Texas Education
Science Curriculum Improvement Plan: PowerPoint Presentation

Slide 1: The Science Curriculum: A Discipline in Need of Reform

Slide 2: Reformation Program. Step 1-Evaluation, Step 2-Innovation, Step
3-
implementation

Slide 3: Evaluation: It is crucial to determine first what is wrong with
the science program
-Students of all learning styles, ethnic groups and genders have shown
a decline in science aptitude
-There appears to be a disconnect between students and materials
-Science testing has declined even as improvement has been apparent in
other disciplines

Slide 4: Evaluation: Problem Statement
-Aptitudes are clearly lagging because of curricular, rather than
student based, failures
-Students have not been effectively consulted on science
interests/expectations
-Instructors do not have sufficient freedom or input with material

Slide 5: Innovation: Addressing the Problem
-Establish more exciting/active/lab based curriculum
-Engage more demonstrative display/experimentation
-Diversify text sources and integrate electronic/online sources into
regular curriculum.
-Change grading/evaluation focus to accommodate individual
improvements rather than strict academic benchmarks

Slide 6: Innovation: Inducing change
-Changing student/instructor attitudes through engagement tactics
-More open, participatory classroom structure
-Class discussions applying humor/popular culture/student
experience
-praise-based reward system designed to instill student
confidence and motivation
-Friendly laboratory competition/team project orientation

Slide 7: Implementation: Practical Application
-A need for greater resources, economically, technologically etc
-A need for greater in-classroom assistance such as from an aide or a
laboratory
assistant
-A need for expanded/improved/culturally relevant text and textual
content
-A need for integration of online technology into lesson
plans/laboratory
opportunities.

Slide 8: Implementation: Practical Assessment
Given the assumed basis for the discipline's failure, which is a
disconnect between students, instructors and material, it will be necessary
to consult both students and teachers on their perception of the program's
success. This will be observed in a number of ways.
-Collective assessment of grade improvements for varying struggling
populations
-Individual and regular teacher evaluations with students identified
as needing extra attention.
-Anonymous student surveys concerning the appeal of the program in
progress
-Instructor assessments based on grading/anecdotal evidence concerning
program improvement strengths and weaknesses

Slide 9: Adoption
Ultimately, this adoption is necessary. The science program is
faltering at the expense of all students. It is incumbent upon the school
board to allot the funding necessary to allow this change, lest our
students enter the world with no appreciation for the foundational value of
a science education.