Motivation to learn science plays an important role in the persistence, achievement, and career aspirations of students studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Several studies have focused on how supplemental summer programmes build science motivation in undergraduate STEM students, but few studies have focused on how such…

Youth are introduced to STEM topics through informal settings like science camps, aquaria, and zoos. In these interactive and sensory-rich environments, a well-designed programme can help participants to acquire knowledge and cultivate interest through experiential learning. Given the importance of informal activities in environmental education,…

To date, there has been a wealth of research on participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, but most research focuses on the implementation of programs and whether these programs work. Such research can be expanded and enhanced by considering geographic perspectives on participation in the STEM fields and by…

This study investigated the effectiveness of a guided inquiry integrated with technology, in terms of female middle-school students' attitudes toward science/scientists and content knowledge regarding selective science concepts (e.g., Greenhouse Effect, Air/Water Quality, Alternative Energy, and Human Health). Thirty-five female students who were…

Reviews the focus of the Millennium Commission and describes the science attractions that have been funded through this effort. Considers planning and curricular issues that these attractions present for science educators. (DDR)

The concept of experiential education has gained increasing popularity among many types of institutions and organizations. Experiential education is an interactive learning process between student, instructor, subject, and environment where the student becomes actively involved with the subject at hand through discussion, activity, and creative…

In this study, we seek a better understanding of how individuals and their daily interactions shape and reshape social structures that constitute a classroom community. Moreover, we provide insight into how discourse and classroom interactions shape the nature of a learning community, as well as which aspects of the classroom culture may be…

Describes a summer program project designed and conducted by a mixed-age group of elementary children. Students collected data to determine whether a local stream was polluted, and interpretations of the data varied. An informational video about the project and the creek was produced. (PVD)

The Search for Excellence in Science Education was inaugurated in 1982 to carry out the National Science Foundation's 1981 initiative, Project Synthesis. The Search establishes criteria for excellence and applies them to actual programs in one or several fields each year. In each area the Search identifies hallmarks of excellence in terms of…