Building curriculum and instruction for the next generation science standards : articulating design features for computer-supported complex systems learning in science classrooms

In this paper we present a framework for building complex systems understanding in high school biology classrooms. The goal is to provide a modular heuristic that can inform the construction of curricular and instructional experiences including tools for teaching and learning and professional development workshops. Brief examples from current National Science Foundation-funded project activities and evaluation results from an exploratory study demonstrate the utility of the framework in practice.