Lasting science education reform must begin with learning goals. Learning goals should guide development of curriculum materials, research and testing, and materials for families and communities. Clear and specific learning goals, along with time, resources, collaboration, and leadership are necessary for science literacy. The nationally recognized standards represented in Benchmarks for Science Literacy and published by Project 2061 have influenced state and local science, mathematics, and technology standards for many years.
In this section, you will find a collection of material on the subject of Learning Goals. Foremost among them is Benchmarks On-Line, an electronic version of the Benchmarks for Science Literacy. In addition, there are newspaper, magazine and research journal articles, as well as other resources relevant to Learning Goals.
Resources
Atlas
of Science Literacy
Atlas
of Science Literacy is
a collection
of 49 conceptual strand maps
that show how students' understanding
of the ideas and skills that
lead to literacy
in science, mathematics,
and technology might grow
over time. Each map depicts
how K–12
learning goals
for a particular topic relate
to each other and progress
from one grade level to the
next.
Benchmarks
for Science Literacy
Benchmarks
for Science Literacy is
the Project 2061 statement
of what all students should
know and be able to do in
science, mathematics, and
technology by the end of
grades 2, 5, 8, and 12. The
recommendations at each grade
level suggest reasonable
progress toward the adult
science literacy goals laid
out in the project's 1989
report Science for All
Americans.
Science
for All Americans
Science
for All Americans defines
science literacy and lays
out some principles for effective
learning and teaching. In
coherent prose, it articulates
and connects fundamental
ideas in science without
technical vocabulary and
dense detail.
Articles
Creating
Benchmarks For Science Education
Project 2061 has been constructing
goals for science, mathematics,
and technology education since
1985. The benchmarks are to be
used by school districts or curriculum
developers in constructing alternative
K- 12 curriculum models adapted
to their own populations and
circumstances.
Lessons
from Project 2061: Practical ways to implement
benchmarks and standards
The science books used
in the classroom today
provide a lot of facts,
but they don't help children
grasp the most basic concepts
about the world we live
in.
Elsewhere on the Web
NCTM
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
Principles and Standards represents a continuing effort by National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) to support mathematics
teachers
and ensure that every student receives a high-quality mathematics education.
The document delineates six Principles that set forth important characteristics
of Mathematics programs and ten Standards that discuss the mathematics students
need to be able to know and do across the grades.