A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Description In our increasingly complex technological world, issues and problems also become increasingly complex. Students need more sophisticated problem-solving and decision-making skills to deal effectively with current and future societal issues. The goals of the Science-Technology-Society: Preparing For Tomorrow's World (PFTW) modules are the development of logical, higher level thinking and social reasoning skills in the context of science, technology, and society. Serving as the guiding framework for the materials, activities, and teaching strategies, a sound instructional model is utilized to develop the skills necessary for students to move to higher levels of cognitive reasoning and citizenship. Designed to directly relate to National Goals for Education 3 and 5 related to citizenship, problem solving, and higher order thinking.

PFTW is comprised of a set of four independent curriculum modules. Topics covered include:

• Coastal Decisions
  
• Space Encounters
  
• Beacon City: An Urban Land-Use Simulation
  
• Decisions (a 12-topic cross discipline "sampler" module)

PFTW engages students in activities such as scenario writing, graphing, problem solving, conducting surveys, and futures forecasting, to add another dimension to existing curricula. Discussion and debate among students encourage critical self-evaluation and promote more complex reasoning ability and increased perspective-taking abilities. Depending on the modules selected and the course structure in which they are used, activities may be used in continuous sequence, interspersed throughout existing courses, or, as in the senior high grades, taught as discrete units of study. One- or two-day training is available.

Contact

David Lidstrom or Marilyn Bodourian, P.O. Box 1324, Grass Valley, CA 95945. (916) 273-4197.

Developmental Funding: USOE ESEA Title IV-C.
JDRP No. 81-10 (12/15/81)

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[Marine Science Project: FOR SEA (Grades 7-12)]

[Starwalk]