Amber is a fossil by itself, and can also contain plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Some of these perfectly preserved specimens give scientists a convenient window to past environments, including the biology, ecology, geology, and chemistry of Earth's past. By using an interdisciplinary approach, we can demonstrate to students a…

This is an in-depth content analysis of an exemplary outdoor science signage system. The authors offer useful criteria for assessing the quality of the "opportunity to learn" within science signage systems in informal educational sites. This research may be helpful in the design or improvement of trailside interpretive signage systems.

Mixed methods research conducted across three semesters in introductory college geology classes (n=187, 190, 138) attempted to ascertain whether integrated study of petrified wood could serve as a portal to improved student geobiological understanding of fossilization, geologic time, and evolution. The Petrified Wood Survey[TM] was administered as…

Attempts to understand how six biology students complete the tasks of a traditional paper-and-pencil instrument designed to detect alternative conceptions about photosynthesis. Responses to the traditional content question (first tier) were correct more often than reasons (second tier). Participant verbal data indicated that they relied upon…

In the past, contributions by women have been largely overlooked in U.S. science instruction. However, the move toward standards-based integration of appropriate history of science topics supports bringing female scientists' viewpoints to the classroom--offering a range of perspectives on scientific advances. The authors' historical research in…

Describes a method of cutting up pages in texts to make moveable, magnetic cards that can be used for instruction and assessment. Uses the diagrammatic illustrations associated with the complicated biotechnology procedures of the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. (JRH)

The purpose of this research study was to (a) describe how concept mapping can be used as an integral instructional strategy for teaching a college course in evolution, (b) evaluate the utility of incorporating concept mapping in a college course on evolution, (c) determine whether students' concept maps reveal "critical junctures" in learning as…

Tested Richard Duschl's triadic model of the growth of scientific knowledge against research practices of 10 accomplished life scientists. Reports that the scientists were willing to change their aims, methods, or theories and were both realists and relativists depending on the scientific discourse about the phenomena in question. Discusses…

Explores the use of concept mapping in a college course on evolution and the effect of the use of graphics in the instructional process on the construction of a concept map. Results indicate a positive correlation between concept map scores and the number of graphics used by the instructor during lecture. (JRH)

Undergraduates (n=25) participated in a study designed to describe and evaluate the use of concept mapping in teaching a college course on evolution; determine whether students' concept maps reveal "critical junctures" in learning as the course unfolds; and assess the impact of concept mapping on students' study practices and on…

Discusses several new assessment strategies that encourage meaningful learning and conceptual understanding in biological science. Introduces evaluation and measurement techniques that help students assimilate well-integrated, strongly cohesive frameworks of interrelated concepts as a way of facilitating 'real understanding' of natural phenomena.…

Writing can be a powerful tool for learning biology. Writing assignments in biology could help students personalize and understand the biology knowledge they are studying. In this article, the authors present the "Botanical Sense of Place" (BSP), a convenient and easy-to-use writing template that they developed to elicit and probe students' prior…

Determined if junior high school students prefer to study plants or animals and if their preferences are related to variables of grade level and/or sex. Findings show that, overall, students prefer animal study over plant study. Other findings (such as girls having a greater interest in biological topics than boys) are discussed. (JN)

The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework concerning writings about the future of biology education. Methods, procedures, and results are presented. A list of 112 articles about the future found in the journal "The American Biology Teacher" from 1938-88 is included. (CW)

Reports on a case study of meaningful science learning in two African-American female high school students. Finds that complex cultural factors that permit cognitive passivity, confidence-without-competence, and attention to behavior over learning contribute to cognitive disengagement and ultimately to the blocking of intentional, meaningful…