Exploring the Use of Project 2061 Tools, 4:
Introduction
Each of the five workshop options in this section focuses on a different set of instructional scenarios. The scenarios have been designed to stimulate discussion on what instruction aimed at science literacy might be like.
Participants first study parts of Science for All Americans (SFAA) and Benchmarks for Science Literacy (Benchmarks) to clarify what a particular benchmark is intending students to know (see Chapter 5: Selected Readings, Understanding the Nature of a Benchmark, for examples of how participants’ understanding can be expanded through this study process). Next they apply their understanding of the benchmark’s intent to analyze how well the instruction in the scenarios addresses the benchmark and how the instruction could be improved.
Finally, they consider how the instruction could be extended to address other
benchmarks. This last activity has three purposes: It gives participants an opportunity to
apply their understanding of how the features of SFAA and Benchmarks can be
used in studying a benchmark; it familiarizes them with a greater variety of benchmarks;
and it illustrates that effective instruction usually addresses benchmarks from several
chapters or sections.
Option A: Instruction Aimed at Benchmark 4B The Earth (K-2)#3
Option B: Instruction Aimed at Benchmark 5E Flow of Matter and Energy (6-8)#1
Option C: Instruction Aimed at Benchmark 3C Issues in Technology (3-5)#5
Option D: Instruction Aimed at Benchmark 11B Models (6-8)#3
Option E: Instruction Aimed at Benchmark 1A The Scientific World View (3-5)#1