The Science of Atoms and Molecules (SAM)

Enabling a New Secondary Science Curriculum

The project will undertake formative and summative studies in line with National Research Council’s recommendations (NRC, 2001) on assessment in order to determine whether our approach results in student achievement of the instructional goals of the materials. Project evaluation will also determine whether the professional development program provides teachers with the content knowledge, instructional skills, and technical ability to successfully enact project materials.

Professional development is an integral part of this project, and will be conducted through an in-person summer institute and a self-paced online course. Extensive training materials, curriculum guides, and a dedicated community web space will form the foundation of the training (see “Teacher Materials” above). The approach will combine expanding teacher content knowledge with an exposure to the pedagogy and technology to develop pedagogical content knowledge (Shulman, 1986; 2000).