CCMS Knowledge Sharing Institute
KSI 2007
The annual Knowledge Sharing Institute (KSI) of the Center for Curriculum Materials in Science (CCMS), held this year at AAAS Headquarters in Washington, DC from July 22–25th, fostered information exchange within CCMS and with others involved in the development, selection, adaptation, and use of curriculum materials. This year’s KSI summarized and synthesized five years of leadership development and research focused on (a) the nature of curriculum materials and how they can encourage and support learning, (b) features of curriculum materials that can promote teacher learning and effective use, (c) the contributions of various elements to a successful curriculum design, (d) the role of assessment in curriculum research, and (e) how to promote the widespread understanding and acceptance of CCMS core principles and materials that are consistent with them. The 2007 KSI included plenary sessions focused on the above areas, followed by small group discussions, symposia (interactive poster sessions and paper sessions), paper sets and a general poster session that enabled participants to pursue an area in greater depth. (see conference agenda)
KSI 2006
The annual invitation-only Knowledge Sharing Institute (KSI), which fosters information exchange within the Center and with others involved in the development, selection, adaptation, and use of curriculum materials, was held July 9–12 at CCMS partner University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (see conference agenda). Building on last year’s theme, "Sharing Tools and Frameworks for Science Curriculum Materials Research and Development," KSI 2006 consisted of working sessions organized around CCMS research strands, small group discussions on emerging topics (“greenhouse” sessions), featured research presentations, and poster sessions.
The six research strands (made up of 2–4 sessions each) were as follows:
- Diversity (understanding how science curriculum materials can support student diversity)
- Teacher & Curriculum (understanding how teachers use and learn from science curriculum materials)
- Student Learning (understanding how students learn from science curriculum materials, both within and across grades)
- Literacy (understanding how attention to language literacy in curriculum design and implementation can improve the effectiveness of science curriculum materials)
- Assessment (understanding how to design assessments to effectively assess science learning goals), and
- Scientific Practices (understanding how to support scientific practices in classrooms, including scientific investigation, argumentation, explanation, and modeling).
Greenhouse sessions included topics such as Energy, Video Management & Analysis, Science Education Policy, Plate Tectonics Phenemona, Research Design, and the AAAS Project 2061 science concept map, Habits of Mind.
KSI 2005
KSI 2005, which explored the theme, "Sharing Tools and Frameworks for Science Curriculum Materials Research and Development," took place July 10–13, 2005, at Michigan State University (see conference agenda). It provided a forum for members of CCMS and the broader science materials research and development communities to share the tools and frameworks that they have found useful for curriculum research and development—through poster sessions, small-group discussions, and large-group sessions. Strands for the meeting included: (1) Diversity, (2) Teacher & Curriculum, (3) Student Learning, (4) Nature of Science, (5) Curriculum Design Process, and (6) Language Literacy.
KSI 2004
The Center’s 2004 KSI took place at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, on July 11–14, 2004. The Institute brought together over 60 researchers from CCMS partners Project 2061, Michigan State University, Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan, as well as invited early career researchers selected for their expertise and interest in science curriculum materials. The theme of the meeting was how best to advance research about the development, analysis, and enactment of science materials.
KSI 2003
The Center hosted its first KSI in 2003 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Participants included the Center’s faculty, postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students, and invited guests. Among the topics covered was the Center’s research agenda and how to define it.
