Addressing the epistemic elephant in the room: Epistemic agency and the next generation science standards

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) [Achieve, Inc. [ ]] represent a broad consensus that teaching and learning expectations must change. Rather than memorizing and reciting information, students are now expected to engage in science practices to develop a deep understanding of core science ideas. While we want to share in the optimism about NGSS, the standards are not a silver bullet for transforming science classrooms. They are,...