Students are introduced to problem-based learning through several readings. The activity assists teachers in development of appropriate content standards for their culminating projects.
Suggested National Standards:
NSES National Science Education Teaching Standards
TEACHING STANDARD A: Teachers of science plan an inquiry-based science program for their students. Teachers: Select teaching and assessment strategies that support the development of student understanding.
TEACHING STANDARD B: Teachers of science guide and facilitate learning. Teachers: 1) Focus and support inquiries while interacting with students, 2) Orchestrate discourse among students about scientific ideas, and 3) Encourage and model the skills of scientific inquiry, as well as the curiosity, openness to new ideas and data, and skepticism that characterizes science.
TEACHING STANDARD E: Teachers of science develop communities of science learners that reflect the intellectual rigor of scientific inquiry and the attitudes and social values conducive to science learning. Teachers: 1) Nurture collaboration among students, 2) Structure and facilitate ongoing formal and informal discussion based on a shared understanding of rules of scientific discourse, and 3) Model and emphasize the skills, attitudes, and values of scientific inquiry.
ITEA Standards for Technical Literacy
Standard 1: Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology.
Standard 3: Students will develop an understanding of the relationships among technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.
Standard 5: Students will develop an understanding of the effects of technology on the environment.
Standard 15: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use agricultural and related biotechnologies.
Standard 17: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use information and communication technologies.
National Science Education Standards: Science Content Standards: 5-8
CONTENT STANDARD A: (Science as Inquiry) As a result of activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop: 1) Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry and 2) Understandings about scientific inquiry.
CONTENT STANDARD E: (Science and Technology) As a result of activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop: 1) Understandings about science and technology.
For other ways that content standards have been utilized in previous projects look through the database of past projects. It is searchable by content and grade level.
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