With a National Science Foundation award, the Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) are creating a 10-part online multimedia professional development course to increase the foundational content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge of teachers of multidisciplinary 9^th-10^th grade science classes such as integrated science, coordinated science, and general science. Across the Sciences will help teachers (1) enhance their content knowledge across scientific disciplines, (2) identify and address patterns of students thinking within different disciplines, (3) develop an understanding of scientific inquiry and ways to teach using an inquiry approach, and (4) obtain credits toward meeting increased state standards for maintaining teacher certification. Teachers will be able to use knowledge gained about key science concepts and pedagogical approaches in each discipline immediately in their classrooms. Across the Sciences will include video content, computer simulations and interactives, assessments, and reflective activities. It will also offer materials and activities around concepts for which there are common misconceptions and provide teachers with appropriate strategic skills to address these issues in their classrooms. The program will be comprised of 10 units with 9 units divided equally to the physical sciences, life sciences, and earth science and one unit dedicated specifically to scientific inquiry. Each unit follows the BSCS 5E instructional model. The 5E model allows teachers to engage concepts, explore each concept in a variety of ways, and begin to construct an explanation. The model then provides a chance for teachers to elaborate their understanding in a new situation and to evaluate their growing understanding of the concept before encountering a new one. The content for the program is based on the comprehensive multidisciplinary science program for grades 9 and 10 called BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach.

RMC Research has developed this website for use by university-faculty and high school teacher reviewers of the Across the Sciences Unit 1 prototype. The course developers will use the reviewers’ feedback to produce the complete and final multimedia product.

Click here to complete the reviewer feedback.

Click here to download printable version of the feedback form.