The Ultimate Guide to
Three-Dimensional Learning
Teach Real-World Skills with 3-D Science Standards
3-D science standards modernize science education by moving away from traditional teaching methods that no longer reflect real-world science practices.
Instead of focusing on rote memorization, 3-D science standards teach your students key skills like research, communication, and analytical thinking that STEM professionals use in their everyday work.
While content knowledge is still part of the standards, the focus is on engaging students with new information, solving problems, and making connections between scientific disciplines, all while relating science to the world around them.
What Are the Three Dimensions?
The standards center around three overlapping dimensions:
- Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs)
- Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)
- Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs).
SEPs and CCCs are designed to be taught in context, while focusing on a small number of DCIs helps students gain a thorough understanding of science disciplines.
Using these three dimensions, students make sense of phenomena and solve problems.
![Three young girls using bug-catching equipment in a grassy field](https://www.imaginelearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TWG-what-is-3D-learning-three-dimensions.jpg)
Looking for More Resources?
Podcast Episode: 3-D Learning
In this episode of Twig Science On… we speak with Lauren Stoll, an assessment and curriculum designer from SCALE Science at WestEd.
Hear about our unique collaboration, the importance of 3-D science standards, and the power of a student-centered approach to teaching science.