This paper has two major objectives. The first is to examine a broad "umbrella" goal for school science programs, commonly referred to as "scientific literacy," which has evolved in practice as a way to express a balanced formulation of the several legitimate and competing purposes for teaching science in schools. The second is…

The Education Committee of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) organized a Task Force on Precollege Science Education Programs to develop a strategy for increasing the involvement of scientific research personnel in the implementation of innovative elementary and secondary science education programs. This report…

This report documents the creation and evaluation of materials for the Carroll County, Maryland, elementary school science curriculum. Based on a 1983 pilot study and implementation of this program, funding was secured from the National Science Foundation for evaluation of the program. The principal investigating agency was the Carroll County…

This booklet is a program management tool designed for use by high school students and teachers participating in science research programs throughout the United States as well as overseas. The program consists of a symposium during which students are invited to conduct original research in the sciences, mathematics, humanities, and computer…

Most science curriculum innovations seem to have their origins and emphases in urban intellectual concerns and their content generally caters to university bound students. The reason for the failure of rural students in science subjects may be the lack of relevancy of the program to the needs of individuals living in rural areas. This 22-hour…

This document concerns the operation and evaluation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) program. Included with a general letter addressing the operation of the program are several appendices which attempt to answer the questions put forth in the letter. These appendices include considerations of: (1)…

The 1982 Search for Excellence in Science Education project has identified 10 science programs as exemplars in the teaching of science as inquiry. Descriptions of the programs and the criteria used in their selection are presented. Chapter 1 reviews four goal clusters (developed during Project Synthesis) related to the desired state in science as…

In 1987, the Cheshire Public Schools initiated a science curriculum review. Teachers, parents, and students recognized that the existing textbook-based elementary science program was a dismal portrayal of such a dynamic discipline. There was community consensus that reading about science and acquiring scientific vocabulary words were not the same…

Teaching has been described by a number of educational researchers as a complex cognitive activity. In an effort to contribute to the knowledge base for elementary science teacher effectiveness, this study was undertaken to build upon the procedures and findings of previous intensive instruction research by providing a framework for the…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides awards for education and research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. This publication contains information about awards for the 1987 and 1988 fiscal years. An introductory section reviews the goals of NSF's education program and the long-range goals of the Directorate for Science and…

Trying to change the predictive rule for the sinking and floating phenomena, students have a great difficulty in understanding density and they are insensitive to empirical counter-examples designed to challenge their own rule. The purpose of this study is to examine the process whereby students from sixth and seventh grades relinquish their…

A program for remediating science illiteracy among primary level students is offered in this publication. A practicum was designed to address the lack of science teaching and student science experiences at the Marian Boyd School in Warrentown, North Carolina. Priorities included in-service education for teachers, a science laboratory for students,…

The intent of this yearbook is to provide a positive posture for nurturing desirable changes in the status of science teaching. It is written for elementary school teachers and all who are involved or concerned with curriculum and instruction in the elementary school. The yearbook provides the basis for continued professional growth of teachers by…

This methods book is divided into 13 parts. The first 12 parts (each beginning with a list of performance objectives) focus on: understanding the nature of science and technology; reasons for teaching science to children; a short history of elementary science methods in the United States; the products of science; the processes of science;…

A mathematics and science program for gifted and talented junior high students in Brooklyn, New York was designed to provide accelerated and enriched instruction in mathematics and enriched instruction in science and computer science. This program was evaluated to determine the congitive and affective changes that would indicate student growth and…