Stickers Don't Cut It: The Real Deal on Science Education Reform
03/17/25 • 16 min
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The transformation of science education is happening right now in Pennsylvania classrooms, and middle school teacher Tom Leeds is on the frontlines. In this enlightening conversation, Tom pulls back the curtain on the real differences between curriculum that merely displays a STEELS "sticker" versus materials that authentically embody these new science standards.
Tom shares how his classroom dynamics have fundamentally shifted as students move from passive recipients of information to active participants with genuine agency in their learning journey. The results speak volumes – not only are students more engaged with scientific concepts, but behavior problems have decreased significantly. "The kids are talking about science and we can see that they care more," Tom observes, "and that just warms my heart because it's working."
As a PennSEL Network participant, Tom benefits from collaboration with science educators across Pennsylvania, preparing for upcoming changes to state assessments while implementing best practices in his classroom. He offers advice for teachers just beginning to implement STEELS.
Whether you're a veteran science teacher or just beginning your STEELS implementation journey, this episode offers practical wisdom, honest reflections, and the inspiration to take that next step toward transforming your classroom. Listen now to discover how putting students "in a position of power" might revolutionize learning in your own educational setting.
Want to learn more about ChangED? Check out our website at: learn.mciu.org/changed
What did you think of the episode? Send us a text!
The transformation of science education is happening right now in Pennsylvania classrooms, and middle school teacher Tom Leeds is on the frontlines. In this enlightening conversation, Tom pulls back the curtain on the real differences between curriculum that merely displays a STEELS "sticker" versus materials that authentically embody these new science standards.
Tom shares how his classroom dynamics have fundamentally shifted as students move from passive recipients of information to active participants with genuine agency in their learning journey. The results speak volumes – not only are students more engaged with scientific concepts, but behavior problems have decreased significantly. "The kids are talking about science and we can see that they care more," Tom observes, "and that just warms my heart because it's working."
As a PennSEL Network participant, Tom benefits from collaboration with science educators across Pennsylvania, preparing for upcoming changes to state assessments while implementing best practices in his classroom. He offers advice for teachers just beginning to implement STEELS.
Whether you're a veteran science teacher or just beginning your STEELS implementation journey, this episode offers practical wisdom, honest reflections, and the inspiration to take that next step toward transforming your classroom. Listen now to discover how putting students "in a position of power" might revolutionize learning in your own educational setting.
Want to learn more about ChangED? Check out our website at: learn.mciu.org/changed
Previous Episode
Teaching Science That Sticks
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Penn State professor Dr. Scott McDonald joins ChangED to reveal how Pennsylvania's STEELS standards are flipping science education on its head! Forget silent classrooms with teachers droning on—Scott's vision has students buzzing with scientific conversations while teachers take a backseat as guides.
"I'd love to see kids talking a lot more in class to each other about science ideas," says Scott, who trains tomorrow's science teachers. The content hasn't changed, but the delivery? Completely transformed!
We explore why veteran teachers might struggle with this shift (old habits die hard!), how the three dimensions of STEELS standards create a framework for success, and why treating science as an isolated subject is a massive missed opportunity.
Join us for this mind-expanding conversation at the crossroads of pedagogy and cognitive science. Your science class will never look the same again!
To learn more about Scott's podcast "Science In Between" at this link: https://scienceinbetween.fireside.fm/
Want to learn more about ChangED? Check out our website at: learn.mciu.org/changed
Next Episode
From Chaos to Coherence: Science Education's Evolution
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Colonial SD's own Maria Wileczek shares her remarkable 26-year perspective on Pennsylvania's dramatic shift from standardless science teaching to today's three-dimensional learning approach. Drawing from her experience, Maria offers unique insights into curriculum evolution while exploring practical implementation challenges facing both elementary and secondary teachers—from creating authentic assessments to navigating the tension between specialized expertise and integrated science teaching.
Maria's innovative strategies, including claim-evidence-reasoning frameworks and creative use of Super Bowl commercials as entry points for scientific thinking, demonstrate how educators can make abstract concepts accessible and engaging. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes why this evolution matters: today's students need science literacy not just for academic success but to make evidence-based decisions about health, technology, and environmental issues throughout their lives. Her passion for ensuring equitable access to meaningful science education infuses every practical insight.
Want to learn more about ChangED? Check out our website at: learn.mciu.org/changed
ChangED - Stickers Don't Cut It: The Real Deal on Science Education Reform
Transcript
Welcome back to Change Ed Changed Changed . Super glad to be here with all of you for this episode of Pennsylvania's number one rated education podcast , a podcast for educators by educators . I am your host , andrew Kuhn , education consultant from Montgomery County Intermediate Unit , and here with me , patrice Semacek , an educational consultant from Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
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