Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS)
BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Spearheaded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Project 2061, Benchmarks is the second publication of a long-term reform initiative for the 21st century whose goal is for all children to achieve science literacy. The first publication in this series is Science for All Americans. As the first set of national science standards for grades K-12, and as the first of a coordinated set of tools published by Project 2061, this publication sets benchmarks for science literacy at grades 2, 5, 8 and 12 that aims to help in curriculum revision and development. An unprecedented number of elementary, middle, and high-school teachers, administrators, scientists, mathematicians, historians, engineers and learning specialists participated in the development of Benchmarks and its nationwide critique. Funding for the project came from various foundations, trusts, corporations, and states, including the National Science Foundation.
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS)
A curriculum study group which began in 1959 composed of high school teachers and administrators, textbook writers, and outstanding research biologists who discussed strategies for the development of a new course in biology and agreed on a number of important issues. They organized the course in three versions; Blue (Biochemical approach), Green (Ecological approach), and Yellow (Phylogenetic or Taxonomic approach), each with its own focus: molecular, community, and cellular levels of biology. In addition to the textbooks for each course, the group created a student laboratory guide, a set of films, and other helpful materials.
BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium
BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium. 1995. BioQUEST Library. Beloit College, Beloit, WI. 53511
The BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium is a group of science educators who emphasize the practice of cooperative and open-ended learning, as well as inquiry-based lessons in teaching biology. The philosophy of the Consortium is expressed using their 3P's approach to science education -- learning by problem-posing, problem-solving, and peer persuasion. The 3P's approach to learning biology appeared in the journal Academic Computing in 1988.
The BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium began in 1986 when John R. Jungck, Professor of Biology at Beloit College, Wisconsin and Nils S. Peterson of Heart Software published the 3P's approach. Support from the Annenberg/CBP Project, Apple Computers Inc., and others enabled Jungck and Peterson to assemble the consortium of biology teachers, science educators, science researchers, and computer scientists. The consortium developed 12 different Macintosh BioQUEST software modules and 5 additional software modules based on their underlying philosophy of the 3P's. The BioQUEST Library is the chief publication of the consortium. You can access the collection or submit your own module by contacting the BioQUEST Consortium at http://bioquest.org/