At the same time, we're developing educational programs that are not only tied directly to the exhibits, but that also meet national and state science education standards. The first phase of the new exhibits will open in 1998, and will present key systems such as climate, plate tectonics, and evolution, and their relationships to each other. In each exhibit, signs and labels will point visitors to specific places in other exhibits for information that will enhance their understanding of a given system. By highlighting how interconnected the systems are, we hope to give visitors a better idea of how the world works. Knowing the influence we have on teachers and students, we felt compelled to do our part for science education reform.
People learn to do well what they practice doing.
They are encouraged to draw conclusions from data they accumulate and to record those conclusions at computer stations throughout the exhibit for other visitors to see. The museum also uses Benchmarks extensively in its educational and volunteer programs. Education staff use it to familiarize teachers with the scientific process, and to help them understand specific topics in the Massachusetts state science framework, which is based on Science for All Americans , Benchmarks for Science Literacy , and the National Science Education Standards . Pa. The Franklin Institute took a different tack in adopting Project 2061's goals. The teachers began their revisions by scrutinizing the kits with Benchmarks for Science Literacy in hand to ensure that the concepts taught in the kits were placed in appropriate grades.