|
New from FOSS in 2008
The FOSS Project team at the Lawrence Hall of Science is always developing new resources to support and expand the program for existing FOSS users, as well as developing strategies to reach new districts. Most recently we developed the FOSS CA K–5 2007 program consisting of 18 modules and corresponding resources books for the California state adoption. Some modules are based on the FOSS national program, but were redesigned for California. Others are developed to meet specific California science standards and adoption criteria. You can see summaries of
these modules at http://www.fossweb.com/CA/scope.html.
The adoption process is still ongoing, but as of now over 1,000 schools have made FOSS CA their science program.
In 2007, we also developed supplemental components for selected national modules as part of the New York City Department of Education Core Curriculum in Science initiative. As a result, elementary schools in New York City are now using these new and enhanced components along with the 2005 edition of FOSS. We subsequently developed those components for all of the applicable national modules and are making them available now to new and existing users as appropriate.
Here’s what’s new for 2008.
For Existing Users
All FOSS Teacher Preparation Videos are available online.
By popular demand, the FOSS Teacher Preparation Videos for grades K–6 are now available as Flash. You can view the teacher videos at http://lhsfoss.org/fossweb/schools/teachervideos/index.html.
In April 2008, the FOSS website will undergo reorganization. At that time you will access the teacher preparation videos by going to the module pages and clicking the teacher resources button. Look for that change in the spring.
FOSS Benchmark Assessments for 16 FOSS modules grades 3–6.
Through the ASK (Assessing Science Knowledge) project, funded by the National Science Foundation (2003–2008), FOSS developers, center facilitators, and teachers across the country have been developing an assessment system that will be a prominent part of the next full revision of the FOSS elementary program to be released in three to four years. (See the article “Classroom Assessment: A Tool for Learning” on page 8 of this newsletter.)
Part of that assessment system is available now to experienced FOSS users. That part involves benchmark assessments for grades 3–6, used to generate performance data throughout a FOSS module and to provide an ongoing record of student learning. Teachers and students use the assessments to identify misconceptions and misunderstandings of science concepts. Teachers use the assessment results to plan next steps of instruction. Here’s how the FOSS Benchmark Assessments are organized.
-
The Module Survey/Posttest is given before instruction begins and after instruction is complete. The Survey/Posttest consists of 12–15 open response and multiple-choice items.
- An I-Check is given at the end of each investigation. Each I-Check consists of 8–10 items in multiple formats. I-Checks provide teachers with information about student achievement. I-Checks also give students the opportunity to reflect on their understanding and revise and clarify their thinking before moving on to the next inw Benchmark Assessments can be used with the 2000 and 2005 editions of FOSS and include:
vestigation.
The new Benchmark Assessments can be used with the 2000 and 2005 editions of FOSS and include:
- Duplication masters for the Survey/Posttest.
- Duplication masters for the I-Check assessments for each investigation.
- A Benchmark Assessment folio that includes detailed instructions for using the assessments and item-coding guides.
For New and Existing Users: FOSS at Home Supplement.
A new four-page folio for each module called FOSS at Home describes math and science activities families can do at home to extend the FOSS classroom
investigations. Each folio also includes suggestions for ways families can use FOSS Science Stories and FOSSweb (www.FOSSweb.com) at home. Printed folios can be purchased from Delta Education, and each folio can also be downloaded at www.FOSSweb.com by going to the module page, clicking on the “For Parents and Teachers” button and then the “Home/School Connection” menu item, and finally clicking “English” or “Spanish” to download the file. Each folio is available
in English and Spanish.
For All Users New to Science Notebooks
FOSS Science Notebooks folio for teachers.
Engaging in science activities is one part experience with materials and two parts making sense of the experience. The effective use of science notebooks helps students with the sense-making part of the process of doing science.
FOSS staff, working with experienced FOSS educators and consultants, developed the FOSS Science Notebooks folio that describes tools and strategies for getting started with science notebooks using FOSS. The 36-page folio describes benefits of using notebooks (for both students and teachers) and issues related to format and rules of engagement when working with students in grades K–2 and grades 3–6. It discusses organization of the notebook (table of contents, page numbering, documentation, glossary/index) and describes strategies to guide students through their notebook entries (planning the investigation, data acquisition and organizations, making sense of data, reflection, and assessment, including self-assessment and using the line of learning). The folio includes a list of print and web-based references for teachers who are starting on the path of using notebooks in science.
Consumable Module Science Notebook for students
A helpful tool for teachers and students new to FOSS is the module-specific FOSS consumable Science Notebook for grades K–6. Each bound notebook includes a prepared table of contents, all the student sheets (from the duplication masters in the teacher guide), and additional blank pages for students to record their thinking in words and pictures. The kindergarten notebooks include single writing/drawing prompts with three lines for writing words and half a page for drawing pictures. All notebooks are three-hole drilled with perforated pages and are available in English and Spanish.
Prepared notebooks can be a first step for teachers new to FOSS and can lead to student use of more free-form, autonomous science notebooks as teachers develop their instructional confidence.
Reduced version of FOSS student sheets for notebooks.
The next step toward an autonomous science notebook involves using reduced versions of the FOSS student sheets and an 8 x 10-inch bound composition book. In this format, the teacher can choose which sheets to use for students and make copies accordingly. Students glue or tape the reduced sheets to the left page of a spread, leaving the right page for writing, drawing, and other documentation. This model is an efficient means for obtaining the most productive work from elementary students. These reduced versions of duplication masters for grades 3–6 modules are available for download
from the FOSSweb website.
The FOSS and ASK educators will be offering workshops on the assessment system throughout 2008. A one-day Institute will be held in conjunction with NSTA in Boston on March 26, 2008. To register for this Institute, contact Pam Frisoni (see last page of newsletter).
|
