Innovative Teaching Showcase
North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership
Project Goals
The NCOSP proposes to provide transformative learning experiences for all partners and build sustainable capacity for reform. The typical components of systemic reform - alignment of curriculum materials, assessment systems, teacher education requirements, initial and continuing teacher licensure requirements, and other system components - are necessary but not sufficient to produce lasting improvement of science learning. Together, the partners propose to take on the challenge of changing teachers fundamental ideas about subject matter, teaching, and learning, and promote learning through thinking. This paradigm is infused throughout the many strategies proposed. These strategies are based on a constructivist model that reflects growth in understanding over time.
All partners are committed to the following goals:
- All students succeed in challenging science curriculum aligned with standards.
- Administrators understand and support science education reform goals and programs.
- Knowledgeable and confident teachers use curriculum with integrity and fidelity.
- The quantity, quality and diversity of teachers entering the workforce increases through effective recruitment, preparation, and retention.
- Science education research provides evidence-based contributions to the learning and teaching knowledge base.