Using Science Standards to guide the development of high school linguistics

Stephanie Joy Gamble Morse

doi:10.3765/plsa.v6i3.5138

Abstract

As the linguistics community is pushing for more introductory classes to be taught at the high school level, it is useful to create a course framework. This framework can help provide structure for a potential Advanced Placement (AP) test and course as well as help interested teachers create successful proposals to add linguistics to their school’s course offerings. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I suggest that the existing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are an ideal starting point. Although not a science in the traditional secondary school sense, there is considerable overlap in methodology. Using the language of science can help those unfamiliar with linguistics see that it is the systematic study of language rather than just language learning, as well as help students transfer some of the skills and knowledge of practices that they already know from previous classes. This paper serves as an introduction to NGSS and the connections between the existing science standards and methodologies with the goal of demonstrating their usefulness for creating standards for linguistics.

Highlights

One of the major differences in teaching at the post-secondary versus secondary level is the need for a standardized set of content standards
Many readers will be familiar with the Common Core standards for mathematics and English language arts which have been adopted by the majority of states in the United States
As the linguistics community moves forward to create an Advanced Placement test and pushes for the inclusion of linguistics at the high school level, there is a need for creating standards for the courses

Summary

Introduction

One of the major differences in teaching at the post-secondary versus secondary level is the need for a standardized set of content standards. At the high school level, there are national and state standards for all grade levels and content areas. Many readers will be familiar with the Common Core standards for mathematics and English language arts which have been adopted by the majority of states in the United States. Though they are not without their detractors, the Common Core standards were put in place to help ensure that students across the US are working towards the same goal of preparing all students to be ready for college or a career

Objectives

Conclusion