Introduction
The BSCS project was started in 1959 at the University of Colarado. The beginning was made by the
American Institute of Biological Sciences with financial assistance by the
National Science Foundation. The BSCS texts are the result of collaboration
among the Biology teachers, educators and scientists. This project was started
to prepare high school biology courses for students who opt for the biology as
one of the subject at the school stage.
Objectives
- To present recent and latest knowledge of life sciences
- To provide current status of biological sciences
- To develop an understanding about the conceptual (theoretical) structure of biology
- To provide an opportunity to acquire skills and processes of sciences
- To provide an opportunity to use inquiry approach, both in teaching and learning
- To provide rich supplementary material to enrich learning experiences in life sciences
Versions
The BSCS was established for the improvement of biological education in
all levels. So, different versions of books have been developed to teach
biological science.
1.
The Blue Version
(Molecules to Man)
This version approaches the
study of biology from a molecular level with emphasis upon recent advances in
physiology and biochemical evolution. The text presents a unifying approach of
teaching the level of biological organization as we assume that they have
evolved from the simplest to the most complex, that is from molecules to man.
2.
The Green
Version (A Ecological Approach)
This version approaches the
study of biology from ecological and behavioural aspects. A major emphasis is
placed upon the biological community and the world biome.
3.
The Yellow
Version (An Enquiry into Life)
This is concerned with the
cellular level of organization and content is organized around the concepts of
biological unity, diversity, and continuity.
Unifying Themes
All the three versions have been developed on
Nine Unifying Themes which have been woven in and through every text. These
nine themes were selected on the basis of two major determining factors.
1.
The procedures
and conceptions that best characterize modern biological science.
2.
The needs and
problems of the students.
In the nine unifying themes, first five (1-5)
concern with the content of the text, last two (8, 9) concern with the logical
structure of the texts, and the remaining two (5, 6) are intermediate; they are
concern with both the structure and context.
1)
Change of living
things through time: Evolution
2)
Diversity of type
and unity of pattern in living things
3)
The genetic
continuity of life
4)
The
complementarities of organisms and environment
5)
The biological
roots of behaviour
6)
The
complementarities of structure and function
7)
Regulation and
homeostasis: preservation of life in the face of change
8)
Science as
inquiry
9)
The history of
biological conception
The following list of major division of the
versions, which will give some idea about the difference in their approach:
Yellow
Version (1973)
1.
Unity
2.
Diversity
3.
Interaction
4.
Community
Blue
Version (1973)
1.
Interaction
2.
Evolution in
life process
3.
New life
4.
Genetic
continuity
Green
Version (1973)
1.
The world of
life: The Biosphere
2.
Diversity among
the living things
3.
Patterns in the Biosphere
4.
Within the
individual organism
5.
Continuity of
the Biosphere
6.
Man and Biosphere
For academically unsuccessful students the
BSCS has prepared a set of material under the title of ‘Biological Science:
Patters and Processes.
Conclusion
Each version however has its taste and
thematic approach. All these BSCS materials lay emphasis on laboratory work
while develops an understanding of scientific inquiry. Theory and practicum has
been integrated. The learners get an opportunity of appreciating the work of
scientist and the contributions made by them.
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