There is a place for the discovery model in science education, but it should not be the exclusive instructional model. Reception and discovery learning should be used. In reception, scientific concepts are sequentially transmitted to the learner followed by clarification and reinforcement. Reception has not been supported by teacher training…

Case study and survey evidence is presented which shows that many Nigerians view science mainly as a body of knowledge imported by the white man. The concept of "African science" is explained and related to an emerging consciousness which, it is hoped, will influence the nature and quality of science instruction in Nigeria. (JDH)

The joint winter meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Physical Society (APS) was held in Atlanta, Georgia, January 27-30, 1986. Abstracts of papers presented at the meeting and the complete program are provided. An author index is appended. (JN)

The application of history of science to inform the design/curriculum, implementation/instruction and learning/assessment of science education is a process full of choices. What history and whose history to select and for what purposes ultimately defines the models of curriculum, instruction and assessment employed. Three organizational approaches…

The science teacher has a vital responsibility to provide the best science curriculum possible to guide optimal pupil progress. Educational objectives need to represent salient scientific knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Proper sequencing of objectives is also crucial. Learning opportunities based on sound educational psychology should be used in…

Using the framework of systematic functional grammar, this study compares two modes of presenting the same scientific topic: in a physics textbook and in interactive teacher talk. Three aspects of scientific meaning making are analyzed: representations of physical and mental reality, lexical packaging, and the rhetorical structure of reasoning.…

Science teachers need to be teachers of reading since the act of being able to read and comprehend is necessary in problem solving. There should be a variety of learning opportunities in ongoing lessons and units of study, and reading subject matter is one important facet of achieving. This paper offers several learning strategies that student…

Advocates the use of minicourses in teaching secondary school science. Topics are suggested and methods for structuring minicourses are discussed. (JR)

Provides ideas and suggestions for helping students increase their problem-solving skills, including a four-step general problem-solving approach. Specific examples (considering qualitative problems and problem sequence) and comments on testing/grading are also provided. (JN)

Learning cycles (exploration, invention, application) are used to introduce general chemistry principles while giving students concrete experiences with descriptive chemistry. Principles taught in the laboratory, laboratory experiments, instructional strategies, and evaluation of the approach are discussed. (Author/JN)

Describes a chemistry course designed to meet needs of students who score well on Advanced Placement Chemistry examinations but who might experience difficulty if placed directly into a second-term course. The one-semester course includes substantially all work in Chemistry 1 and 2 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and features a flexible,…

Traditionally, the terms "current,""voltage," and "resistance" are introduced in a linear sequence according to structure of the discipline and based on measurement operations. A new approach is discussed, the terms being introduced simultaneously in a qualitative way, using the system aspect of the electric circuit as an integrative base.…

Describes the use of personalized instruction in an introductory biology course for nonmajors at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. (CS)

The act of attributing human emotions to nonhuman animals (personification) may lead to misconceptions by young students who may not be able to distinguish fact from fiction. Three major types of personification (animism, anthropomorphism, and teleology) are briefly reviewed with related examples. (DS)