To succeed in new bio-driven fields, students will need a deep understanding of biological concepts and the ability to work across disciplines, incorporating knowledge from engineering, technology, and other areas. They must also learn to stay abreast of accelerating innovations and embrace change.

Educators today will need to focus on developing the skills and mindsets that will enable students to thrive in biology-driven industries and careers. This includes fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability, as well as nurturing a passion for lifelong learning. With the boundaries between traditional disciplines becoming increasingly blurred, it’s important that students learn to think beyond the confines of a single subject and embrace the interdisciplinary nature of emerging biologies.

The Challenges

A recent research study in the Journal of Biology Education (Analysis of Student Difficulties in Learning Biology), indicates that high school students face a range of internal and external challenges when learning biology. Internal factors include difficulty understanding scientific language, lack of interest or motivation, trouble focusing, and a perceived lack of background knowledge. External factors encompass ineffective teaching methods, insufficient family support, and outdated learning strategies. Additionally, a curriculum that is not aligned with standards and lacks integration of other STEM subjects within the biology syllabus hinders students' competency in cross-cutting concepts and inquiry-based science.

Teachers also face numerous obstacles. A study from the independent non-profit EdReports highlights significant shortcomings in high school science curricula and instructional materials. An astonishing 92% of high school science teachers report lacking comprehensive instructional materials that align with academic standards. Consequently, most educators cobble together fragmented resources independently due to the absence of a cohesive, standards-based curriculum.

High school biology teachers urgently need resources, tools, and professional learning support to consistently engage students and provide hands-on experience with real-world problems and scientific discoveries.

The Solution: OpenSciEd High School Science Curriculum 

Success of new OpenSciEd biology curriculum highlighted at Highline School Board meeting, May 3 2024.

“Based on our thorough review of the program… as well as data from piloting two of the highest quality programs, the committee is recommending adoption of the OpenSciEd biology program, which scored highly throughout all phases of the review and pilot process!” -- Nicole Flynn (Highline School District)

Traditional textbook-based approaches, where students simply learn science rather than doing science are no longer sufficient. These materials often fail to capture the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of emerging biologies.  OpenSciEd is an innovative, open-source, high school science curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) that emphasizes investigative science research, the interconnectedness of subjects through 3-dimensional learning, and real-world applications (aligning with the multifaceted demands of emerging science).

Jodi Bahr, a Professional Learning Facilitator at Activate Learning and a high school biology teacher, shares insights into the empowerment OpenSciEd brings to students: "OpenSciEd allows teachers to implement best practices in the classroom, giving all students the opportunity to learn chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science."

Aligning with NGSS is key to OpenSciEd's ability to engage all students, as it "enables students to build background knowledge and make connections across various ecosystems and real-world case studies," explains Jodi. 

With OpenSciEd, students figure out science rather than memorizing information, developing a deeper understanding of biological concepts and their relevance to the world around them. Students respond to this deeper learning with immediate enthusiasm.

The resounding success of OpenSciEd's pilot program in Washington's Highline School District, with the support of Activate Learning, testifies to the curriculum's potential to transform biology education and motivate students. Pilot program students, who had requested more relevant learning, reported increased engagement and empowerment, while teachers praised the curriculum's ease of use and ability to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

During the district's board meeting, Nicole Flynn, Secondary Science Specialist, noted that "an average of about 80% of students shared that they made contributions to the lessons and felt their ideas were respected." 

OpenSciEd accomplishes this by building background knowledge and making connections across ecosystems and case studies, preparing students for the interdisciplinary nature of emerging biologies. The curriculum's emphasis on real-world applications ensures students learn abstract concepts and develop relevant skills and mindsets needed to tackle complex challenges. Most importantly, OpenSciEd empowers students to drive their learning journey, equipping them with opportunities to innovate in bio-driven fields upon entering the workforce.

Jodi, in her role as a Certified OpenSciEd PL Facilitator, witnesses the transformation in students and teachers as they embrace this new way of teaching and learning.

"OpenSciEd offers many opportunities for students to 'notice and wonder' and share ideas with peers through small group and whole class discussions," she explains. This is a game-changer in science education. “OpenSciEd helps students become independent thinkers and support their claims with evidence. All kids feel like they have a voice in the science classroom,” says Jodi. 

OpenSciEd weaves collaborative and creative problem-solving throughout every unit and exercise. For example, in OpenSciEd’s Zombie Fires unit, students begin by exploring fire, which leads them to study decomposers, cellular respiration, and ultimately photosynthesis.

They conduct investigations on fuel and carbon dioxide, measure temperature changes due to increasing carbon dioxide, and study yeast to determine the optimal temperature for decomposers. This unit covers data collection (math), earth science, biology, and integrates concepts from the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere. 

These engaging, thought-provoking learning experiences that encourage social interaction are how and why students in Highline School District responded so favorably to OpenSciEd Biology.