In this chapter, we argue that science education is more than the high stakes, rigorous practices and methodology that students often find dull and uninspiring. We present that aesthetic and humanistic motivations, such as wonder, curiosity, and social justice, are also inherent reasons for doing science. In the MSUrbanSTEM program, we designed an…

In this paper we report on the sustained research and development work at the AMSTEL Institute of the University of Amsterdam to improve mathematics and science education at primary and secondary school level, which has lead amongst other things to the development of the integrated computer working environment Coach 6. This environment consists of…

Discusses how to promote scientific and technological literacy within a science methods course. Describes the rationale for the design of the course, the structure of the course, prospective students, the types of technological tools, the integration of those tools into the course with examples of student-constructed artifacts, and challenges…

Digital photography has the potential to support student inquiry in real-world settings. However, specific ideas for the most effective use of digital photography to benefit students during inquiry, as well as the evidence indicating that this is possible, have not yet been established. Forty-one seventh-grade students used digital cameras and…

There have been increasing efforts among science educators to move students away from learning about science towards learning "to be" scientists. To move in this direction, there is a need to change the epistemology of the learning of science from instructivism to one of social constructivist learning. The purpose of this research is to…

Describes the "Computer Software Inquiry Inventory" (CSI), which was designed for content analysis of inquiry-based science computer software. Explains the five basic features of the instrument. Includes analyses of two programs using the CSI categories of evaluation. (ML)

This paper focuses on the philosophy and development of an inquiry-based, level three interactive videodisc project for promoting critical thinking. The contents of the project include life, earth/space, and physical science with three discs in each area. Two flowcharts show the choices open to students in the videodiscs. (Author/YP)

Presents results of a study that examines the development and use of computer simulations for high school science instruction and for integrated laboratory and computerized tests that are part of the biology matriculation examination in Israel. Eleven implications for teaching are presented. (MDH)