Educational robotics activities are gaining in popularity. Though some research data suggest that educational robotics can be an effective approach in teaching mathematics, science, and engineering, research is needed to generate the best practices and strategies for designing these learning environments. Existing robotics activities typically do…

Continues the work done by Mackay (1971) and Gardner (1973) in which attitudes of students enrolled in PSSC physics were assessed. (PEB)

Describes studies by L. D. Mackay and P. L. Gardner that were designed to teach attitudinal objectives in the Physical Science Study Committee (PSSC) course. Differences in results are attributed to the effect of socio-economic level, passage of time and reduced teacher enthusiasm, factors extraneous to PSSC, and a slightly different sample. (GS)

Describes two research studies that, viewed collectively, provide an assessment of scientific literacy development. The results indicate thatthe Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) program does develop positive attitudes toward science in children and that SCIS children excell in understanding the processes of science. (BR)

Reports data which provide a partial replication of an earlier study of changes in attitudes of Physical Science Study Committee (PSSC) physics students. Data from the present research failed to support earlier findings. Several reasons for the discrepancies are advanced. (JR)

Conclusions include that, between Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) courses and non-ISCS courses, there is no difference between the students' perception of both classroom activities and teacher personality traits. (MLH)

Reported, in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek manner, is information concerning student ratings of trial versions of Australian Science Education Project (ASEP) units. (PEB)

The study was conducted in Victoria on grade 11 pupils taking the first year of a two-year course based on Physical Science Study Committee (PSSC) materials. The magnitudes of the teacher behavior and pupil personality effects were much larger than the effects associated with different curricula. (Author/MLH)

This study was designed to assess the attitudinal outcomes of Introductory Physical Science (IPS) curriculum materials used in schools. Random samples of 240 students receiving IPS instruction and 240 non-science students were assigned to separate Solomon four-group designs with non-equivalent control groups. Random samples of 60 traditional…

Compares effects of the Human Sciences Program (BSCS) and conventional programs on attitudes of eighth-grade students. Variables include course, gender and school (including teacher). Evaluation of results from responses on a semantic differential questionnaire indicate very positive response to the Human Sciences Program. (CS)

Reported is an exploratory investigation to identify predictors of the variance of measure of high school students' willingness to become involved in science and their perception of the scientist. The study was prompted by three factors: (1) declining high school physics enrollments; (2) research revealing high school students have negative…

Using a specially-constructed category system (CATS), biology lessons are analyzed for attribute-treatment interaction (ATI) and the data submitted to analysis. Relationships between fifteen individual predictors (general ability, four personality factors, two cognitive preferences, treatment, and seven first-order attribute-treatment…

Reported is a study of the attitudes of elementary school students toward science as a school subject. This study was undertaken in order to determine the effects of an in-service teacher training program in the use of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) program. Children in grades two through six (N-1941) from four suburban (85…

Reviews studies of cognitive preference tests, outlines the nature of cognitive preferences, and presents an analysis of cognitive preference data. Presents a six-point summary of this analysis and lists four statements that need supportive evidence before further studies using these tests can have any value. (GS)

In order to study the mechanism of student interest in a physical science course when the majority of students were interested in fields other than science, a system of measuring instruments was applied for detection of significant differences between two teaching methods used for this course. The study utilized the measured responses of 105…