Content Areas
ATLAST is developing instruments in three narrowly defined content areas. Each holds a pivotal position in physical science, earth science, and life science; and they represent the extremes in what is known about student thinking. (In one case extensive research has been done, while in the other two hardly any.) Each is found in both Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards at the middle grades level.
- Force and motion: An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.
- Plate tectonics: The outer portion of Earth-including both the continents and the ocean basins-consists of huge plates of solid rock. The plates move very slowly (a few centimeters per year). Plate movement causes adjacent plates to interact with one another. Interactions between plates result in events and features that are observable on Earth's surface (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain ranges); these typically occur along the boundaries between two plates.
- Flow of Matter and Energy in Living Systems: Food provides molecules that serve as fuel and building materials for all organisms. Plants use the energy in light to make sugars out of carbon dioxide and water. This food [sugars] can be used immediately for fuel or materials, or it may be stored for later use. Organisms that eat plants break down the plant structures to produce the materials and energy they need to survive. Then they are consumed by other organisms.
To facilitate instrument development, each of these areas is "unpacked" into discrete sub-ideas. Full explication of each content area, along with what is known about student thinking in each area, is provided in the links below.
Force and MotionPlate Tectonics
Flow of Matter and Energy in Living Systems
