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