
Various Other Groups

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (1993) notes that many
different groups will benefit from using Benchmarks:
"Benchmarks was prepared as a tool to be used, along with Science
for All Americans, by everyone engaged in state or local efforts to
transform learning in science, mathematics, and technology. The following
suggestions for using Benchmarks came from Project 2061 team members,
consultants, and staff, and from individuals who have seen prepublication draft
versions of Benchmarks:
- Study groups of teachers, administrators, school board members, parents,
interested citizens, and, whenever possible, scientists, engineers, and
mathematicians can use Benchmarks to explore the concept of science
literacy in relation to instruction in the early elementary, upper elementary,
middle, and high-school grades.
- Cross-grade, cross-subject committees of teachers and curriculum
specialists can use Benchmarks to gauge how well a K-12 curriculum or
curriculum framework (state or local) addresses education for science literacy.
Such an analysis can also lead to suggestions for making immediate and
long-term curriculum and course improvement.
- Developers of instructional materials can use Benchmarks to guide
the creation of materials to support the work of teachers who are trying to
foster science literacy for all students. Similarly, test writers can use
Benchmarks to develop grade-level materials and techniques for assessing
student progress toward science literacy.
- Other reform efforts may find Benchmarks useful in supporting their
work, just as Project 2061 has relied on so many of them for ideas and
information. The federal programs that drew heavily on Science for All
Americans, such as the Statewide Systemic Initiatives (National Science
Foundation), the Eisenhower Science and Mathematics Initiative (Department of
Education), and the National Assessment of Educational Progress, have indicated
that they intend also to use Benchmarks.
- Universities and colleges that prepare elementary-and
secondary-school teachers can use Benchmarks to supplement Science
for All Americans. Whereas Science for All Americans explores the
concept of science literacy in general, Benchmarks raises issues closer
to the realities of curriculum and instruction.
- Researchers can use Benchmarks to identify important topics for
investigation. Such topics might include studies on the grade-level placement
of Benchmarks, the relationship between Benchmarks and their
precursors, effective ways to group Benchmarks into instructional units,
how to assess student progress toward science literacy, and how to evaluate
learning materials and techniques used in support of the benchmarks." (p.
xv)
References
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