Science departments in higher education have been adjusting their curricula to include more inquiry-based instruction, and research on inquiry-based teaching at the collegiate level has been increasing. However, more data are needed regarding the effectiveness of inquiry-based pedagogy in improving students' conceptual understanding and attitudes…

A feature of student--teacher--scientist partnerships (STSPs) involves students working with scientists for the purpose of helping them learn more about how scientists work and think. Previous research on STSPs has generally focused on identifying the best practices of partnerships and on identifying challenges of these partnerships. The study…

Learning about heredity is important across the K-12 continuum. However, these ideas may be challenging for students. We examined third-grade students' ideas about heredity in the context of a new, six-week, model-based science unit that uses corn as a model organism to support students' ideas about heredity. We analyzed data collected during…

Recent reform initiatives in undergraduate biology call for curricula that prepare students for dealing with real-world issues and making important links between science and society. In response to this call, we have developed an issues-based laboratory module that uses guided inquiry to integrate the concepts of animal behavior and population…

Identifying students' interests in biology can play an important role in improving existing curricula to meet their needs. An analysis of 1,751 self-generated biological questions raised by children, adolescents, and adults yielded data regarding the different age groups' interests in biology. Research limitations and applications for teaching are…

Discusses how evolution and natural selection should be taught in the classroom. Presents a study investigating the effects of a nontraditional curriculum including creation stories on student attitudes toward evolution. Reports that a curriculum with creation stories is more effective in fostering scientific views about evolution. (Contains 22…

Discusses the conflict of creation versus evolution in education and challenges biology teachers in building a learning environment. Investigates the beliefs and ways of managing conflict of conservative Christians who were science teachers, future science teachers, science teacher educators, and scientists. Warns teachers against using strong…

Discusses challenges faced in the teaching and learning of evolution. Presents a curricular program and a case study on evolutionary biology. Investigates students' conceptual knowledge after exposure to the program "From Dinosaurs to Darwin," which focuses on fossil records as evidence of evolution. (Contains 32 references.) (YDS)

Presented are the results of a survey of biology teachers. Results are compared to surveys of Ohio and Kentucky. Suggestions to improve the coverage of evolution are included. A copy of the survey questionnaire is appended. (CW)

In 1993 two of the authors of this article published a survey of introductory biology laboratory instruction in colleges and universities of the U.S. in order to document the status of laboratory instruction, and in particular, the use of inquiry based instruction. In this article, the authors present a survey that examined the changes that may…

Discusses an 84-question survey administered to a random sample of Pennsylvania school districts focusing on the Christian community which has voiced the most concerns about teaching evolution in the schools. Thirty-nine percent of responding high school teachers felt creation science should be taught in the public school. Comparisons are also…

Described is a survey of firms which hire biologists. Summarized are required knowledge, skills, qualifications, and attributes required of candidates; types of jobs being filled; and methods of finding qualified candidates. Careers in biotechnology areas are highlighted. (CW)

Identified are persistent and recurrent patterns in the history of biology education. Major influences and goals of the last century are stressed. Four major aims identified are knowledge, methods, personal, and social. These aims are used as a framework for the discussion. (CW)

Compared effectiveness of a Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS)-style laboratory program in a university general biology course against a popular traditionally oriented program. Although learning gains for both groups were significant, students using the BSCS-style investigations scored significantly higher on a posttest of laboratory…

Describes an advanced placement course, designed for ninth- and tenth-grade students with no prior chemistry, covering two years of content in a single year. Factors leading to course initiation, student selection, curriculum development, teaching methods, problems encountered, and overall results are considered. (JM)