The research dimension of higher education programmes is usually discussed in association with doctoral studies. Against a background of scarce literature investigating research in a Master's degree, this article aims to analyse the place of research in Master's qualifications, first, as envisaged by official European and national documents acting…

Discusses the existing design of some undergraduate physics courses, and outlines the general aims which will give the development of a physics curriculum a definite direction and approach. (GA)

Defines all recurrence relations used in the Nuffield course, to solve first- and second-order differential equations, and describes a typical algorithm for computer generation of solutions. (Author/GA)

Describes efforts aimed at reforming physics courses for first-year engineering and science students at Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. Discusses the establishment and working of the Physics Learning Center (PLC) and its impact on the retention and performance of students. (JRH)

Describes how a Physical Science Study Committee(PSSC) course was adapted to the individualized format known as the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) and introduced to universities and secondary schools. (LS)

Provides an explanation and background material for the use of time lines to predict positions of five planets. (DS)

Presents an interview with Fletcher G. Watson, best known to physics teachers as codirector of Harvard Project Physics. Dr. Watson speaks of his career as a science educator, history of science, Piaget, state of science education in the United States, and curriculum projects, among other topics. (SK)

In order to study the mechanism of student interest in a physical science course when the majority of students were interested in fields other than science, a system of measuring instruments was applied for detection of significant differences between two teaching methods used for this course. The study utilized the measured responses of 105…

Presents excerpts of an interview with Philip Morrison, Institute Professor of Physics at M.I.T., who has made significant contributions to areas ranging from high-energy astrophysics to elementary school science education. (Author/SK)

Reports the results of a national survey on teaching introductory physics at the college level. Lists the names of the most frequently used textbooks, reasons for changing textbooks used earlier, information regarding laboratory manuals, and instructor's comments on this type of course. (YP)

Discusses a course proposal which concentrates on fewer topics and covering the topics in greater depth. Proposes a sequence in which each topic is introduced phenomenologically, the theory is developed, and the applications are discussed. Uses optics as an example. Lists some disadvantages and advantages of the proposed topical organization. (YP)

Reviews physics curricula and instructional practices and materials (films, television, computers) at the secondary and college levels. Includes discussion of physics majors and teachers, examinations and testing, and the role of the National Science Foundation (NSF). (JN)

Presented are student papers from a science curriculum class at the Florida Institute of Technology. Topics of the papers include Outdoor Biological Instructional Strategies, Individualized Instruction, Nonmajor Science Education, Secondary School Remedial Mathematics, Advanced Placement Program, "Biology: Living Systems," public law 94-142,…

Indicating that the rationale for teaching physics, to which curricula are ultimately directed, must focus on the needs of both future scientists and non-scientists alike, trends in physics curricula and instruction are viewed. Such changes are suggested to have taken place in response to growth in information, to changing perceptions of the…

The Science and Engineering Technician (SET) Curriculum is a two-year post-secondary curriculum designed to prepare technicians to use the electronic instruments which became available in the early 1970's as a result of advances in different fields of electronics. It is an interdisciplinary program of study which integrates elements from the…