SNUDLE: Scaling an Inclusive Solution to Sensemaking in Science

Project Description

Project Name
The UDL Science Notebook: Scaling an Inclusive Solution to Sensemaking in Science

The SNUDLE project focused on creating a suite of student and teacher tools, professional development, and facilitated professional learning communities to bring the power of CAST’s evidence-based Science Notebook in a Universal Design for Learning Environment (SNUDLE) to all teachers. This project is a part of a long line of CAST research, including funding from IES, in developing a digital science notebook to support inquiry science.

The SNUDLE implementation suite focused on creating teacher training, mentoring, and supports to build teacher motivation, self-efficacy, and capacity to use inquiry science and science notebooks effectively in their instruction, improving student science knowledge, motivation for science, and sensemaking for students and teachers.

The SNUDLE implementation suite

provides a scaffolded environment for teachers to modify or create investigations for any scientific inquiry curriculum based on the Next Generation Science Standards
includes embedded instructional coaching, investigation samples, plans, and activities; science concept and vocabulary supports; activity monitoring and feedback support
incorporates a blended professional development, professional learning community, and coaching model aligned with best professional learning practices
provides a curriculum-agnostic science notebook environment, authorable by teachers, adaptable to any science inquiry content

What is SNUDLE?

SNUDLE combines a supported science sensemaking process for students with robust teacher supports to bring about positive outcomes for student science comprehension and growth in teacher motivation and self-efficacy in science.

SNUDLE is:

a UDL-supported science sensemaking process for students
a professional development series to support teachers’ science inquiry teaching skills
a set of ongoing professional learning communities that support peer development in inquiry science teaching and learning
a robust environment that models, guides, and supports teachers to construct science investigations that meet the needs of their students

Outcomes

Teachers who used the SNUDLE implementation suite showed increased preparedness, confidence, and competence, thereby improving student science knowledge, motivation, and sensemaking.

For students who initially struggled in science, the more SNUDLE pages they completed, the better they performed on science post-test scores. SNUDLE is reducing the achievement gap in science, equalizing science understanding for all.

The following line graph shows quartiles of student performance on pre test measure in relation to tool page use. Students from the lowest quartile on the pretest who used more pages in SNUDLE performed more like the highest quartile students on the post test.

Line graph of student SNUDLE use, Science Notebook tool screenshots

Hear from the SNUDLE teachers

“It’s not just for the students. SNUDLE helped my teaching style. I became more in tune with how science should be taught and learned.” SNUDLE Teacher

“With SNUDLE, students see how writing is connected to science, which I think often gets overlooked. ” SNUDLE Teacher

“SNUDLE, lesson-by-lesson, is formative assessment. It allows us, even daily, to go through and see that the kids are having a hard time with something. Then we take the time to either supplement or give them a choice for morning work. ” SNUDLE Teacher