Biology in Context ("bik") is a project that aims to improve biology teaching in lower secondary schools in Germany. Based on a theoretical framework derived from the National Educational Standards, four competence areas should be fostered in biology education: subject knowledge; inquiry acquisition; subject-related communication; and…

This study was an attempt to use a model or a theoretical construct and to find if that model related to an underlying construct teachers might have as they view science teaching decisions. Nine scenes from the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) film, "Don't Tell Me, I'll Find Out," were selected. Statements reflecting three…

Teacher process variables and student outcomes were examined as they appeared in two settings employing curriculum materials based on alternate psychological learning approaches. The two settings were based on the cognitive restructuring and behavioral approaches described by Bruner and Gagne, respectively. Ten teachers were involved in the study.…

Focuses on the relationships of the teacher's affective attributes, concerning both interest and attitude, and measures of teaching behaviors of elementary grade preservice teachers (N=148) consistent with instructional methodology of the SCIS curriculum. Results include a confirmation that a field-oriented treatment yields significant changes in…

Evaluated the effectiveness of an in-service science program, designed to introduce the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) to 35 elementary schools, by measuring teachers' (N=168) use of living materials available from the school district's resource supply center. Findings include no significant increase in material usage by workshop…

Examined was the problem of the learning environment as it related to differential affective outcomes. Two specific questions were investigated. First, were there overall significant differences in the learning environments of classes who scored high (the top 25% strong attitudes towards chemistry) on the Student Opinion Survey in Chemistry?…

Described and assessed was the teacher's role in three elementary school science programs which included hands-on learning experiences for the students. Results indicated that this role varied with the manner in which hands-on materials were used in the program. (CW)

A study of 221 teachers in 50 exemplary science programs shows that teachers in these programs are unlike science teachers in general. This report offers a general profile of exemplary science teachers and summarizes data about their goals, expectations, strategies, and the results they obtain with students. (IW)

A quantitative synthesis of research findings on the effects of three major activity-based elementary science programs developed with National Science Foundation support was conducted. Controlled evaluation studies of the Elementary Science Study (ESS), Science-A Process Approach (SAPA), or The Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) were used…

Summarizes findings of seven studies dealing with how teacher behavior affects student performance in activity-centered science classrooms at the elementary and junior high school levels. Concludes that activity-centered classrooms encourage student creativity in problem solving, student independence, and help low ability students overcome initial…

The simultaneous effects of two instructional variables of degree of teacher direction (student- versus teacher-directed) and time allowed for study and the student variable of general ability are described for student achievement (N=912) in three life-science instructional modules. (Author)