APPLICATION NO : R168A0016 APPLICANT : Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Post Office Box 7841 Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7841 CONTACT PERSON : Cynthia Pattison TELEPHONE : (608) 267-9288 AWARD TO DATE : $597,818 PROJECT PERIOD : 10/01/93-09/30/96
The Wisconsin Frameworks Integrating Science and Mathematics (FISM) Project is a three- year, three-faceted project which includes development of integrated frameworks, a state-wide staff development initiative using Wisconsin's 12 regional service agencies as a base, and a teacher training, certification, and recertification portion which is imperative in accomplishing systemic change.
Development of the framework and the teacher certification programs will be guided by a theoretical model of learner outcomes reflected in A New Design for Education in Wisconsin (1992). In this model, outcomes are defined as complex behaviors which involve the integration of many enabling skills during the performance of authentic educational tasks, which in turn are contextualized examples of those outcomes. The contexts for those tasks can be selected to adapt instruction and assessment to many grade levels, different subject areas, and multi-disciplinary inquiries. The framework suggests engaging instructional activities suitable for all students, but are especially relevant for underserved populations.
The FISM project is closely coordinated with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's "Connecting the Curriculum Project", the AODA grant, the state School-to-Work Initiative, and the recent technological innovation and electronic superhighway projects. The umbrella which brings all of these projects together under a common focus is the Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) and the state's 17 generic learner outcomes which have been developed over the last two years in a state-wide consensus building process.
Three teams will carry out the goals outlined in the FISM grant. The Frameworks Development Team of 40 members is comprised of science and mathematics teachers statewide and will serve as the core for the Staff Development and Teacher Training, Certification, Recertification Teams. They are linked electronically through the state's WISENET. The Development Team's issues include, but are not limited to equity and diversity, curricular reform, the change process, technology, integration, urbanization, multiple intelligences, and systemic reform.
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