Expediting the Development of CEEP Instructional Modules

Abstract

The curriculum development model being developed and tested by the NAGT Crustal Evolution Education Project (CEEP) represents an attempt to shorten the time lag of translation of ongoing research into useful classroom materials. Each of the six development centers represents an experiment with this model. The center at Western Washington University has been successful in producing, testing, and completing a total of eleven instructional modules representing 33 classroom periods in an average time of less than nine months per module. The development process here is characterized by one writing team meeting, teacher responsibility for preliminary drafting of modules in conjunction with informal classroom testing, extensive interaction between teacher and researcher writing team members, and editing at various stages by the science educator center director. Elements contributing to the successful operations at Western Washington University include (1) clear assignment of team member responsibilities, (2) rea...