Foundation Science: A Comprehensive High School Science Curriculum

在"基础科学"第一阶段完成的一学期化学模块的基础上，在第二阶段开发了9 - 11年级的综合科学课程。 已完成的"基础科学"为高中提供了一个以科学为基础的模块化科学课程，并提供支持专业发展和推广材料，以适应学区在中学科学课程中采取的各种方法。 该课程回应了高中在满足州和国家标准方面所面临的挑战，为学生进行高风险测试做好准备，适应对学生学习方式的新理解，更新教师内容和教学知识，并为日益多样化的学生群体提供服务。 课程包括八个一学期的模块-生物学，化学，地球科学和物理学各两个。 每个模块包括四个单元，每个单元通过两到四个故事驱动的学习体验开发一套特定的概念。 每个学科的第一个模块开发适合9年级和10年级的入门概念理解以及批判性思维，解决问题，沟通和实验室技术的技能。 每个学科的第二个模块建立在第一个模块的基础上，在11年级提供更深入，更复杂和更广泛的学习。 学生完成所有四个第一模块和两个第二模块。 因此，学生获得一个具有挑战性的，严格的科学教育，提供科学理解和识字技能的基础，并准备他们追求更高层次的科学学习。 专业发展材料支持教学材料的采用、实施和融入课堂，并支持教师使用多种评估，以得出关于材料对不同学生群体的有效性的结论。 专业发展包括对内容知识部分的自我评价，教师可利用资源增加他们的理解。

Building on the one-semester module on chemistry completed in Phase I of "Foundation Science," a comprehensive science curriculum for grades 9-11 is developed in Phase II. The completed "Foundation Science" provides high schools with a scientifically-based, modular science curriculum with supporting professional development and outreach materials that accommodate the variety of approaches that school districts take in their secondary science programs. The curriculum responds to challenges faced by high schools in meeting state and national standards, preparing students for high stakes testing, accommodating new understandings about how students learn, updating teacher content and pedagogical knowledge and serving an increasingly diverse student population. The curriculum consists of eight one-semester modules -- two each in biology, chemistry, Earth science, and physics. Each module comprises four units each developing a particular set of concepts through two to four story-driven learning experiences. The first module in each discipline develops introductory conceptual understandings appropriate for grades 9 and 10 and skills in critical thinking, problem solving, communications and laboratory techniques. The second module in each discipline builds on the first to provide deeper, more complex and more extended learning in grade 11. Students complete all four of the first modules and two of the second. Thus, students obtain a challenging, rigorous science education that provides a foundation in scientific understanding and literacy skills and prepares them to pursue higher-level learning in science. The professional development materials support the adoption, implementation and integration of the instructional materials into the classroom and support teachers in the use of multiple assessments to conclusions about the effectiveness of the materials with different populations of students. Professional development includes a self-evaluation of the content knowledge component with resources available for teachers to increase their understanding.