The goal of this study is to bring the voices of African American boys front and center in science education research in an effort to strengthen our understandings of their experiences of school and science. Using an interpretivist perspective within a narrative inquiry approach, I focus on the student and science-student identities two African…

Although taxonomic proficiency is a prerequisite for understanding ideas central to biology, previous research has established that learners frequently misclassify animals by not following the tenets of accepted taxonomic rubrics. This has immediate relevance with the recently revised English National Curriculum now requiring concepts of animal…

This report synthesizes critical issues and questions associated with science curriculum reform for the purpose of establishing a research agenda. Section headings describing needed research are as follows: Science, Technology, and Cultural Needs; Schooling Needs; Science Education Needs; and Research in Science Education Needs. Contrasts and…

Physical science curriculum materials were developed for below-average students based on guidelines for science teaching. These materials were tested in three ninth and tenth grade classrooms. Results showed significant improvement in students' attitudes toward the science class and laboratory. (PS)

Evaluates five methods of implementing curriculum change in terms of cost, usage rates, satisfaction, and the Havelock model of knowledge, dissemination, and utilization. (SL)

Science education research, as well as science curriculum development, has concentrated on the intelligent student, to the unjustifiable neglect of average and below-average ability students. (AL)

There is a growing awareness that science education should center not just on knowledge acquisition but developing the foundation for lifelong learning. However, for intentional learning of science to occur in school, out of school, and after school, there needs to be a motivation to learn science. Prior research had shown that students'…

This article covers the following: (1) contrasts several perspectives on science education reform by examining recommendations for introductory science courses; (2) identifies research finding that can guide reform; (3) discusses the impact of research on national precollege curriculum reform; and (4) offers a set of recommendations to guide…

Outlines the use of concept maps as a tool for science curriculum development and discusses the changes that occur in the teacher's view of the curriculum with successive revisions of the maps. Describes and analyzes the maps created by sixth-grade teachers. (PR)

Summarizes major findings of the Harvard Project Physics research and evaluation activity, including data gathering techniques, descriptions of teacher characteristics, information about student responses and learning environments, and final evaluation year results. Indicates that the evaluation program is characterized by considerable research on…

The research reported in this article focuses on teachers' views of participating in curriculum development at the local level. A questionnaire returned by the randomly selected teachers provided data on the types of help desired by teachers involved in curriculum development, sources of help, and curriculum development activities. (SA)

Tested and supported was the hypothesis that students receiving high-structured film narrations will acquire more knowledge and will respond more favorably than those receiving low-structured film narrations. Results contribute additional data to evidence supporting the need for critical application of the kinetic structure theory in evaluating…

Investigates the opinions of 991 Israeli junior high school students with regard to their choices and preferences of science subjects. Findings show that preferred subjects were chosen both from school curricula and from having agents outside the school. (HM)

Investigates whether information about new National Science Foundation sponsored elementary science curricula was not being effectively communicated to the appropriate persons, thus hindering the selection and adoption of those curricula. (GA)

First graders who had been exposed to the Child-Structured Learning in Science curriculum (CSLS) were compared according to their achievement on a cognitive test instrument to two groups who had not had the CSLS treatment. Results revealed that a greater percentage of children in the CSLS treatment group performed on a concrete-operational level,…