In this article, I present my experience with integrating an alternate reality gaming (ARG) framework into a pre-service science teacher education course. My goal is to provide an account of my experiences that can inform other science education practitioners at the tertiary and secondary levels that wish to adopt a similar approach in their…

This study investigated the impact of different modes of scaffolding on students who are learning science through a web-based collaborative inquiry project in authentic classroom settings and explored the interaction effects with students' characteristics. The intervention study aimed to improve "domain-specific knowledge" and "metacognitive…

In the Dutch secondary education system, students must carry out at the end of their school career a research or design project to demonstrate their ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills while pursuing a rather large research question or design goal in some depth. They are encouraged to choose the topic themselves and they are to some…

Discusses the notion of variables in computer algebra, mathematics, and science. Central are the questions of how variables are actually used in mathematics and science, how computer algebra supports the various uses of variables, what conceptual differences exist, and what consequences follow from this for teaching, learning, and doing…

Describes studies designed to examine the instrumentation used to assess both graphing abilities and the impact of microcomputer-based laboratories (MBL) on students' graphing abilities. Results suggest that numerous disparities between the results of multiple-choice and free response instruments. The analysis also revealed that the impact of MBL…

Reviews empirical and theoretical issues associated with inserting computer simulations into biological instruction to help students better understand science concepts. The available empirical research on simulations suggests that simulated dissection and actual dissections typically lead to equivalent performance on achievement tests, simulations…

Urges the environmental education community to recognize that the time is ripe for educators to embrace education reform initiatives based on the National Science Education Standards, and the development of promising Internet resources for teaching environmental sciences. (Author/MM)

Investigates patterns of students' science thinking across four different science phenomena focusing on changes that come with age and science education. Asks secondary school students whether offered sentences appearing on a computer screen that gave different explanations for four common changes in materials made any sense to them. (Contains 20…

Selection is the key to learning from the huge amount of information on the Internet. Describes how teachers can use a school Intranet or website to organize resources and direct students to the best interactive and educationally appropriate pages. (Author/MM)

A new website from the Institute of Physics, physics.org, will now provide answers to many questions about physics. Developers describe the design and purpose of the site and look forward to forthcoming enhancements. (Author/MM)

Presents a study that introduces data logging using portable computers as part of an investigative approach to science. Working with control and experimental classes of 14- and 16-year-olds, results suggest that data logging can have an impact on graphing skills at age 14 which is not necessarily repeatable at age 16. (Author/AIM)

Studies the effect of gender on a computer-based approach to solving stoichiometric chemical equations. Implies that the feedback provided by the software might have had an effect on reducing the gender gap. However, upon closer examination, the results showed that the correctness means for males were higher than that for females, and the rate of…

Describes a course for science education majors that explores the uses of computer-interfaced experiments in a variety of interesting activities. Several examples of biology experiments are given. (ZWH)

Analyzes the results of a Mexican/British project that used the sociocultural approach to investigate ways in which mathematics is used in the practice of school science and the role of spreadsheets as a mathematical modeling tool. Suggests the possibility of enhancing students' capability to shift between a wider range of representations using…

There is increasing pressure to incorporate information technology into schools and increasing interest in evaluating the effects of this technology on students. There has been a growing literature on the assessment of the success of using information technology in schools. This study is timely and potentially valuable because it investigated…