FAQs

1. What is the BSCS 5E Instructional Model?

Many of BSCS's programs use an instructional model characterized by the 5 Es: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. Each E represents part of the process of helping students sequence their learning experiences to construct their understanding of concepts.

First, students are engaged by an event or question related to the concept that the teacher plans to introduce. Then the students participate in one or more activities to explore the concept. This exploration provides students with a common set of experiences from which they can initiate the development of their understanding. In the explain phase, the students construct their own understanding and the teacher clarifies the concept.

Then the students elaborate and build on their understanding of the concept by applying it to new situations. Finally, the students complete activities that will help them and the teacher evaluate their understanding of the concept. This 5-E model is based on a constructivist philosophy of learning (Trowbridge & Bybee, 1990).

2. What is important to know about multidisciplinary science?

There are important points to keep in mind if you are thinking about implementing a multidisciplinary science program.

• Coherence is the essential quality of a multidisciplinary science curriculum.
• The fundamental goal of any high school science program, including a multidisciplinary one, should be to increase students' understanding of science concepts and their abilities to do science as articulated in The National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996) and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy (AAAS, 1993). Use of these documents strengthens the quality of a program.
• Although teachers are responsible for implementing a multidisciplinary science program, administrators must support the program.
• Introducing a multidisciplinary science program requires a comprehensive implementation plan.

3. If I come across a science concept I'm not sure about, how do I handle it?

Work with your district and school-based team! Everyone has strengths, so tap into those strengths. Developing collegiality should be a primary goal when structuring a cohesive group. Each teacher should have something to offer and something to learn. You can also extend your team by talking with scientists on your Science Advisory Board.

If this occurs in the classroom, you might say,"That's a good question. I don't know. How could we find out together?"

4. How can people in my community help me in the classroom?

There are at least two ways that professional development in multidisciplinary science can be connected with the community. The first is to maintain an ongoing dialogue with parents of students who are taking multidisciplinary science or are interested in taking such a course. The second is to develop a network of support within the community.

Establishing community support through parents of multidisciplinary science students is important to the success of a multidisciplinary science program. We have developed a brochure for parents describing multidisciplinary science and how it benefits students. This brochure also discusses how a multidisciplinary science approach connects to the natural world, making science more relevant to students.

Local colleges, universities, business, and industry can help support the implementation of a multidisciplinary science program and provide ongoing professional development for multidisciplinary science teachers. In turn, teachers and students can provide the connection to K-12 education that is required and desired at these institutions.

You can tap into support that is offered by colleges, universities, businesses, and industry. These industries offer support by:

1. providing resources such as equipment, supplies, or on-site visits that would enhance the curricula and, therefore, student learning,
2. providing graduate students or scientists who visit classrooms to help conduct activities and thereby provide important connections to "real science",
3. providing classes or workshops on science content for teachers of multidisciplinary science who need support in teaching out of their content comfort zone.