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Calhoun County Board of Education
Science and Health
Science - CP Biology
Science
The Alabama Course of Study for Scientific Literacy was published in 2001.
The Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition (SAT-9) contains one subtest for Science at each level. In levels SESAT 1 - Primary 2, the Science subtest is titled 'Environment.'
The Alabama High School Graduation Exam is an assessment of fundamental objectives in Science.
The Alabama Course of Study for Scientific Literacy was published in 1995.
The Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition (SAT-9) contains one subtest for Science at each level. In levels SESAT 1 - Primary 2, the Science subtest is titled 'Environment.'
The Alabama High School Graduation Exam is an assessment of fundamental objectives in Science.
Scientific literacy for all Alabama students is the goal of Alabama's K-12 science education program. The Alabama Course of Study: Science (Bulletin 2001, No. 20) defines the minimum required content that students need to achieve this goal.
The National Science Education Standards produced by the National Research Council (NRC) has established scientific literacy as a national goal of science education, and it continues to be a goal for Alabama students. Scientific literacy enables students to use scientific principles and processes in everyday life to make informed decisions. A solid foundation in science helps to develop and strengthen many of the skills that students use daily such as solving problems creatively, thinking critically, working cooperatively in teams, practicing stewardship of natural resources, and using technology effectively. The scientifically literate person is more likely to face with confidence the challenges of an ever-changing global society. Moreover, the economic productivity of Alabama is linked to the scientific and technological skills of the workforce.
To help students achieve scientific literacy and make sound decisions, the K-12 science program places a renewed emphasis on the importance of teaching science every day to every student in every grade. A child's sense of wonder should be encouraged. Alabama teachers should nurture young children's interests, curiosities, and impressions. During pre-adolescence the exposure to concrete facts, generalizations, theories, principles, and laws is begun. As students mature, knowledge of early concepts expands into more complete abstract understanding and complex applications. Instruction is focused on providing experiences, knowledge, and skills that allow students to build understanding of both the content of science and the nature of the scientific enterprise.
Thus, scientific literacy is best achieved through a K-12 science program that is inquiry-based and incorporates scientific knowledge and skills and incorporates opportunities to apply both in practical ways. If the goal of scientific literacy is met, then the investment in students' education will be worth the efforts and resources expended.
CP Biology
The Alabama Course of Study for Scientific Literacy provides content strands for the Biology Core course.
The Task 2 level of the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition (SAT-9) assesses students in the spring of Grade 10.
"The Stanford 9 Science subtest is designed to assess understanding of the life, physical, and earth/space sciences. Mirroring the philosophy presented in Science for All Americans, the Science subtest de-emphasizes specific content vocabulary and emphasizes the unifying themes and concepts of science. The same criteria used in the National Science Education Standards were employed to determine the importance of conceptual information, including the ideas that the concepts should have strong predictive power, be applicable in many situations, guide observation, encourage questioning, and represent organizing principles.
Each test question is carefully crafted to support high standards of student achievement in processing science information. The habits-of-mind skills described in Science for All Americans form the foundation of the reasoning skills students are asked to use throughout the subtest, including estimating, making simple calculations, seeking patterns, making observations, recognizing cause and effect, reading standard instruments, and drawing conclusions."
The Alabama High School Graduation Exam assesses students at grade twelve.
The Alabama Course of Study provides science skills for students in Biology Core.
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