How do teachers help children understand the difference between the structure of a flower and that of a root? Depending on the time of year this activity is quite easy. Get a bunch of flowers, germinate some chickpeas and raid the kitchen for carrots and beetroots--the children can experience the "real thing". But what if teachers want the…

We describe a third-year undergraduate course that focuses on multiscale modeling and protein folding and has as its primary goal the encouragement of students to integrate thinking across and beyond disciplinary boundaries. The ability to perform innovative and successful research work in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)…

Practical skills are important for the employability of biosciences graduates; however, first year science undergraduates often struggle to adapt to university practical classes, affecting skills development and decreasing their enthusiasm for laboratory work. This study describes the effects of introducing online multimedia practical support…

Recent calls for teacher preparation to become more grounded in practice prompt the questions: Which practices? and perhaps more fundamentally, what counts as a model of instruction worth learning for a new professional--i.e., the beginner's repertoire? In this report, we argue the following: If a defined set of subject-specific high-leverage…

Contemporary instructional approaches expect students to be active producers of knowledge. This leads to the need for creation of instructional tools and tasks that can offer students opportunities for active learning. This study examines the effect of a computational experiment as an instructional tool-for Grade 12 students, using a computer…

As part of a math-science partnership, a university mathematics educator and ten elementary school teachers developed a novel approach to mathematical problem solving derived from research on reading and writing pedagogy. Specifically, research indicates that students who use graphic organizers to arrange their ideas improve their comprehension…

This paper addresses the use of e-materials in learning. Under pressure from the public, which is becoming increasingly conversant with IT, schools and also other non-formal types of learning are changing into e-classrooms and e-learning. Among parents and teachers, too, there is a widespread opinion that e-learning is more motivating and is more…

Topics in biology A-level projects are briefly described. (CP)

Compares frequencies and styles of questioning strategies used in Modern Biology and Biological Science Curriculum Study--BSCS Green, BSCS Yellow and BSCS Blue secondary school biology textbooks. Findings revealed significant differences between textbooks in terms of number and type of questions used. (CP)

Six papers are presented related to the problem of curriculum evaluation and the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS). The findings of feedback from teachers on units of material produced for the project are discussed. An examination is made of the dynamics of classroom behavior when SCIS is taught. Also included is a discussion of…

Reported is a conference on international education in high school chemistry sponsored by the American Chemical Society held in Washington, D.C., 1967. International programs discussed include one developed by the British Council and the Centre for Curriculum Renewal and Educational Development Overseas, and the pilot project for chemistry…

Presents courses, projects and teaching styles relating to different areas of science that are used in British schools. School science for the education of all, chemistry-O level syllabus, and teaching styles in the Nuffield A-level Physics course are examples of information presented. (HM)

Crustal Evolution Education Project (CEEP) modules were designed to: (1) provide students with the methods and results of continuing investigations into the composition, history, and processes of the earth's crust and the application of this knowledge to man's activities and (2) to be used by teachers with little or no previous background in the…

THIS BOOK FURNISHES CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCIENCE CURRICULUM IMPROVEMENT STUDY (SCIS) OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY. IT IS PRIMARILY DIRECTED AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, BUT IT WOULD BE PERTINENT TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN NEW TRENDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INSTRUCTION. THE ACCOUNT…

Crustal Evolution Education Project (CEEP) modules were designed to: (1) provide students with the methods and results of continuing investigations into the composition, history, and processes of the earth's crust and the application of this knowledge to man's activities and (2) to be used by teachers with little or no previous background in the…