SEEd Resources

"Utah’s Science and Engineering Education (SEEd) standards were written by Utah educators and scientists, using a wide array of resources and expertise. A great deal is known about good science instruction. The writing team used sources including A Framework for K–12 Science Education , the Next Generation Science Standards , and related works to craft research-based standards for Utah. These standards were written with students in mind, including developmentally appropriate progressions that foster learning that is simultaneously age-appropriate and enduring. The aim was to address what an educated citizenry should know and understand to embrace the value of scientific thinking and make informed decisions. The SEEd standards are founded on what science is, how science is learned, and the multiple dimensions of scientific work. "--Introduction to SEEd Standards

Science is composed of multiple types of knowledge and tools. These include the processes of doing science, the structures that help us organize and connect our understandings, and the deep explanatory pieces of knowledge that provide predictive power. These facets of science are represented as “three dimensions” of science learning, and together these help us to make sense of all that science does and represents. These include science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. Taken together, these represent how we use science to make sense of phenomena, and they are most meaningful when learned in concert with one another. These are described in A Framework for K–12 Science Education, and  at the following links: 

The SEEd standards crosswalk will help teachers compare the old Utah core standards to the Utah SEEd standards and NGSS standards.  The NGSS Evidence statements can be used (crosswalk links SEEd to NGSS standards) to help clarify success criteria for 3D instruction. Each standard in the Utah K-12 Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards includes codes for the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) to be used and taught with that standard. The DCIs of Framework online document provides access to detailed information for each of the DCI codes. The DCI of the Framework and video descriptions should help teachers unpack the SEEd standards.

The framework emphasizes developing students’ proficiency in science in a coherent way across grades K-12 following the logic of learning progressions. Detailed learning progressions for all of the practices, concepts, and ideas that make up the three dimensions was provided with some guidance on how students develop over multiple grades.