies outlined include both virtual and face to face experiences.

HASTI wants to hear your questions and your ideas providing networking opportunities.  Visit our webpage to view our new forum – 2020-21 School Reopening  (https://hasti.wildapricot.org/2020-2021-School-Reopening), our HASTI Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/102146046520136/) and the HASTI Twitter feed (@HASTIsci).  Let’s stay in communication and share what we are doing in our classrooms to stay safe while engaging our students in learning science.

Kristen Poindexter – HASTI President (2020-21) – president@hasti.org

Carolyn Hayes – HASTI Executive Director – executive director@hasti.org

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