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K-12 Resources |
The American Physiological
Society offers resources and professional development opportunities to
promote excellence in science education at the K-12 levels and physiology
education at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
To receive notification when
the site is "fully loaded" send an email with your name, email address
and "Six Star Science" in the body of the mail to
education@the-aps.org.
Your email address will only be used to notify you of major additions to
the Six Star Science website.
What is Six Star
Science?
APS programs and resources
are grounded in six major tenets of science teaching. These axioms are
research-based and, in practice, clearly enhance the science learning of
diverse students. In designing resources and programs, the APS uses these
six points as guiding principles and encourages science educators at all
levels to consider how these essential elements can contribute to
exemplary education in their classrooms.
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Student-centered instruction is at the heart of exemplary science
education. Engaging
students in open and guided inquiries, problem- and case-based
learning, and hands-on explorations leads to deeper conceptual
understanding and highly developed process skills.
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Valuing diversity among students is a defining characteristic of
excellence in science education.
All students bring unique strengths
and needs to the classroom. Understanding and drawing on these
differences – whether in gender, racial/ethnic group, or learning
styles – contributes to dynamic science education.
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Integrating technology to enhance learning is particularly important
in science education.
Science has always utilized technology, ranging from simple tools to
measure time, speed, and mass to sophisticated instrumentation to
capture data on the behavior of single cells or molecules within a
living organism. Today’s technology – particularly computers,
software, and the Internet – provides rich opportunities to develop
student skills in both technology use and information management.
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To
be authentic, assessment must focus on both content and process
skills. Recognizing that
students can never grasp the entirety of the ever expanding knowledge
base in science, they must gain process skills that prepare them to be
lifelong learners, as well as basic concepts and fundamental
knowledge. Authentic assessment is diverse in format and approach,
tapping into the different learning styles of students and
highlighting both achievement and areas for improvement.
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Utilizing accurate and timely content information is central to
scientific study.
Science is a process with all findings subject to confirmation and
continued exploration. The scientific process leads to a knowledge
base that grows continuously. Students must have access to up-to-date
information in order to build a solid foundation. Incorporating
accurate and timely information means integrating recent research
findings into the curriculum, as well as using recent textbooks.
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Reflecting on teaching and learning is essential to maintaining
excellence in science education.
Science teaching is, ultimately, an experiment with new sets of
experimental subjects appearing each course, semester, or year.
Educators must constantly observe their students and themselves and
check whether the methods and materials they have chosen are
accomplishing the goal – student learning. Experienced educators
adjust and check again. This ongoing process requires reflecting on
one’s teaching and the learning in the classroom and is a hallmark of
the exceptional science educator. |
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