SCIENCE DEPARTMENT GOALS FOR 2003-2004

Evaluation of 2003-2004 Department Goals

 

 

1.         The Science Department will comply with the district and state standards and incorporate Woodside’s REALS as applicable. (State and District standards are content and REALS are skills).

·        Core classes list ESLRs in course descriptions.

·        Physics teachers are working collaboratively to restructure curriculum and timelines to better meet standards.

·        AIS staff is working collaboratively, as well as with the District science staff, to align curriculum and develop timelines to match the State IS1 standards

o       District and state standards are cross referenced on the standards document presented to students and parents

·        Biology staff is working collaboratively as changes in curriculum are developed to better meet the standards.  There is discussion of altering Biology courses to better meet the needs of our very diverse student body.

 

2.      The Science Department will continue working with the district Science Subject Area Council to implement the revised Advanced Integrated Science standards and to develop a district-wide  AIS assessment (to be used with Edusoft).

·        The district SAC has adopted the IS1 standards test and is not using the district-wide assessment that was developed.

               

3.         The department will implement the use of Edusoft for major and common assessments within each discipline.  Science teachers will collaborate with other departments to identify common areas that can be targeted so students can see the spiraling throughout their courses.

·        There is a lack of science questions across the curriculum making department-wide implementation difficult.

·        IS1 standards are not included in Edusoft as yet.

 

4.         Science teachers will work inter- and intra- departmentally to improve student’s study habits and achievement by creating a consistent policy regarding academic expectations and especially plagiarism.   They will continue to work together as a department to develop and implement common expectations and policies on classwork.

·        This is in progress.

·        The Science Department is hoping for more school-wide consistencies and commonalities in expectations and work format.

·        The recently adopted AIP (academic integrity policy) is being followed in science and modifications are being discussed that are science specific

 

5.         Science teachers will improve and maintain a structure of communication and collaboration within the department.  Collaboration time for the specific disciplines will be provided.

·        7th period prep for all science staff has worked very well and it is hoped it can be kept for an additional year.  This is especially important as there are a number of new/additional staff on the large AIS team, and common time is important.

 

6.         The Science Department will strive for increased overall and diverse enrollment in the three AP (Environmental, Biology, Physics) and the one AS (Chemistry) classes.  A support structure will be provided for students to assure high academic achievement.

·        Tutorials are being provided in each of these areas.  They are in association with MESA/AVID as well as others that are less formal run by the individual teacher.

 

7.         Science teachers will collaborate with and support the English and social studies departments in preparing our students to become effective researchers and writers.  The department will develop a major research / lab investigation to be accomplished each year for each of the science disciplines.

·        There is on-going discussion within the department of how best to develop a continuum of research / lab investigation activities across the science curriculum.  The science classes are not grade level specific but rather course specific.

 

8.         Science teachers participating in the Strategic Literacy Initiative (Ann Akey and Janet Creech) will provide leadership to develop a department-wide science literacy program.

·        The participation by the lead teachers is ongoing. 

·        The implementation into AIS is progressing but slowly.  It is hoped that this next year will see greater progress.

·        The tenets of the program are being explained and ‘taught’ to the other science staff and it is hoped that parts of the program can be implemented, if only on a beginning level, in Biology and Physics.

 

9.         Science teachers will collaborate to provide department support and tutorials for students to increase academic achievement.

·        Teachers have been available for non-formal support.

·        There have been structured lab make-up days in Physics; not so structured in the other disciplines but the time is available.

 

10.       The Science Department will continue to implement technology, where warranted, within the science curriculum.  The department will ensure that all science staff is adequately trained in all areas.  The department will update the science website.  The department will pursue funding for additional laptop labs for use within the department.

    • The science website is still not a reality. 
    • The department is pursuing Foundation grants for additional laptops as well as LCD projectors for each classroom.
    • The records show that there has been increased use of technology by teachers as well as by students in class this past year.

 

 

 

 

 

SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT GOALS 2004 – 2005

 

 

1.                  The department will comply with District and State Standards, incorporate the REALS and align to the One School Site Plan and WASC objectives.

 

2.         The department will continue to develop and align curriculum to state and district standards.

 

3.                  The department will continue to seek ways to improve student study habits by creating consistent department policies regarding a) late work, b) use of planners, c)  homework expectations.

 

4.                  The department will continue its work with the Strategic Literacy Initiative while supporting the school-wide literacy program and efforts.

 

5.                  The department will maintain and continue to improve intra- and inter- disciplinary department-wide communication and collaboration.

 

6.                  The department will continue to actively pursue the renovation or existing science facilities or development of a ‘new’ science wing if “B” wing is demolished and rebuilt.  Active collaboration with the architects will take place in order that implementation becomes a reality.

 

7.                  The department will revisit the current science pathway and implement alterations to better meet the needs of our changed student demographics while addressing state and district standards and state testing; changes will also align to the new direction of the University of California and Cal State colleges.  Any changes in the pathway will continue to provide ample opportunities for pursuing advanced and advanced placement classes.

 

8.                  The department will actively pursue adequate funding to research, adopt, and provide a textbook for each AIS student.  The number of Biology textbooks must be adequate to provide a book for each student.