The Observation Procedure for Technology Education Mental Processes, a computerized assessment tool, was based on duration and frequency of mental processes needed for problem solving. Videotapes of students completing problem-solving activities were used to identify the processes. Interrater reliability tests validated the program. (SK)

Compares results of two projects in which high school students manipulated computer models of physical systems derived from current science research. Topics include modeling in science research and modeling in student research, computer modeling and observation/experiment, internal structure of the model and predictions of the model, student…

Data management systems for earth science information gathered from space are being affected by two related trends: (1) a move from ad hoc systems established for particular projects to a longer lasting national and global infrastructure; and (2) an emphasis on efficient service delivery in an era of diminishing resources for national space…

Presents ideas for brief, exciting trips that can be organized on any campus to view lithologic, geomorphic, meteorologic, and biotic phenomena. Enables students to cultivate powers of observation and inquiry. Discusses the following topics: rocks and minerals, weathering, microlandforms, weather and daytime astronomy, biogeography and soils, and…

Presents a strategy that helps students visualize and comprehend moon phase changes through activities that use an Earth-centered point of view along with direct observations of the moon. Describes activities that parents can use at home to help children become familiar with observing moon phases. (JRH)

Describes an undergraduate chemistry curriculum that capitalizes on the strengths of mechanistic organic chemistry. Enables students to grasp the conceptual unity that allows professional chemists to understand unfamiliar results according to few well-defined principles. Describes some instructional strategies that evolved from efforts to connect…

Provides sample observation activities to accompany the nursery tale of Chicken Little. Includes five activities that involve the skills of observing, communicating, comparing, ordering, and categorizing to engage students in hands-on science. (DDR)

Describes how raising monarch, black swallowtail, and mourning cloak butterflies in a kindergarten class garden can provide opportunities for observation experiences. Includes detailed steps for instruction and describes stages of growth. Excerpts children's journal dictations to illustrate ways to support the discovery process. Describes related…

Presents information gathered about two exemplary teachers of U.S. history using research methods, such as interviews and observations. Discusses how the teachers fostered empathy in their classrooms by focusing on the use of stories and social themes to connect history to students' lives. (CMK)

Discusses how the topic of cratering can be used to help students develop inquiry skills. Details five activities that focus on the nature and processes of cratering. (DDR)

This study compared three methods for assessing relational aggression (RA) and physical aggression (PA) in preschool children: a teacher rating scale; a peer nomination measure; and a direct observation measure. Results showed intermethod agreement between peer and teacher ratings of RA for girls and PA for boys. All three methods indicated boys…

Describes how principals can provide the instructional leadership necessary to meet higher academic standards required by state standards and high-stakes testing. Suggestions include establishing goals and objectives, promoting a culture of learning, reordering priorities, emphasizing professional development, and focusing on results. (PKP)

Summarizes recent political and theoretical presentations of partnership and networking, discussing their relevance to the understanding of contemporary education policy. Focuses on the first stages of the establishment of Education Action Zones in two areas of England, describing their patterns of governance and the relationship between public…

Investigates the extent that English primary science teachers press for casual understanding through their discourse in science lessons. Observed Key Stage 2 lessons (n=50) for students ages seven to eleven and the nature of teachers' discourse. Reports that discourse on facts and description were common, while there were low levels of discourse…

Reports findings from the first two years of a four-year longitudinal study on the influence of ability grouping practices on English students' attitudes and achievement in mathematics in six schools. Traces achievement and attitudes of students as they move from Year 8 to Year 9 using questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observation. (CMK)