Examines how science teachers' (n=14) knowledge of science and science pedagogy changed after participation in a constructivist-based methods course. More-experienced teachers were paired with less-experienced teachers, and pre- and post-instructional concept maps, journals, portfolios, and transcripts revealed that, within the zone of proximal…

Attempting to increase reading engagement, a collaborative team implemented a year-long integration of reading/language arts and science instruction known as Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI). Compared to traditionally organized instruction, the CORI context increased strategy use, conceptual learning, and text comprehension more than…

Presents and describes a pedagogical framework that supports children's development of conceptual understanding of mathematics. Advancing Children's Thinking (ACT) is synthesized from an in-depth analysis of observed and reported data from one skillful first-grade teacher's use of the "Everyday Mathematics" curriculum. Indicates that…

Considers the potential of social-constructivist ideas of teaching and learning for pupils with learning difficulties from a British perspective. Reports on a study with a class of eight students with moderate learning disabilities studying the local community. Benefits to individual students in the development of conceptual understanding and…

Investigates the conceptual-change process in grade 10 students during a computer-supported physics unit. Finds that many students vacillated between alternative and scientific conceptions from one context to another during instruction, and those few students who did exhibit context-independent and stable conceptual change appeared able to accept…

Examines changes in the science content representations of two prospective elementary teachers during their first year in an experimental teacher preparation program. Finds that opportunities to engage in cycles of instruction guided by structured considerations for content representation contributed to improvements in the teachers' science…

Investigates the procedural understanding of first-year university science students in South Africa. Explores ideas related to the reliability of experimental data and discusses the types of reasoning underlying the responses. (DDR)

Reports on a study designed to determine whether the historical approach to chemistry teaching will promote the conceptual problem-solving ability of eighth-grade students and identify whether high or low achievers profit more from this teaching approach. (DDR)

Clarifies the teaching of academic language functions (ALFs) at the secondary level. It is recommended that teaching should emphasize concepts underlyng ALFs, the forms for realizing them, and their names. Some pedagogic implications of the microfunction-macrofunction difference are outlined, and suggestions are given for teaching each type. (25…

Utilizes questionnaires to examine Carugati and Mugny's assertion that social representations of intelligence are organized both by social identity and unfamiliarity. Discovers a consensus concerning representations of intelligence organized by social identity. Includes a copy of the questionnaire, breakdown of the responses, and other statistical…

Presents an overview of science and technology teacher preparation in Asia that emphasizes the educational reforms taking place as influenced by socioeconomic developments and advances in science and technology. (DDR)

Argues that the unit operations laboratory provides an ideal setting to help chemical engineering students become better engineering practitioners. Describes a summer program at the Colorado School of Mines that incorporates experience into a unit operations laboratory. (DDR)

Presents the results of a study on preservice teachers' conceptions of an environmental scientist at work. The teachers (N=65) were participants in a two-week project that focused on integrating environmental science research into the science curriculum. (DDR)

Addresses the implementation and evaluation of a constructivist course and extends the argument toward the induction of teachers into critical constructivism through their own action-research projects. Data is taken from a single case study illustrating the changes in the professional life and reflective practice of one teacher in Brazil. (AIM)

Provides rationale for environmental education in early childhood settings. Suggests ways teachers can introduce the natural world to children. Focuses on: using children's literature to encourage close observation; examining the concept of change; using one's senses to learn about the world; and developing caring attitudes for the natural world.…