The challenge
Though YPS had replaced its textbooks since the Gold Rush, 2017 brought a search for a new science program. Jeramey Tamez, science coordinator for Yukon Public Schools, says the district made a hefty investment in Chromebooks, but didn’t have a science curriculum that would put the technology to good use, or meet the state’s rigorous new science standards.
A new approach to science instruction
Amplify Science was built from the ground up for the Next Generation Science Standards by the curriculum experts at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science. YPS felt the program would meet the Oklahoma Academic Standards—and make good on their investment in technology. Yukon began a phased rollout of Amplify Science with grade 8 during the 2018–2019 school year. They will be adding grade 7 next year. This past year, Yukon had more than 650 students engaged with the program. Tamez reports that teachers can see the significant gains students are making in science and that students are also highly engaged. Data from unit assessments within the program also show that students are making strong progress in mastering critical science content.
