Newswise — A University of Illinois at Chicago researcher has been chosen to lead efforts to improve advanced placement science classes and redesign high school science curricula, incorporating the latest developments and best practices for teaching science.
James Pellegrino, distinguished professor of psychology and education at UIC, will serve as principal investigator of a $1.8 million National Science Foundation grant to the College Board to redesign AP courses in biology, chemistry, physics and environmental science.
The funds will be used to make changes to courses and exams to incorporate recommendations found in the National Research Council's 2002 study "Learning and Understanding: Improving Advanced Study of Mathematics and Science in U.S. High Schools."
"This grant aims to give students a better sense of the inquiry process in science and how to reason using scientific evidence," said Pellegrino, who has spent over 20 years researching children and adult's thinking and learning.
"It will promote a more interdisciplinary approach to the study of science, as some of the most important scientific advances, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology, are happening at the intersection of different disciplines."
Pellegrino said the redesign will emphasize a "less is more" strategy.
"The redesign will concentrate on a curricular and instructional approach that promotes deep understanding of central concepts within and across each of the disciplines, together with ways to enhance students' capacity to transfer their understanding to solutions of current and future challenges in science and technology," he said.
Pellegrino sees the impact of the redesign plan going beyond AP courses and students.
"This redesign is an opportunity not only to build the AP program, but to set a benchmark for science education in high school and middle school and to further integrate assessment with the processes of teaching and learning," he said.
Ultimately, the project investigators hope their efforts will increase scientific literacy and encourage students, especially women and minorities, to pursue advanced-level study in high school and college, and eventually explore science related careers.
Commissions appointed for each of the four AP science disciplines will conduct the redesign, which is scheduled to commence this summer and continue through 2007. Launch of the new AP science courses is scheduled for fall 2009.
Pellegrino, who joined UIC in 2001, has supervised large-scale research and development projects for groups such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Office of Naval Research. He is a frequent international presenter and has authored or co-authored more than 200 books, chapters and journal articles in the areas of cognition, instruction and assessment.
He serves as co-director of UIC's Center for the Study of Learning, Instruction, and Teacher Development.
UIC ranks among the nation's top 50 universities in federal research funding and is Chicago's largest university with 25,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state's major public medical center. A hallmark of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty, students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and government partners in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world.
For more information about UIC, visit http://www.uic.edu
RSS