Introduction, Option A:
Landscape Analogy on Importance of Design
Estimated Time: 5 minutes.
Example of Use: Sample 1.5-Day Workshop
Agenda
List of Materials
Sample Presentation
Begin your workshop by introducing yourself or having someone introduce
you. Become acquainted with the participants. If the group is small, you
may wish to have individuals introduce themselves. In a large group, you
may wish to have people respond to such general questions as, "How many
teach grades K-2 (3-5, etc.)?" or to make such general comments as, "I
was happy to meet some of you at the convention and to be invited to tell
you more about SFAA and Benchmarks." Set a more specific
context for the workshop if it is appropriate to do so.
TRANSPARENCY: Importance
of Design
Presenter: Project 2061 is a long-term initiative of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science that seeks to reform education
in science, mathematics, and technology that will foster science literate
graduates. Planning curricula to achieve that goal is much like the planning
that goes into a garden or landscape.
As a popular book on landscape design asserts,
The key to a good landscape is design, as distinguished from mere
decoration. To decorate is to put things into the environment without purpose
in mind. There is no real intent, no plan. . . . When you design a landscape,
you know WHY you are putting this plant here and that walkway there. A
designed landscape is one that has been thought through, whose choices
are conscious and intentional.
It is essential that we introduce more design thinking into our decisions
about curriculum revisions. Are we clear on WHY we are adding something
and WHY we are placing it in this course and at this grade level rather
than another? Are we removing something from the course to make time for
what we have added? How does what we add relate to material students have
studied prior to this course and to material in courses that will follow?
In short, are decisions we make in our current approach to curriculum changes
based on design or decoration? Project 2061 is producing a set of tools
to help school districts make intentional choices about curricula.