Comprehensive Instructional Management Systems (CIMS)--Science 1991-92. OREA Report.

The Comprehensive Instructional Management System (CIMS)-Science program is designed to support teachers in teaching the "New York State Elementary Science Syllabus." The curriculum emphasizes a hands-on inquiry approach to learning and includes an assessment component comprised of written tests and performance-based tests, designed to assess student mastery of the content and process. This report is divided into four sections. The first section provides background and implementation information for the program and describes the program evaluation methodology. The CIMS-Science program was piloted during the 1988-89 school year in kindergarten through grade 2 in five schools each and expanded in subsequent years. The second section summarizes the CIMS approach to science education and describes the program's activities related to staff development and curriculum revision. The third section reports the evaluation of the program. Questionnaires to 58 classroom teachers and interviews with 7 lead science cluster teachers explored teachers' use and assessment of the revised program, the support provided, and program impact on teachers and students. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made: (1) program, district, and school staff should continue to collaborate in revising the CIMS-Science curriculum incorporating suggestions by classroom teachers and science cluster teachers; (2) consideration should be given to exploring alternative or "authentic" assessment strategies that assess problem solving skills; and (3) classroom teachers should observe science cluster teachers demonstrating lessons using a discovery-based approach to prepare them to assume primary responsibility for science instruction. (MDH)