-What+is+FOSS?


 * This is copied from the FOSS website: **
 * []**

What is FOSS?
 * FOSS is a research-based science curriculum for grades K–8 developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley. FOSS is also an ongoing research project dedicated to improving the learning and teaching of science. The FOSS project began over 20 years ago during a time of growing concern that our nation was not providing young students with an adequate science education. The FOSS program materials are designed to meet the challenge of providing meaningful science education for all students in diverse American classrooms and to prepare them for life in the 21st century. Development of the FOSS program was, and continues to be, guided by advances in the understanding of how youngsters think and learn. **
 * Science is an active enterprise, made active by our human capacity to think. Scientific knowledge advances when scientists observe objects and events, think about how they relate to what is known, test their ideas in logical ways, and generate explanations that integrate the new information into the established order. Thus the scientific enterprise is both what we know (content) and how we come to know it (process). The best way for students to appreciate the scientific enterprise, learn important scientific concepts, and develop the ability to think critically is to actively construct ideas through their own inquiries, investigations, and analyses. The FOSS program was created to engage students in these processes as they explore the natural world **

FOSS has set out to achieve three important goals.

1. Scientific Literacy **Provide all students with science experiences that Because the quality of life will be significantly influenced by science and technology in the 21st century, it is important for all citizens to be scientifically literate throughout their life. They should be able to make thoughtful, informed decisions appropriate to their age and experience.
 * are appropriate to their stages of cognitive development.
 * serve as a foundation for more advanced ideas that prepare them for life in an increasingly complex scientific and technological world.

**2. Instructional Efficiency **Provide all teachers with a complete, flexible, easy-to-use science program that Hands-on science is intrinsically fun and interesting for students. And most teachers can be superb science teachers when they are provided with effective instructional materials. FOSS is designed to make hands-on science engaging for teachers as well as students.
 * reflects current research on learning, including collaborative learning, student discourse, and embedded assessment.
 * uses effective instructional methodologies, including hands-on active learning, inquiry, integration of disciplines and content areas, and multisensory methods.

**3. Systemic Reform **Meet the community science-achievement standards and societal expectations for the next generation of citizens. FOSS continues to respond to the needs of systems moving away from passive exposure to scientific concepts toward real experiences for students that reflect the vision of the National Science Education Standards.

There are a number of features that distinguish the FOSS program. These include:
 * Features of the FOSS program **


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15px;">• Research-based and nationally field-tested ** FOSS was developed through a rich collaboration of scientists, educational researchers, curriculum developers, assessment specialists, teachers, administrators, community members, and parents. FOSS combines proven teaching strategies with field-tested materials to promote scientific literacy and student achievement.


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15px;">• Classroom-tested ** FOSS is the result of academic research on learning interwoven with practical experiences in classrooms. FOSS helps all educators teach and manage inquiry-based science. The carefully designed instructional sequences and thoroughly tested equipment provide support for teachers with different experience levels in science.


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15px;">• Students learn science by doing science ** FOSS engages students in inquiry. Students construct an understanding of science concepts through their own investigations and analyses, using laboratory equipment, student readings, and interactive technology. Students exercise logical thinking and decision-making skills appropriate to their age level.


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15px;">• Integrated reading, writing, and mathematics ** FOSS helps develop basic skills within the context of learning science through student readings, science journals, student projects, and the use of mathematics to quantify and communicate results of investigations and experiments.


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15px;">• Assessment system ** The FOSS assessment system uses a number of formative and summative strategies to help teachers and students monitor their progress and measure their ability to apply the concepts they have learned. The system includes teacher observations, student sheets, response sheets, student self-assessments, and end-of-module and summative exams. The FOSS assessment system is an ongoing research project at Lawrence Hall of Science.


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15px;">• Interactive technology ** FOSS developers, working with a multimedia design team, have developed a series of interactive activities on CD-ROM and on-line for use by students K–8 at home and at school. The interactive technology is an essential component of the middle school courses.

The development of FOSS has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the University of California at Berkeley, and Delta Education, the FOSS publisher/partner
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15px;">• Program support ** Teachers of FOSS receive comprehensive teacher guides, teacher preparation videos, resources on CD-ROM and on-line, a national consultant network, and the FOSS Newsletter. The original developers of FOSS are available through the FOSS Project at Lawrence Hall of Science to support educators and to extend the national consultant network for ongoing professional development. LHS works closely with Delta Education, the FOSS publisher, to maintain high-quality materials and support.