A mixed methods research approach was used to investigate the impact of a geosciences research institute upon 62 science teachers' knowledge, beliefs, and teaching practices related to teaching the geosciences. Pre- and postinstitute quantitative and qualitative assessments revealed mixed results. Results of a quantitative measure found a…

As part of a research project to evaluate the effects of sand and gravel mining on water quality, students were trained to analyze their own drinking water for simple quality indicators. Indicators analyzed were pH, conductivity, hardness, nitrate, chloride, and dissolved iron. Approximately 523 analyses were completed by students between 2006 and…

To bridge the gap between science and policy, future scientists should receive training that incorporates policy implications into the design, analysis, and communication of research. We present a student Science and Policy course for undergraduate science majors piloted at the University of California, Berkeley in the summer of 2011. During this…

Since its inception in 2002, the National Center for Education Research (NCER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has funded over 700 education research grants and over 60 education training grants. The research grants have supported exploratory research to build theory or generate hypotheses on factors that may affect educational…

Problem finding is a creative process whereby individuals develop original ideas for study. Secondary science students who successfully participate in authentic, novel, open inquiry studies must engage in problem finding to determine viable and suitable topics. This study examined problem finding strategies employed by students who successfully…

Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of employing a cooperative research strategy in science education. The Cooperative Research Project in First-Grade Reading is used to illustrate the concept of cooperative parallel research. Suggests that this approach would offer the opportunity of a real breakthrough in answering some of the perenial…

In 1970 many Australian students, teachers, and schools participated in the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Science Project. The aim of the project was to measure the science achievement of students in Australia and 18 other countries, and to examine relationships between this achievement and various…

Discusses competing grant applications both new and renewal, including those for traditional grants (research projects initiated and conducted by individual investigators) and those for program project grants which support multidisciplinary efforts of a relatively large group of investigators. (Author/DS)

A high school honors biology class project is described in which students write a research paper on a topic for which there is presently no known answer. This technique familiarizes the student with the mechanics of research and of writing a research paper. (BB)

Presented is a student learning guide for high school students working independently on a self-paced research project in an environmental field. Students are introduced to environmental awareness and the environmental crisis, and are presented with a variety of techniques helpful in conducting a research project. Included are: choosing a problem,…

Developed to guide the research of the Educational Technology Center, a consortium based at Harvard Graduate School of Education, this report addresses the use of new information technologies to enrich, extend, and transform current instructional practice in science, mathematics, and computer education. A discussion of the basic elements required…

A study investigated the ability of educationally disadvantaged and limited-English-proficient University of Cape Town (South Africa) students to write about science research projects. Analysis of students' reports showed a strong relationship between task presentation methods, specific task-completion guidelines, and quality of writing. Poor…

Beginning in 1950 the National Association for Research in Science Teaching and the U.S. Office of Education collaborated in preparing an annual summary of research in the teaching of science. The present bulletin continues their cooperative effort. This analysis of research in the teaching of science contains reports of published studies…

This publication continues the annual series of bulletins begun in 1950 as a cooperative undertaking between the National Association for Research in Science Teaching and the Office of Education. The present bulletin summarizes and interprets the research in science education from July 1956 to July 1957. The improvement of teaching in science, as…