This book is a joint publication of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Society of Protozoologists and is the result of efforts to find a way in which protozoa research can be used to teach biology. This program puts cutting edge science into the hands of science teachers and enables students to experience a variety of…

While improved student achievement remains the ultimate goal for systemic reform activities, it may take several years for reforms to manifest themselves in measurable student performance outcomes. Included in this 8-panel brochure is a set of intermediate benchmarks that can be used to determine if states, school districts, and regions are making…

Since 1991, the National Science Foundation has conducted a series of annual competitions for awards to states under the Statewide Systemic Initiatives (SSI) program. This document reports on the progress of 21 SSI initiatives through the 1992-93 academic year. In chapter 1, "Introduction," a framework for assessing systemic reform is…

Many students face chemistry courses with a sense of fear and foreboding because it is a required course. Yet at the same time, fundamentals of chemistry have become intertwined in countless professions to say nothing of its growing importance in our everyday lives. Educators must bridge this dichotomy between attitude and importance. This paper…

This guide is intended to provide educators responsible for selecting elementary science curriculum materials for high ability learners with both quantitative and qualitative assessment data for 27 science curricula or materials. The review process attempted to balance sound practices of curriculum development (using standards required for any…

The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (ENC) helps teachers by offering a broad assortment of services that enable them to quickly locate educational resources. This document is one in a series of print catalogs designed to give educators information about curriculum resources available for teaching math and…

The Colorado Model Content Standards for Science specify what all students should know and be able to do in science as a result of their school studies. These standards reflect high expectations and outline the essential level of science knowledge and skills needed by all citizens to participate productively in an increasingly technological…

This volume of 66 promising practices in mathematics and science education developed by the 10 regional educational laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement. The laboratories' collection of programs emerged from a broad-based search, nomination, and review process reaching educators…

This literature review is the first phase of an extensive review of curriculum reform in science, mathematics and higher order thinking across the disciplines. The first of eight sections is an executive summary addressing the major themes of the document. The second section deals with several general issues of curricular reform concerning…

Many are aware that to secure a safe Earth for future generations means that people must know more about the Earth, its inhabitants, and the role that each plays in sustaining life on Earth. This lack of knowledge today has led to decisions such as the destruction of the rainforest, the growing and inefficient use of fossil fuels, and until…

The nature of qualitative understanding and associated learning processes in the context of a computer simulation called the "Envisioning Machine" (EM) are investigated. The questions focused on in this paper include the following: What sorts of knowledge do students' construct? What role does prior knowledge play in the construction of…

Describes the controversy in the House of Representatives concerning National Science Foundation's (NSF) educational programs in general, and specifically, the NSF-supported behavioral science course for fifth graders called Man: A Course of Study. Describes the political pressure being placed on NSF to assume greater responsibility for…

Describes the use of modules to teach secondary science subjects at Para Vista High School in Australia. Five main science subjects (physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and unified science) are divided into nine modules each. Students may sign up, according to their schedule, to complete the modules of their choice. (MLH)

Describes an experimental type of science course which involves theoretical and practical approaches to scientific topics by using mathematics to develop and explain scientific problems and theory. Gives an example of such a course applied to the teaching of physical anthropology. (MLH)

The Tagari Project attempts to utilize resources already available in the community in lieu of classroom instruction and places emphasis on using funds normally spent on costly equipment and facilities to give the program flexibility and mobility. (BR)