Asynchronous computer-based conferencing offers several unique capabilities as a medium. Participants can read and write messages at whatever time is convenient for them, groups can interact even though participants are geographically separated, and messages are available to readers almost instantly. Because the medium has served for over a decade…

The focus of this study was to understand and describe the nature of a professional community of interdisciplinary science teachers linked together through a telecommunications network. Thirty two high school science teachers participated in a 2 week summer institute. Patterns of teacher participation and changes within this community were…

This study is an attempt to determine the extent of telecommunications use by secondary school science teachers in the Queens borough of New York City. Science teachers in 39 middle schools and 32 high schools were surveyed in May, 1994, in the following categories of information: access to computers, hardware preference, hardware in use, access…

The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), with support from the National Science Foundation, is conducting a three-year project to develop a model for implementing educational computing in school science. This paper explains the tentative model in detail and presents the results of a pilot test of the model, which project staff conducted…

The goal of the Educational Technology Center (ETC) Computer-based Conferencing Project has been to explore the potential of computer-mediated communication to support teachers in collegial exchange about their subject and practice, and to develop recommendations for future applications and management of such conferences. The purposes of this…

Reports on the results of a University of Arizona experiment that used electronic mail to supplement traditional modes of student/instructor interaction in four courses in electrical and computer engineering. Results indicated that students liked electronic mail to supplement their discourse with their instructors. (TW)

A university consortium recently undertook a project designed to explore the use of technology in teaching high school biology as a means of engaging students actively in the scientific method, and in changing the role of the teacher from lecturer and conclusion drawer to initiator and facilitator. The study examined the degree to which teachers…

This research project was designed to evaluate the synergistic effects of linking workshops for science teachers with electronic conferencing. The rationale for this study was that these two methods of professional development and communication would have an impact beyond that which either would have alone. Included are the abstract, a description…

Describes and evaluates science teachers' implementation of microcomputers at a field-test site that was part of a program to encourage literacy of science teachers in the use of microcomputers (ENLIST-Micros). Discusses why only 33 percent of the teachers used computers one year after the training. (Author/YP)

This volume contains the 30 formal papers that were accepted for the European and Third World Gender and Science and Technology (GASAT) Conference. The theme of the conference was "Science and Technology, A Future for All?" The papers are presented in two parts and organized into four frames. Part one contains papers, reporting empirical…

Reviewed are 11 studies reported in Dissertation Abstracts International for Social Sciences in 1989. Topics include problem solving, mathematics education, LOGO computer language, implementation of instructional computing, algebra, effects of differential grouping on learning science skills, simulations, and graphing as they relate to the use of…

The Educational Technology Center (ETC) was established by the National Institute of Education in October, 1983, in order to find ways of using the computer and other information technologies to teach science, mathematics, and computing more effectively. This report describes the ETC, presents its framework for research, and summarizes work on 12…

The Educational Technology Center (ETC) was established by the National Institute of Education in October, 1983, in order to find ways of using the computer and other information technologies to teach science, mathematics, and computing more effectively. This report describes the ETC, presents its framework for research, and summarizes work on 11…

Teacher isolation is a significant problem in the science teaching profession. Traditional inservice solutions are often plagued by logistical difficulties or occur too infrequently to build ongoing teacher networks. Educational Technology Center (ETC) researchers reasoned that computer-based conferencing might promote collegial exchange among…

This summary of research in science education for 1989 is organized around 15 major themes. These themes are: (1) criteria and ethics; (2) achievement in science; (3) affect; (4) classroom interactions; (5) cognitive processes; (6) computers; (7) curriculum; (8) instruction; (9) legislation and policy; (10) misconceptions; (11) scientific…