Our study aims to provide empirical evidence for and against the valid use of primary school students' ratings of three generic dimensions of teaching quality (classroom management, supportive climate, cognitive activation). We examine whether students discriminate between corresponding dimensions in different subjects, taking into account whether…

Instructional explanations are an ubiquitous component of classroom instruction, but are relatively neglected in science education when compared to other facets of teaching and learning. The ubiquity of instructional explanations and their potential to stimulate learning in students suggests that they should garner more attention from science…

This research is driven due to significant role of textbooks possessed in a country. The purpose of this study is to analyse the Malaysian Form Two Science textbook as this learning tool may acts as one of the reason that affects national Science education. The textbook was analysed based on content element adapted from Florida University…

Physics applets are well known appealing resources to teach and learn physics, and a large number of them are available on the Internet. Nevertheless, not all of them are of the same quality, because such applets do not fit every specific teaching/learning purpose. The start question was which features should have a physics applet in order that it…

There are concerns in the literature that the use of case-based teaching of anatomy could be compromising the depth and scope of anatomy learned by students in a problem-based learning curriculum. Poor selection of clinical cases that are used as vehicles for teaching/learning anatomy may be the root problem because some clinical cases do not…

In this article, we articulate five principles of curriculum design and illustrate their application in a third-year undergraduate course for environmental and ecological scientists. In this way, we provide a practical framework for others wishing to enhance their students' learning. To apply the five principles, we created a learning environment…

There is currently much interest in ascribing outcomes to Masters (M) level programmes. It is particularly difficult to define M level outcomes in bioinformatics for students on non-specialist programmes. An approach is described that attempts to discriminate undergraduate from M level in a data-mining exercise. Differentiation of level is based…

Describes a Q-sort type instrument useful in obtaining descriptive information about teaching methods and curriculum materials used in the science laboratory, including information for, among others, developing operational definition of constructs (inquiry), diagnosing problems in curriculum development or implementation, and monitoring the effect…

Fourth in a series, this loose-leaf guide reviews resources for evaluating, selecting, and using software for teaching mathematics and science skills. Both commercial publishers and public domain sources are listed as sources of educational software. Sources of information on software selection are divided into journals and newsletters, books and…

Presents a discussion of trying to best account for the variation resulting from guessing on a multiple-choice exam. A mathematical process is given to determine the amount of variance that could be added or subtracted from a student's score to account for guessing. Examples are provided. (MVL)

This design document describes a research methodology for setting achievement levels (performance standards) on the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress). The current plan is an extension of earlier work by NAGB (National Assessment Governing Board) to set achievement levels on the 1990 NAEP mathematics assessment, and by NAGB and…

The first stage of an evaluation and academic management project to be carried out at Bath University is presented. Included are the background to course evaluation, a proposed model, the development and testing of the model in the context of an innovative biology course at Queen's University, and the transferability of the model to other courses.…

Reports on a study done in Quebec, Canada, to determine the level of agreement or disagreement between principals and teachers using established criteria to measure the effectiveness of a science teacher. Results were used in an attempt to construct a profile of the attributes of an outstanding science teacher. (TW)

To be used in conjunction with a document providing evaluation criteria for quality elementary school programs, this guide is designed to help members of a program review team conduct a program review. The first chapter describes the methodology and procedures of program review, the application of quality criteria to the school's curricular and…

Development and implementation of a holistic method for scoring writing assignments in a college general education chemistry course are described. The system included assessment of discrete elements in the paper's focus, appearance, content, and structure according to specific criteria. The approach saved considerable scoring time and enhanced…