One author shares the unique opportunity to be immersed in the science of "sound at work" through participation in NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Teacher at Sea Program. A third- through fifth-grade learning outcome within the Nature of Science section of the "Next Generation Science Standards"…

Within the field of science education, there remains little agreement as to the definition and characteristics of classroom inquiry. The emerging emphasis on scientific practices in science education reform discourse is underpinned by a need to better articulate the constituent elements of inquiry-based science. While a small number of…

Describes the Individualized Science" program being developed as part of the Individually Prescribed Instruction program of the University of Pittsburgh Learning Research and Development Center. The use planned for mainstream" and alternative pathways" is described and illustrated by examples of units. (AL)

Reported is a study to determine differences between selected elementary Index, Revised Inquiry Index, percentage of class time spent in pupil experiment Index, Revised Inquiry Index, percentage of class time spend in pupil experiment and time spent in reading and/or extended viewing activities. Audio-tape recordings were made using materials from…

Investigated were three questions related to the relationship between a science teacher's attitude regarding the use of a newer science program, in this instance the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS): (1) Could the Projective Tests of Attitudes, originally designed for fifth-grade students, be modified for use with adults? (2) Is there a…

Presented is a methods textbook designed for elementary school teachers to help them improve the teaching of elementary school science. The author has attempted to guide teachers in choosing curriculum to be taught by considering educational objectives, diagnosing learner needs, and then evaluating the success of their teaching in terms of learner…

Reported is a study into the teaching behaviors of elementary science teachers based on the philosophy of Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS). One hundred eighty-four teachers were selected from a large geographical area, having widely differing backgrounds and varying education and/or experience with SCIS programs. The Predicted Role…

A six-year project providing training for prospective elementary school science teachers is described. Phase one, a period of three years, involved a longitudinal study of a pilot group of students as they encountered science content and science teaching methodology, coupled with early and continued field teaching experiences. In the final three…

Reports on effectiveness of an elementary school science program comparing attitudes toward science of Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) students and teachers with those of students and teachers in non-SCIS classes. Students (N=456) indicate preference for SCIS process-approach science, and SCIS teachers (N=109) spend more time teaching…

Reports on a study conducted in the Richardson Independent School District (Texas) which was designed to assess the attitudes toward science of students and teachers who have been involved with the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) compared to non-SCIS students and teachers. (TW)

This study investigated the teaching procedures of two groups of science teachers at the elementary school level. One group had received instruction in the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) methods which included the inquiry-discovery approach. The second group had recieved no instruction in any "new" approach. SCIS-educated…

The materials of Science - A Process Approach (1966) were evaluated in terms of strategies of classifying, observing, using number relations, and recognizing and using space/time relations. Ninety-five students in grades 4, 5, and 6 in Austin, Texas representing a range of tested intelligence, academic ability, interest in science, and…

Consolidates information on selected matters reported in two or more separate meta-analyses reported in this issue (SE 533 494-500). Also examines the relationship between results of these meta-analyses and other work of this nature reported in other sources. Indicates high degree of consistency among results of these various meta-analyses.…

Summarizes findings of seven studies dealing with how teacher behavior affects student performance in activity-centered science classrooms at the elementary and junior high school levels. Concludes that activity-centered classrooms encourage student creativity in problem solving, student independence, and help low ability students overcome initial…

The National Science Foundation funded a project to: (1) identify major areas of science education research in which sufficient studies have been conducted to permit useful generalizations for educational practice; (2) conduct meta-analyses of each of these areas; and (3) prepare a compendium of these meta-analyses along with interpretative and…