Reports of Programs and Services 



National Science Resources Center 



Douglas M. Lapp, Executive Director 



The National Science Resources Center (NSRC), established 

 in 1985 and operated jointly by the Smithsonian Institution 

 and the National Academies (including the National Academy 

 of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Insti- 

 tute of Medicine, and the National Research Council), works 

 to improve science education in the nation's elementary and 

 secondary schools. In addition to developing science materials 

 for classroom use, the NSRC collects and disseminates infor- 

 mation about exemplary science teaching resources and 

 sponsors outreach activities to help school districts develop, 

 implement, and sustain inquiry-centered science programs. 



The NSRC's reform strategy begins with the assumption 

 that informed leadership at all levels is critical in developing 

 and implementing a new vision for science education reform. 

 The NSRC conducts leadership development institutes to 

 help identify and develop effective leaders within school dis- 

 tricts and their local communities. It also provides ongoing 

 technical assistance to catalyze and maintain science educa- 

 tion reform efforts. 



The NSRC's mission is 



Develop effective teaching materials for precollege science 

 education. 



Collect and disseminate information on science teaching 

 resources. 



Develop informed leaders to spearhead local, regional, and 

 state science education reform efforts. 

 Provide technical assistance to help school systems im- 

 prove their science programs. 



Create networks of individuals and organizations rhat will 

 promote the exchange of knowledge and experience useful 

 to the improvement of science education. 



During fiscal year 2000 the NSRC focused mainly on sci- 

 ence curriculum developmenr and outreach efforts. The 

 NSRC completed field testing for and has printed and re- 

 leased the first set of modules in the Science and Technology 

 Concepts for Middle Schools (STC/MS) project: Human Body 

 Systems, Catastrophic Events, Properties of Matter, and Energy, 

 Machines, and Motion. These STC/MS modules are designed 

 to enable middle school students to develop an understand- 

 ing of important science concepts by investigating scientific 

 phenomena. Students make observations, gather data, note 

 interesting patterns, identify cause-and-effect relationships, 

 and generate explanations based on their observations. Field 

 testing of the first four STC/MS modules was conducted in 

 19 school districrs across the country. Following the publica- 

 tion of the student texts and teacher guides for these tour 

 modules, school districts nationwide have begun to imple- 

 ment the program. Development is now under way on four 

 additional STC/MS modules: Light, Earth in Space, Organ- 

 isms — From Macro to Micro, and Electrical Energy and Circuit 

 Design. 



Distribution of the successful Science and Technology for 

 Children® (STC®) modules continues. To date, more than 

 60,000 STC curriculum units — teacher guides, student 

 guides, and kits of science materials — have been put to use 

 in schools nationwide. The bottom line: This year, the 

 NSRC reached the benchmark of more than 1.8 million ele- 

 mentary school children. This is the number of students 

 participating in hands-on, inquiry-centered science learning 

 using the STC program materials developed by the NSRC — 

 and this number is growing annually. 



The NSRC's Leadership and Assistance for Science Educa- 

 tion Reform (LASER) initiative continues to reach out to 

 school districts by sponsoring — in partnership with educa- 

 tional and scientific institutions at eight regional sites — 

 programs that help districts plan and implement science ed- 



