Argues that the limited results achieved so far by empirical educational research are a result of a fundamental difference in the generalized concepts used therein and the abstract concepts used in the natural sciences. Discusses the work of Galileo and Newton to clarify the difference between generalization and abstraction. (DMM)

Reports on a study in which upper-level elementary education majors (n=37) at an urban university participated in a cooperative controversy lesson. Concludes that before the cooperative controversy lesson, 73% of the students felt that the nature of science was fact-based. After participating in the cooperative controversy exercise, 60% of the…

Argues that the British national curriculum has made science exciting for students aged 5-16 and that future development should be informed much more explicitly by the underpinning rationale and philosophy of the subject. (DDR)

Reflects on a career in science education by focusing on significant events that helped shape the practitioner's philosophy of science teaching and learning. (DDR)

Describes and analyzes five years of an attempt to introduce the public understanding of science as a subject in its own right to be taught in The Netherlands. Concludes that in spite of its status as a separate subject, the current vision of the course does not yet have a clear identity that distinguishes it from traditional school science…

There are significant variances in both the religious and non-religious beliefs for rejecting evolution, and likewise diversity in the extent to which various creationists reject evolution. Describes the anti-evolution stances of literalists, progressives, and theists and addresses teaching concerns relative to anti-evolution positions. Contains…

Focuses on the integrity and ethics of Arthur Jensen, while tracing the negative reactions his work on genetic differences in intelligence has evoked. Outlines some other areas in which Jensen has worked and commends his emphasis on honest psychological science. (SLD)

Modern thought is most dependent upon the influence of Charles Darwin. Discusses Darwin's contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, and modern zeitgeist. (WRM)

Presents a classroom activity in which students identify the possible ways of reducing NOx emissions to reduce ground-level ozone. (YDS)

Examines pre-college students' understanding of the nature of science and tracks those beliefs over the course of an academic year. Studies students' conceptions of the nature of science using a model developed for use in this study. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/YDS)

Presents three different scientific issues to students and uses debate as a way of gaining information. Involves information collection on the topic, team preparation, and debate between teams. Includes debate format and presentation guidelines, suggestions for debate questions, information on areas to explore when preparing to debate the question…

Assesses the influence of three history of science (HOS) courses on college students' and preservice teachers' conceptions of nature of science (NOS). Examines whether participants who entered the investigated courses with a conceptual framework consistent with contemporary NOS views achieved more elaborate NOS understandings. Explores the aspects…

Presents preservice elementary teachers' frames (points of view) on science curriculum. Uses Carl Sagan's text, "The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark". Explores how students retelling their reactions to experiences of their own design might influence their awareness of beliefs in general and reconsideration of…

Reports on the conceptions held by preservice primary school teachers regarding an understanding of current views of the nature of science (Author/CCM)

In science education contexts there appears to be some consensus regarding the "doing" of science but less on the "what for". In this paper we compare and contrast scientists' view of "doing science" with the practice of "doing science" in New Zealand classrooms. After examining and critiquing these…