FOSS: Full Option Science System
FUSE: Federation for Unified Science Education
FOSS: Full Option Science System
Full Option Science System (FOSS) was developed by Dr. Lawrence F. Lowery and his team at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California. Funded by the National Science Foundation, FOSS has been designed to combine the content of science with the process of science to meet two main goals: scientific literacy for students and instructional efficiency for teachers.
The system is organized under the four main topic headings of: Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science and Science Research and Technology. There are sixteen modules for grades 3-6 designed so each grade uses four modules a year. By doing this they are able to explore a few concepts in depth through hands-on experiments that integrate interactive multi-media.
The creators of FOSS believe that the best way for students to approach the scientific enterprise, learn important scientific concepts and develop the ability to think well, is to engage them directly in situations where they actively construct ideas through their own explorations, applications and analyses (FOSS Instruction Manual, 1992).
FUSE: Federation for Unified Science Education
The Federation for Unified Science Education (FUSE) was organized in 1966 (Showalter, 1973). Since its inception, FUSE has endorsed the idea that the primary goal of all science programs in grades K-14 should be liberal or general education. FUSE also supports the idea that the best way to achieve this goal is through locally developed unified science programs. FUSE recognizes that because each school setting has its own unique student population, teaching staff, and instructional facilities, no one set of instructional materials or approach to curriculum development is the best. Regardless of the diversity of schools, most FUSE members agree that there are certain characteristics of science that permeate all of the specialized sciences. These common features include values, processes, and concepts. A unified science approach offers an opportunity to develop programs which allow the student to view science as a single humanistic effort, understand the full scope and limitations of science, avoid repetition of subject matter, learn science in a greater variety of ways than are permitted in traditional courses, and develop a positive attitude toward science.