The whole world was united in its condemnation of the pre-1994 apartheid regime in South Africa. Apartheid meant that many South Africans were robbed of their democratic voices and cultural identities. In this article, the authors pose the question: Are you guilty of "knowledge apartheid" in your biology classroom? Does every student have a voice…

As part of a curriculum development project entitled Crossing Boundaries, these authors designed an inquiry-based activity that introduces students to landscape change and potential impacts on associated biological communities. Using pairs of current and historical satellite images, students explore landscape change in a variety of U.S. and…

Presents the case for employing an action research framework for curriculum development in The Netherlands. Argues that this bottom-up strategy can be effective because many teachers are willing to refine and modify their practices. (DDR)

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)

This paper describes the current approach used in Israel for teaching photosynthesis to junior high school students. Authors identify two types of problems, psychological and instructional, that children experience in understanding photosynthesis. Presents a foundation and sequence for a new approach to teaching photosynthesis. (18 references) (PR)

Biodiversity is the extraordinary variety of life in this planet. In order to be fully appreciated, biodiversity needs to be experienced firsthand, or "experientially." Thus, the standard classroom lecture format is not the ideal situation for teaching biodiversity and evolutionary concepts, in that student interest and understanding are…

Describes the new national biology curriculum in the Netherlands, including a modern branch of biology called ethology. Topics covered include General Objectives, Lessons on Ethology and Student Skills, Role of Ethological Theory in Lessons, Emphasis on Human Behavior, Student Skills to be Developed, and items to be included in lessons such as…

Article discusses the Science-Technology-Society approach and describes a study (n=116) of differences in learning outcomes for Taiwanese students who study college biology in an issue-oriented format with students who study in a concept-oriented format. Students in the issue-oriented format class had statistically higher scores for concept…

Presents the results of a comparative study of Canada and Israel. Science achievements based on data collected in the Second International Science Study are examined. Also the intended and translated curriculum are considered. The populations of the study, results of the study, and the similarities between students are described. (CW)

Discusses preparation of secondary school biology teachers in China. Topics addressed include admission, orientation of prospective teachers, scheduling, teacher preparation curriculum, and inservice education. (JN)

Describes aspects of biology education in China, discussing school organization, science curriculum at primary and secondary levels, biology curriculum, environmental education, biology instruction, Chinese students, school factories, informal science education, popularization of science, college entrance requirements, and preservice and inservice…