Proposes the use of schoolyard activities as a viable alternative to extended field trips for field investigations in biology. Describes and provides examples of different approaches including a problem oriented technique, Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies (OBIS), and a sourcebook sponsored by the Council for Elementary Science…

Outlines an approach for interpreting the influence of social factors on the directions in which secondary school science curricula have developed and explores the influence of the institutional context of comprehensivization on emerging science curriculum in Great Britain in the 1960s. (Author/DS)

Reviews the tradition of teaching and learning of organic chemistry in high school courses. Includes an analysis of present student performance and possible directions of future chemistry programs. Report is based on research of instruction and learning of organic chemistry in 90 high schools. (Author/JN)

Presents an evaluative study of the Nuffield A-level organic chemistry course which was conducted in the United Kingdom. Questionnaire surveys were used to compare the course content with the content Nuffield teachers and university lecturers thought should be included in an A-level course. (HM)

Compares current science education reform efforts with those of the 1960s to enhance student learning. Discusses how an "alternative models" view of scientific explanation can contribute to reforms of course goals, social aspects of science learning, instructional practices, and roles for technology. Contains 50 references. (ZWH)

There are many ways in which science can be made culturally relevant: archeoastronomy, mathematics, geology, ethnobotany, chemistry, and art can all be taught from a perspective celebrating the accomplishments of Mexican American and American Indian science and encouraging exploration. A culturally relevant curriculum provides teachers with…

Student variables which influence attainment of ecological concepts and conceptual systems were investigated. Researcher-designed paper/pencil and free-sort categorization tests were administered to 256 Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) students in grades 4-6. Findings are: (1) grade and ability, not sex, influenced concept attainment…

Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) students in grades 4-6 were used to investigate ecological concept formation. Researcher-designed, multiple-choice and free-sort tasks were administered. Statistics utilized included analysis of variance, Spearman correlation, multiple regression, frequency distributions, and latent partition analysis.…

This guide is one part of eight instructional units developed by the Human Behavior Curriculum Project. These units provide a systematic study of behavior which can increase understanding of everyday life. They can be used to supplement other courses or as a separate course of study. There are three themes common to the units: (1) Human behavior…

This investigation focuses on the major erosional forces affecting the shoreline which cause it to wear away and build up. The types of devices that protect the shoreline are also discussed. The investigation is presented in the form of a teachers' guide and a students' guide, both of which are included. In the teachers' guide, an overview of the…

This study was designed to determine if students taking junior high school science would receive greater understanding and retention of science principles and procedures from the Earth Science Curriculum Project (ESCP) than would students taught grneral science via the lecture-demonstration method. No attempt was made to group the students (28 in…

Results of 11 studies of classroom practices used with activity-based elementary science programs were combined quantitatively using a composite category system. One finding reported is that teachers trained in program use spent less time talking and more on activities than untrained teachers using the programs. (Author/JM)

Examined interactive effects of direction source (teacher, student, or group direction), allocated time, reading ability, and study orientation on student achievement (N=1108) on three Individualized Science Instructional System (ISIS) minicourses. Results (among others) indicate superiority of student-directed approach over teacher/group-directed…

Compared performance on Piagetian tasks to determine differences between students (N=52): (1) external subjects having access to manipulatives and those not having access, and between internal subjects having access to manipulatives and those not having access. Indicates access to manipulatives benefits those exhibiting externality with respect to…

GEO-Study, an NSF-sponsored study, conducted by the American Geological Institute (1962-64) to examine the educational environment of 44 geology departments, initiating a change in United States geological education. Discusses the early years of development and study (emphasizing undergraduate geological education) and the last 10 years during…