This paper addresses the continuing need for mathematics teachers to enrich their mathematical knowledge beyond the school curriculum, in order to effectively engage students in creative and imaginative thinking, particularly, but not exclusively, students who show exceptional promise. The author, a retired university professor, works staff and…

There is a growing awareness that an engineering presence within the K-12 curriculum provides an authentic contextual base for mathematics and science concepts. One large scale initiative focused on pre-college engineering is the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) funded through the National Science Foundations' (NSF)…

Assesses the subject-matter competence in physics of inservice junior secondary science teachers in Hong Kong. Concludes that teachers lack subject-area knowledge. Discusses general implications for educational improvement. Contains 41 references. (DDR)

Argues that some common student misconceptions are perpetuated by teachers, textbooks, and rote-learning methods and that strategies to challenge and change these misconceptions are needed. Focuses on misconceptions related to the eye and how it works. (DDR)

Answers questions related to curriculum guides. Focuses on the definition of a curriculum guide, its purpose, and the role of such a guide in directing life in classrooms. Argues that a curriculum guide should not be an end product. (DDR)

Presents an attempt to improve teaching and learning strategies for science as addressed by prospective teachers. Discovers that prospective teachers share a number of misconceptions with students. Contains 19 references. (DDR)

Reports on a study that examined Malaysian science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. Concludes that trainee teachers' lack pedagogical content knowledge of conceptual change strategies. (Contains 23 references.) (DDR)

Discusses the lack of primary teachers' focus on explanatory understanding and explores whether primary science books show a concern for explanatory understanding. (Contains 69 references.) (DDR)

Presents a study that examines the beliefs of teachers (N=24) and their interpretations of a two-week summer institute intended to change their treatment of scientific knowledge and assessment strategies at the classroom level. Contains 31 references. (DDR)

Describes the professional development framework utilized in the Integrating Laboratory Instruction and Assessment (INLAB) project directed at changing teacher practice. The framework is based upon the establishment of an intellectual community of learners. (DDR)

This book features a comparative study of American and Chinese mathematics teachers. How teachers understand the content of mathematics and their practice of mathematics teaching is examined. The differences between Chinese and U.S. teachers' knowledge of mathematics for teaching are documented, and how Chinese teachers' understanding of…

Outlines a strategy for the teaching of science in developing countries that breaks investigations down into individual processes, some of which do not require an apparatus. Outlines some difficulties that science teachers in developing countries face. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

This study focuses on a professional development program that employs action research as a strategy. The goals of the program include encouraging volunteer teachers to conduct research projects that can inform their understanding of student learning and achievement and increasing teachers' awareness of the value of disciplined inquiry to answer…

This proceedings covers the domain and content areas of learning and learners; curriculum and materials; instruction (including computer-assisted instruction); assessment and evaluation; history and philosophy of science; teacher preparation and professional development; and related areas of interest including environmental, special, health,…

This booklet summarizes the science chapter from the "Handbook of Research on Improving Student Achievement," a report sponsored by the Alliance for Curriculum Reform and also published by the Educational Research Service. The handbook is based on the idea that efforts to improve instruction must focus on the existing knowledge base on…