Since the release of the National Science Standards, teachers have been looking for curriculum resources which incorporate these new standards. Numerous Science Olympiad events have been used by the National Science Standards to illustrate standards in action.
Science Olympiad illustrates the close relationship between teaching and assessment. 'Me assessment tasks are developmentally appropriate for young children, including recognition of students' physical skills and cognitive abilities. As students move from station to station displaying their understanding and ability in science, members of the community (leaders from government, business and industry, professors, scientist, educators, etc.) evaluate the students' science achievement and can observe that the students have had an opportunity to learn science. Science Olympiad highlights many of the elements of the Teaching Standards, Assessment Standards, Program Standards and Science Education System Standards.
A: Teachers of science plan an inquiry-based science program for their students.
C: Teachers of science engage in ongoing assessment of their teaching and of student learning.
D: Teachers of science design and manage learning environments that provide students with the time, space and resources needed for learning science.
A: Assessments must be consistent with the decisions they are designed to inform.
B: Achievement and opportunity to learn science must be stressed.
C: The technical quality of the data collected is well matched to the decisions and actions taken on the basis of their interpretation.
E: The inferences made from assessments about student achievement and opportunity to learn must be sound.
D: The K-12 science education program must give students access to appropriate and sufficient resources, including quality teachers, time, materials and equipment, adequate and safe space, and the community.
F: Schools must work as communities that encourage, support, and sustain teachers as they implement an effective science program.
D: Policies must be supported with resources.
G: Responsible individuals must take the opportunity afforded by the standards-based reform movement to achieve the new vision of science education portrayed in the Standards.
Science Olympiad Events and Georgia Quality Core Curriculum (QCC)