The Qualifications Regulator in England (Ofqual) has decided that with the implementation of revised (linear) science specifications, first teaching from September 2015, the assessment of practical skills will not contribute to the overall qualification grade. This could have significant implications for post-16 science teaching. The decision was…

Following an era in which the National Curriculum has been very prescriptive, and based on specific knowledge, the current proposals offer greater flexibility. Accountability has not gone away but the fine detail of what is taught, and how, is for schools and teachers to decide. Instead of setting top levels of achievement demoralisingly…

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of cooperative learning instruction, specifically by using the Jigsaw instructional strategy on science achievement and attitudes towards science among 11th grade students. Based upon previous research literature, it was hypothesized that significant differences existed on gains between general…

This text offers an educational perspective on the challenges surrounding the implementation of integration (and interdisciplinarity) of mathematics and sciences and technology (M-S&T) in education and in the initial training of secondary school teachers. We find that the core nature of scientific and school disciplines in initial teacher…

The author compares two frameworks, one proposed by Sauvé (2005) for environmental education (EE) and the other prepared by Pedretti and Nazir (2011) for Science, Technology, Society and Environment (STSE) education. With the aim of investigating the utility of the two frameworks as tools for analysis of science teaching practice, the author…

Science provides foundations for people to understand what is happening around them, supplies information for developments to be made and explains why things happen. As a science and early years specialist, the author often wondered how early years and science can be combined. Where is the place of science within the Early Years Foundation Stage…

The aim of the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (iHSES) conference is to offer opportunities to share ideas, discuss theoretical and practical issues, and connect with the leaders in the fields of "humanities," "education" and "social sciences." It is organized for: (1) faculty members in…

Iranian educational methods and our own observations of physics students led us to devise a way of improving our students' ability to solve real-life problems. We designed a guided inquiry-based course "Physics by photography" which we implemented for approximately 250 students. This revealed that this type of course could motivate…

What does learning in the outdoors involve? What are the benefits of outdoor experience--and learning? What approaches are effective? What are the benefits for teachers and schools? How can what happens in the "outdoor classroom" be best integrated with the "in-school" curriculum? The research summarised in this article…