NCLB requires state testing of student progress in science beginning in 2007, although Adequate Yearly Progress benchmarks are not required for schools and districts. RBS' approach to improving science teaching and learning includes the following major features: standards-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment; current research on student thinking; substantial time for planning and professional development; problem-based learning; and evidence-based programs. Resources that embody RBS' philosophy and these features are presented in this section.
Content and Teaching Standards
This compendium of science content standards created by McREL was designed for curriculum developers and teachers involved in standards development or revision. Click on Science to see the information on science standards and Lesson Plans to see specific classroom activities designed to address science standards.
The National Science Education Standards, designed to ensure that children achieve scientific literacy, are the result of efforts by numerous professional organizations, including the National Research Council and the National Committee on Science Education Standards and Assessment. The NAP Web site provides information about science standards for teaching, assessment, and professional development and is organized into eight distinctive chapters for each set of standards.
NBPTS has developed standards in 27 fields, including science. All NBPTS standards are based on the Board's five core propositions for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. The standards also serve as the basis for NBPTS certification. The science standards may be found at the NBPTS Web site; click on For Candidates Certificate areas.
The NSTA Web site includes Standards for Science Teacher Preparation designed to ensure that all students have sufficient knowledge and skills in science and technology for success in the 21st Century. The nation must attract, prepare, and retain well-educated, effective preK-12 science teachers.
Part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Project 2061 has focused on curriculum and instruction practices in science and mathematics. The Web site includes its Benchmarks for Science Literacy.
Assessment
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as "the Nation's Report Card," is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Since 1969, assessments have been conducted periodically in eight subject areas, including science. Click on Science.
PISA assesses the degree to which 15-year-old students near the end of compulsory education have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in society, including scientific literacy. Click on What PISA Assesses, then Scientific Literacy.
TIMSS, formerly known as the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, provides reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students compared to that of students in other countries. TIMSS data has been collected in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. Click on TIMSS 2007 results.
Learning Activities and Instructional Practices
The ASPIRA Association, Inc. is the only national nonprofit organization devoted solely to the education and leadership development of Puerto Rican and other Latino youth. The Web site provides curriculum resources and links to many other organizations. Use the search box for "science."
The extensive ENC Web site contains the most comprehensive collection of science curriculum resources and professional development materials in the nation. It is a low cost subscription site.
This extensive Web site hosted by the U.S. Department of Education offers links to free resources in a range of subject areas. To access the science resources, which are further delineated by sub-topic areas, click on Science.
The Center has conducted an intensive, nationally coordinated research program in collaboration with teachers to advance effective reform of K-12 mathematics and science. Charged by the U.S. Department of Education in 1995 to build a solid research base about ways instruction can be improved, Center researchers have worked with teachers and diverse student populations to develop new mathematics and science learning environments and professional development models.
This portion of the NSF Web site features a diverse collection of lessons and Web resources for classroom teachers, their students, and students' families. Click on Astronomy and Space, Biology, Chemistry and Materials, Earth and Environment, Nanoscience, or Physics.
Part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Project 2061 has focused on curriculum and instruction practices including science. Project 2061 has investigated how best to coordinate teaching practices, curriculum materials, and professional development to improve student learning in Middle Grades mathematics. Click on Center for Curriculum Materials in Science, Atlas for Science Literacy, and Evaluation of Science and Mathematics Textbooks.
Providing a wealth of resources for K-12 science educators, Science NetLinks is a guide to meaningful standards-based Internet experiences for students. Science NetLinks is part of the MarcoPolo Education Foundation partnership, which provides free, Internet-based content across academic disciplines. Science NetLinks' role is to provide a wealth of resources for K-12 science educators, including lesson plans and reviewed Internet resources. SNL is a dynamic site with new content being added on a regular basis.
This Web site contains diverse materials, announcements and electronic communications designed for teachers. This section is the Lesson Bank; click on Science or a grade level.
This site at Michigan State University is also a good source of mathematics resources. Click on Overheads and Data Files, then Miscellaneous Overheads from Presentations. The second section is on science, covering such topics as:
- Number of Topics Intended
- Number of Topics Introduced at Each Grade
- Science Topics Intended at Each Grade by a Majority of A+ Countries
- Top Achieving Countries' Topics for Each Grade
- Average Topic Duration
- Common Intentions - Grades 4 and 8
Policy Environment
The NAP was created to publish reports prepared by the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council, all operating under a charter granted by the Congress of the United States and created to be advisory bodies. The NAP publishes more than 200 books a year on a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and health, capturing the most authoritative views on important issues in science and health policy. Most reports are available for free viewing and downloading. Use the search box for science or a more specific topic.
This section of the ED Web site describes the science background for NCLB, performance status, and recommended steps for improvement.
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Professional Associations and Resources