Delineates the factors mediating the translation of preservice teachers' conceptions of the nature of science into instructional planning and classroom practice. Assesses the influence of temporally separating teaching preservice teachers about the nature of science and teaching them how to address it instructionally. (Contains 42 references.)…

Describes the courses in a study program called History of Physics for physics student teachers at Oldenburg University in Germany, some of which are modified from the ordinary physics curriculum with an emphasis on history and philosophy of science. Presents some examples of student achievements and points out the educational relevance. (ASK)

Examined 3- to 5-year olds' justifications for conformity to physical laws and social rules. Found that children's justifications for social rule conformity involved consequences and permission/obligation, and for physical laws involved physical limitations or impossibility. Older preschoolers, but not 3-year olds, appreciated that social…

Ethical issues concerning pain and suffering of animals are necessarily a consideration in killing pest or feral species in Australia, but ethical issues are reduced to a secondary consideration and appear to be at odds with scientific agendas. Suggests that a greater understanding of various perspectives on the subject of environmental ethics may…

Examines some key characteristics of science under the headings of elimination of the personal, demarcation from ethics, and denial of reflexivity. Relates these characteristics to an instrumental criterion of knowing which is pervasive in science. Suggests that there are severe limits to the introduction of a more personal, interpretative, and…

Updates and extends an article on "Wonder in Science Education" published in 1994. Earlier dimensions identified - wondering 'at' and 'about' - have had wondering 'whether' added. Argues that a new range of questions is brought into the frame by this addition which include basic aspects of values and science. (Author/MM)

Discusses issues regarding evolution instruction in public schools and focuses on misconceptions such as the use of the word "belief", lack of evidence for theories of evolution, and the belief that teaching evolution as fact is proselytizing students. Presents teaching approaches to the topic of evolution. (Contains 33 references.) (YDS)

Addresses some of the problems inherent both in traditional didactic science teaching and in approaches based on theories of conceptual change. Argues for helping students to acquire a better understanding of science (through an anthropological approach) and a better understanding of themselves as learners and science initiates. (Author/MM)

Participants in 2 experiments interacted with computer simulations designed to foster understanding of scientific principles governing complex adaptive systems. The quality of participants' transportable understanding was measured by the amount of transfer between 2 simulations governed by the same principle. The perceptual concreteness of the…

To appreciate the true impact of scientifically based research on education, it may be useful first to understand the meaning of the various terms that the law employs as part of its definition of SBR (Scientifcally Based Research). The This article presents an explication from a Software & Information Industry Association publication titled…

The concept of flight for human beings has always been closely tied to imagination. To fly like a bird requires a mind that also soars. Therefore, good teachers who want to teach the scientific principles of flight recognize that it is helpful to share stories of their search for the keys to flight. The authors share some of these with the reader,…

In this article, the authors describe an activity developed to assist students with constructing their own understanding of Earth's history and provide questions to help teach the geologic time scale. The lesson is aligned to the following National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry, Earth's History, and Nature of Science. While…

Educating the public about safety issues related to severe weather is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) mission. This article deals with a poster entitled, "Severe Weather," that has been created by NOAA to help educate the public about hazardous weather conditions. The four types of severe weather highlighted in…

Accurately conveying the nature of science (NOS)--what science is and how it works--is common to most science education standards documents, including the "National Science Education Standards" and "Science for All Americans". Understanding the NOS is crucial to scientific literacy since mistaken ideas of science will likely affect students'…

A study was done to help teachers assist students in understanding the nature of science and evolution better. The study revealed that teacher-student interaction helps the students to enhance their knowledge and ability to proceed and succeed.