This study examines how student practice of scientific argumentation using socioscientific bioethics issues affects both teacher expectations of students' general performance and student confidence in their own work. When teachers use bioethical issues in the classroom students can gain not only biology content knowledge but also important…

This research is part of a study on scaling-up middle school science curriculum units in a large, diverse public school system. Chemistry That Applies (CTA), a guided inquiry unit based on conceptual change theory and highly rated according to the Project 2061 Curriculum Analysis, was implemented in five middle schools matched demographically with…

This study attempted to compare the science laboratory learning environments of secondary schools across both developed and developing countries (Australia, Brunei, Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, and Western Samoa). The study used a version of the Science Laboratory Learning…

The recent release of the National Science Education Standards and the previous release of Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy have initiated science education reform at the state, district, and local school levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which a group of science teachers, administrators, and a curriculum…

This paper investigates middle school students' particular beliefs about the process of scientific inquiry as well as their beliefs about learning science, specifically the level of autonomy appropriate and their preference for memorization or understanding. Data collection instruments included a beliefs assessment, measures of student…

Effective science teaching is a topic of concern to many science educators. Throughout its six chapters, this book provides research findings of the effectiveness of science teachers in the classroom. The heart of effective teaching is the active involvement of students in scientific research projects. Chapter one, "Aims and Unresolved Tensions,"…

The main objective of this publication is to raise awareness of the capacity of elementary students to learn using a process termed designing activity. The text is divided into nine chapters. Chapter 1 describes the principles of designing activity. The difference between design activity and design educational activity is discussed in Chapter 2.…

Science and technology are often presented and taught as two separate essences. When this is done, students as well as teachers are forced to attempt to develop the appropriate linkages. This book is one of a series designed to help teachers develop their science and technological education in ways that are both satisfying to themselves and…

Some understanding of biology is needed for the success of individuals in modern societies. This monograph is a report of an assessment of educational achievement by a sample of secondary school biology students in the United States within the context of current knowledge of teaching and learning strategies, the role of biological literacy in…

A number of recent policies have tried to improve science learning by increasing the number of science courses required for high school graduation or admission to higher education institutions. But it is highly unlikely that these mandates alone will materially affect the amount and quality of science education for students. Any effort to improve…

This guide describes an introductory course on technology designed for the secondary schools of New Jersey that was developed to provide students with their first formal experience in a technology program. Part 1 provides educators with a broad overview of the course, as well as a detailed description of the course content. The course consists of…

Introductory science has become a discovery course for the students at Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire), who are above average in ability and motivation. The philosophy of the course is that it should serve a more humanizing function than the preparation of young technicians, and that this function is as important for the future scientist…

This is the final report of the Physical Science for Nonscience Students (PSNS) development project. The report includes five major topics and five appendices. The first section, the History of Organizational Activities, discusses the conferences in 1963-64 that initiated the planning of the course. The remaining sections include Administration,…

THE REVOLUTION IN THE ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SCIENCE AS TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS MUST NOW BE MATCHED TO ANOTHER REVOLUTION IN EDUCATION--THE TECHNOLOGICAL CLASSROOM. CURRICULUM REVISION MUST BE MADE WITH A VISION OF WHERE THE CLASSROOM MAY BE HEADED IN THE FUTURE. THE TRADITIONAL, THE TRANSITIONAL, AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL…

TOPICS INCLUDE--LITHOSPHERE, THE SOLID PART OF EARTH, HYDROSPHERE, WATER ON EARTH, AND ATMOSPHERE, AIR. TEXTBOOK REFERENCES, CONTENT OUTLINE, TEACHING SUGGESTIONS, REFERENCE READINGS, AND AUDIOVISUAL AIDS ARE GIVEN UNDER EACH TOPIC. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ORDER BE EMPHASIZED BY PROVIDING ASSIGNED SEATS, REQUIRING NEAT NOTEBOOKS, AND STRESSING THAT…