AAAS's project 2061 to host scientists, educators, and publishers

Washington, D.C. ˇV Continuing its drive to improve science and mathematics textbooks, Project 2061 will host a landmark conference bringing together scientists, teachers, researchers, curriculum developers, and textbook authors, editors and publishers. The conference will explore how middle- and high-school instructional materials can be designed to increase studentsˇ| knowledge of important science concepts.

The invitation-only conference will take place from the evening of February 27 through March 2 at the headquarters of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington, D.C. Project 2061 is AAASˇ|s long-term initiative to reform K-12 science and mathematics education.

ˇ§We are excited at the prospect of working collaboratively with those who develop the materials used in our classrooms. We all need to work together to ensure that teachers have the best possible tools to help students learn what they need to know,ˇ¨ said Dr. George Nelson, director of Project 2061.

Project 2061 has been critical of middle- and high-school science and mathematics textbooks, finding that few texts make use of strategies and activities that research shows are likely to help students learn important concepts and skills. These conclusions are based on rigorous evaluations that examined how well the texts help all students achieve the learning goals set out in nationally recognized standards, including Benchmarks for Science Literacy, developed earlier by Project 2061. (Information on the evaluations is available at www.Project2061.org.)

Topics to be covered at the conference include:

• Using research on student learning to develop curriculum materials that are more helpful to teachers and more effective for students.
• Designing materials that engage students and help them understand abstract scientific ideas.
• Incorporating techniques that help students apply scientific ideas to make sense of everyday events.

The work of this conference will continue at a second conference this fall. The National Science Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation are providing support for these meetings.

Beginning in 1985, Project 2061 has worked to reform science education in grades K-12 so that all high-school graduates become science literate that is, prepared to live interesting, responsible and productive lives in a world increasingly shaped by science and technology. The initiative has developed a variety of tools and training for educators to support efforts to translate its recommended learning goals into classroom learning experiences.

MEDIA NOTE:
Press registration required. Contact Eileen Kugler 703-644-3039; Ekugler@aol.com.