The Learning Design Group at the Lawrence Hall of Science

The Learning Design Group is a curriculum development and research program led by Jacqueline Barber, Associate Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science. Our team is working to develop and test new models of science and literacy integration for use in the elementary and middle school grades. The units use inquiry-based science as a context for literacy instruction focused on informational text. The middle school curriculum under development is being aligned with the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and the recently released Framework for Science Education being produced by the National Research Council. We are designing a digital curriculum, allowing the development of a range of unique features that support teachers in their implementation of the curriculum and take advantage of the technology. In addition, we have an ongoing research agenda designed to support our development work and make meaningful contributions to the literature on science and literacy education. Issues under study include: the characteristics of accessible informational text; the role of literacy in learning science; science learning progressions, and the development of academic language and argumentation skills, particularly among English learners.