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…

Studied were selected aspects of the learning process related to biological concepts and the processes leading to their acquisition. Data were obtained using a series of structured interviews based on jury-graded check lists. The population consisted of 36 randomly-selected students from three randomly-selected classes using Green Version BSCS…

This document is the final report to develop a new elementary science curriculum. It contains information related only to the development phase of the Conceptually Oriented Program in Elementary Science (COPES) and was written for an audience that includes all who are interested in curriculum development as it was experienced in this project. The…

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of concept attainment achieved by students enrolled in a Physical Science Study Committee (PSSC) physics course with that achieved by students enrolled in a traditional high school physics course. A sample of 265 PSSC students and 219 enrolled in the traditional course participated. The instrument…

Critical examination of the Teachers' Guide and Guide to Experiments and Questions Book in O-level Nuffield physics course reveals there may be disadvantages to the current organization when analyzed with psychological considerations. (PS)

The author attempts to show the development of logical-empirical knowledge structures from the raw elements in nature to the structures of knowledge as perceived by the mature student. Eighteen hypotheses are identified which focus on the expected relative natures of perceived knowledge structures of the various agental groups and their…

Issue four of the fifth volume of "Investigations in Science Education" contains six reports of research articles related to instruction and four individual studies. The individual studies concern correlates of choice for educational opportunities for high school students, the use of a structured interview technique to assess children's concepts,…

A Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) inquiry approach for university general biology laboratory was tested against a well-established commercial program judged to be highly directive. The BSCS was found to be more effective in learning biology laboratory concepts than the commercial program as measured by a laboratory concepts test.…

Proposes a revised learning cycle model termed the Metacognitive Learning Cycle which emphasizes formal opportunities for teachers and students to talk about their science ideas. Analyses two different pedagogical classroom approaches, the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) approach and the metacognitive approach, and observes changes in…

Compared on classificatory ability were the performances of children in grades 2-4 who had been exposed to the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) program for two years and children who had not. No significant differences in performance either quantitatively or qualitatively were detected. It was concluded that the grouping and…

This study examined the effectiveness of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) materials for visually handicapped children. Fourteen students, ranging in age from 9 to 19 and working in small groups with student teachers, received science instruction using the adapted version of the SCIS program. Control subjects were matched closely on…

Investigates the effects upon concept acquisition of giving second-grade children the verbal labels of science concepts with which they have had concrete experience in a classroom setting using the interaction and evidence of interaction concepts from the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS). (HM)

Control group students (receiving descriptive, non-inquiry science) and experimental group students (using Science Curriculum Improvement Study-SCIS "Interaction and Systems" materials) were later combined in grade 4 for instruction with SCIS "Subsystems and Variables" materials. Results show similar difficulties in learning…

Student variables which influence attainment of ecological concepts and conceptual systems were investigated. Researcher-designed paper/pencil and free-sort categorization tests were administered to 256 Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) students in grades 4-6. Findings are: (1) grade and ability, not sex, influenced concept attainment…

Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) students in grades 4-6 were used to investigate ecological concept formation. Researcher-designed, multiple-choice and free-sort tasks were administered. Statistics utilized included analysis of variance, Spearman correlation, multiple regression, frequency distributions, and latent partition analysis.…