Architecture Of Reform: GEMS (Great Explorations in Math & Science) and National Standards

This new handbook is designed to assist teachers and administrators who are responsible for planning school and district science programs chart a course through the maze of new national and state standards, benchmarks, and frameworks. Part I of The Architecture of Reform is intended for readers who want to become familiar with the key documents in science education reform so that they can decide which documents they want to spend more time on and then move ahead in the planning process.

Part II relates the vision and goals of these key reform documents to the GEMS series. The world of science and mathematics education, like the subject matter from which it springs, is in a constant state of ferment and change. As national standards and related guidelines and frameworks are discussed, debated, and, most importantly, implemented, more will be learned. Within this context of change, this handbook represents our attempt to synthesize the major building blocks of the leading reform documents and to summarize how well GEMS activities fit into that larger picture.