Microfabrication is a critical area to many branches of science and engineering. However, to many students accustomed to seeing transistors as things that come in a lab kit, it is an obscure subtopic of their discipline. Beginning in 2009, the authors undertook a broad multidisciplinary approach to bring microfabrication into all aspects of the…

At James Cook University, a core first-year subject within the Bachelor of Education, Foundations of Sustainability in Education (FSE), sees students investigate the underlying science and complexity of socioecological challenges through inquiry, place-based learning, experimentation and consideration of classroom practice. Given that this subject…

This article reports on the outcomes from the "e-scape Primary Scientific and Technological Understanding Assessment Project" (2009-2010), which aimed to support primary teachers in developing valid portfolio-based tasks to assess pupils' scientific and technological enquiry skills at age 11. This was part of the wider…

The introduction of an outcomes-based curriculum in South Africa together with a new syllabus for physical sciences for grades 10-12, prompted the development of an instrument to monitor conceptual understanding in chemistry at the secondary-tertiary interface. This instrument was used to evaluate placement within different programmes at tertiary…

This is the second "Center Spot" devoted to Jan Hoffman's "Shoe Box Science," a program that organizes manipulative materials so that children can identify, describe, order, construct, name and distinguish on their own.

Described is a method of instruction in organic chemistry designed to promote the concept of learning for mastery. (PEB)

The Open University has unique system of examinations. Each student studies at home, including conducting experiments, gets regular feedback on computer-marked assignments, completes assignments frequently assessed by tutors, attends summer school, and writes a final examination under supervision. Many experiments with evaluation are underway. (PS)

Describes an attempt to make graduate study in chemistry more flexible by separating some courses into individual one-credit units called modules. Gives examples of topics covered by a single module and presents the advantages and disadvantages of using such a system. (GS)

Since 1989, the Mathematics Education Project (PmatE--Projecto Matematica Ensino) has developed several strategies to improve the success of students in Mathematics. The most important of these are mathematical games for all grades above primary school. The online evaluation of Mathematics subjects is one of PmatE's goals. The implementation of an…

Describes the examination of a new course-unit degree program in science at the University of London. Terminal examination at the end of the year is replaced by several small examinations within the college and an external examination conducted by a board comprised of intercollegiate examiners and specialists from other universities. The system is…

This paper argues for a rethinking of what it means to "do science" in language minority classrooms by putting forward a view of science as a sense-making practice. Before outlining a sense-making perspective on scientific practice, some familiar images of what science is like in many classrooms are invoked in order to lay out a few critical…

Presents the belief that the engineering laboratory is well suited to improving student communication skills as well as mathematical, creative, and manipulative skills. Outlines objectives, instructional strategies, and methods of evaluation. (GS)

Discusses the importance of teaching writing in college science classes by evaluating written lab reports, editing, and critically grading papers that students write. Also presents a structured method to teach lab report writing. (Author/SK)

Describes the implementation of the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) in Flint, Michigan. An increase in student failures resulted from implementing this curriculum. Reasons for the increase in student failures are given. (GS)