Recent education reforms including the "Next Generation Science Standards" emphasize integrating engineering into K-12 science instruction. Although prior studies have characterized engineering design (ED) in K-12 settings, no validated protocols attempt to characterize ED integration in secondary science classrooms. The present study…

In this work we use research from science education on teacher framing and work from mathematics education on teacher noticing to develop new approaches to modeling teacher cognition. The framing literature proposes a dynamic cognitive model of teaching in which teacher epistemological framing, or moment-to-moment understanding of what is going on…

In recent years, science education has placed increasing importance on learners' mastery of scientific reasoning. This growing emphasis presents a challenge for both developers and users of assessments. We report on our effort around the conceptualization, development, and testing the validity of an assessment of students' ability to reason around…

This study reports on our steps toward achieving a conceptually coherent and empirically validated learning progression for carbon cycling in socio-ecological systems. It describes an iterative process of designing and analyzing assessment and interview data from students in upper elementary through high school. The product of our development…

Presents the procedures, results, and conclusions of a study designed to compare the cognitive performance of students from a new curricula (PSSC) and from traditional (non-PSSC) curricula. Results essentially supported contention that PSSC materials were more effective in developing higher cognitive skills. (DS)

Searched for a learning hierarchy among skills comprising formal operations and integrated science processes. Ordering, theoretic, and probabilistic latent structure methods were used to analyze data collected from 700 science students. Both linear and branching relationships were identified within and across the two sets of skills. (Author/JN)

Reports the characteristics and describes the development of a test of science processes (observing, comparing, classifying, quantifying, measuring, experimenting, inferring, and predicting) designed for junior high school students. Examples of items are included. (AL)

Students were classified as formal or concrete-operational using a battery of Piagetian tasks, a biology content examination, and a nonscience content examination. Based on the results it was concluded that Piagetian tasks are relatively content-free and can serve as realistic indicators of concrete and formal thinking abilities. (MLH)

Different learning cycle sequences were investigated to determine factors accounting for success of the cycle, compared learning with conventional instruction, and examined relationships between Piaget's theory and learning cycles. Results show that the normal learning cycle sequence is the optimum sequence for achievement of content knowledge in…

Determined whether chemistry students (N=332) understood analog tasks that could be used for teaching the mole concept. Also identified possible difficulties that students might have in solving mole problems. Seven major conclusions are reported and discussed, including the finding that two-step problems were more difficult to solve than one-step…

Studied relationships of achievement motivation, information status, and group discussion arrangements to risk-taking behaviors for six high school biology classes, using the Extremity-Confidence of Hypothesis Test and Risk-Taking Verbal Observation Scale. Concluded that risk-taking was a multidimensional trait and might be influenced by…

Reported the development and validation of an integrated model of performance on chemical concept-volumetric analysis. Model was tested on 265 chemistry students in eight schools.Results indicated that for subjects using algorithms without understanding, performance on volumetric analysis problems was not influenced by proportional reasoning…

An empirical analysis of the relationship between science reasoning skills and the amount of information acquired during science learning as predicted by a neuromathematical model of information processing is presented. Subjects were 93 adolescents (mean age of 15.4 years old) with a IQ range of 91-142. (Author/JN)

Compares two grade 12 science classes, one receiving instruction using the Laboratory-Investigative Approach, and the other using the Lecture-Laboratory Approach, in terms of certain cognitive factors and associated attitudes. (GA)

Reports on the administration of a biology cognitive preference test to 177 science-oriented high school students. Subjects were asked to rank responses or "extension statements" to items according to their preference. It was found that the high-ability students as a group had a very high preference for questioning and low preference for recall.…