Draws on literature from the fields of science education, anthropology, and other areas. Proposes a viewpoint that science and science education are cultural enterprises which form a part of the wider cultural matrix of society and that educational considerations concerning science must be made in light of this wider perspective. (DS)

The Australian Web of Life biology course is evaluated as to its philosophy and mode of instruction. The study reveals that the use of inquiry-oriented practices is relatively low and that teachers consider the objectives of the course more important than do their classes. (Author/DS)

This paper describes the simultaneous effects, including interactions, of two controlled instructional management variables and two student aptitudes on student achievement using a class-means model. Management variables were time allocated for learning with two levels of 45 and 50 class periods, and source of direction with three levels of…

This guide was developed to provide children with an opportunity to prepare and collect several common gases and to discover and work with some of their properties. The guide is divided into five major sections: (1) introduction, (2) materials, (3) activities, (4) balloons aloft, and (5) an appendix. The introduction provides information…

Control group students (receiving descriptive, non-inquiry science) and experimental group students (using Science Curriculum Improvement Study-SCIS "Interaction and Systems" materials) were later combined in grade 4 for instruction with SCIS "Subsystems and Variables" materials. Results show similar difficulties in learning…

Reports on the development of science curricula projects. Lists features that can be applied to programs developed at the local level. Includes programs from the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, Educational Development Center, and Technical Education Research Centers. (RT)

Describes the development of the Nuffield chemistry curriculum materials by chemistry teachers and how these materials were received and used by a much larger and representative group of the profession. Includes comments on teaching Nuffield chemistry, the Nuffield examination, and on Nuffield chemistry outside of Great Britain. (JN)

Highlights a quantitative synthesis of research studies on Elementary Science Study, Science Curriculum Improvement Study, and Science A Process Approach, focusing on student performance/achievement, attitudes, process skills, and basic skills. Suggests that activities and instructional strategies from the programs be incorporated into existing…

Describes aspects of the current status of biology teaching at the pre-college level, from an analysis of data collected from three NSF surveys, the NAEP, current textbooks, and other sources. Discusses previous and prospective viewpoints regarding goals of biology education, its curriculum, teachers, laboratory, and contemporary status. (CS)…

An investigation of the relationships among student attributes, styles of teaching, and outcomes in a BSCS-based secondary school biology course is described. Two teaching styles, individual and small group teaching and whole group teaching, were investigated as were student attributes including general ability, personality characteristics, and…

Reports a study of the effects of teaching the Elementary School Sciences Program (ESSP) on attitudes towards science of elementary school teachers. (SA)

Describes the philosophy, development, content structure, and general instructional strategy of BioCom, an introductory biology curriculum for the heterogeneously mixed high school science classroom. Discusses recent recommendations by national commissions and science education research and similarities and differences between BioCom and ChemCom.…

Presents a study that compares an introductory high school biology curriculum, Biology: A Community Context (BACC), with traditional curricula. Discusses the differences between standards-based BACC and traditional instruction. Identifies the instructional method in BACC as investigative inquiry and the activities proceed from concrete to more…

This booklet was written for anyone interested in growing mosquitoes and experimenting with them. There are three major sections: (1) rationale for studying mosquitoes, (2) raising mosquitoes, and (3) some scientific findings. The first section describes basic information about mosquitoes. The second section includes information about materials,…

This teacher's guide on earthworms includes four major sections: (1) introduction, (2) caring for earthworms in the classroom, (3) classroom activities, and (4) the appendix. The introduction includes information concerning grade level, scheduling, materials, obtaining earthworms, field study, classroom clean-up, and records. Caring for earthworms…