IQWST – Investigating and Questioning our World through Science and Technology

Leading team

Prof. David Fortus

R&D team

Joe Krajcik – MSU, Brian Reiser – NWU, & LeeAnn Sutherland – UM. At present, only the PIs are working on the project.

Summary

IQWST – a comprehensive and coherent middle school science curriculum in physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science. The curriculum's development was funded by NSF; it is now published and distributed by Sangari Science. The two main topics being studies are contributions of inter-unit coherence on students' learning of cross-cutting ideas such as energy, and the impact the curriculum has on students' interest in, attitudes toward, and motivation to learn more science.

Related articles

  • Krajcik, J., McNeill , K. L., & Reiser, B. (2008). Learning-goals-driven design model: Developing curriculum materials that align with national standards arid incorporate project-based pedagogy. Science Education, 92, 1-32.
  • Shwartz, Y., Weizman, A., Fortus, D., Krajcik, J., & Reiser, B. (2008). The IQWST experience: Coherence as a design principle. The Elementary School Journal, 109, 199-219.
  • Fortus, D. and J. S. Krajcik (2012). Curriculum Coherence and Learning Progressions. International Handbook of Science Education. B. J. Fraser, C. McRobbie and K. G. Tobin. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Springer Verlag: 783-798.

Links to materials

The materials are available commercially through Sangari Science

Link to project website

http://sangariglobaled.com/iqwst/