Using Atlas of Science Literacy

AGENDA

Day One

8:30 – 8:45 Getting Started
Participants and presenters introduce themselves. Procedural and technical details of the workshop are discussed.

8:45 – 9:15 The Need for Change
Participants explore the current state of students’ understanding of important ideas in science, mathematics, and technology and discuss the need for reform efforts.

9:15 – 10:00 Overview of Project 2061 & This Workshop
A brief history of Project 2061 and the “tools” for reform developed at Project 2061. Discussion of the major principles that will influence our continued efforts at reform. Discussion of the challenges ahead as we try to move reform forward and make use of standards and other resources to change classroom practice.

10:00 – 10:15 BREAK

10:15 – 12:00 Writing a Goal for Student Understanding
Participants will study an adult science literacy goal on the topic of Gravity. They will then consider the appropriate steps along the way to literacy for students at different grade levels. Participants will be asked to write learning goals for several grade ranges, consider the nature and usefulness of learning goals, and question how they develop in sophistication through the grades.

12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH

1:00 – 1:30 Building a Map
Participants will look at the Project 2061 learning goals on the topic of gravity and then “walk through” the development of a strand map for that topic, discussing the usefulness and qualities of the learning goals.

1:30 – 3:00 Connections
Participants will focus on the connections between benchmarks that are represented in the strand maps. Discussion of how learning goals relate to one another and the different kinds of “connections”, including those that appear on the strand maps and those that do not. Participants will also consider how connections might influence understanding of the ideas and development of learning experiences.

3:00 – 3:30 Assignments and Reflections
Participants will discuss a specific learning goal that they will then study for homework, and reflect on the day in writing.

 

Day Two

8:30 – 8:45 Reflections & Issues
Group will briefly discuss any questions on the reflections or left over from the previous day.

8:45 – 9:30 Features of Atlas
An overview of the major features of the strand maps and the Atlas of Science Literacy. Participants will practice navigating and using the book and the maps

9:30 – 10:00 Connections and Instruction
Participants will consider how connections might influence understanding of the ideas and development of learning experiences.

10:00 – 10:15 BREAK

10:15 – 11:00 Benchmark Study Discussion
Participants will discuss the benchmark they studied for homework and reflect on the process they used to examine it.

11:00 – 12:00 Evaluating Instruction
Participants will discuss how we can evaluate learning experiences according to specific learning goals.

12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH

1:00 – 3:00 Modeling Standards-Based Instruction (Chemistry That Applies)
Participants will be taken through a lesson on the conservation of matter that targets the learning goal they have studied and discussed.

3:00 – 3:30 Assignments and Reflections
Participants will receive a reading assignment for the next day and reflect on the day in writing.

 

Day Three

8:30 – 8:45 Reflections & Issues
Group will briefly discuss any questions on the reflections or left over from the previous day.

8:45 – 9:45 Unburdening the Curriculum
Participants will review a procedure for removing parts of the curriculum that do not contribute to science literacy.

9:45 – 10:45 Analyzing Assessment Tasks
Participants will examine two assessment tasks using the Project 2061 process for analyzing an assessment.

10:45 – 11:00 Team Study Project Introduction
The Team Study Project will focus on a specific learning goal that the participants choose themselves. Participants will be asked to prepare a report on that learning goal, bringing together all the information needed to teach or design a lesson around that learning goal, including some rough sketches of questions, activities, and assessments.

11:00 – 12:00 Project Work Time

12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH

1:00 – 2:00 Project Work Time

2:00 – 3:00 Presentation and Discussion
Each team will present their Team Study Project and participants will discuss them.

3:00 – 3:30 Final Reflection/Feedback
Participants will reflect one last time on the workshop in writing.

 

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