Over the past few years, we have worked together in a citizen science project called "Diamonds on the Soles of our Feet" (see also Goldin et al. 2021, Goldin et al., 2023). In this project we engaged with 420 young learners in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. We came to see participating schools as collaborative ecosystems where…

Problem solving is a valuable skill in the science classroom. Students often use a variety of inquiry strategies to identify problems and their implications; develop action plans; locate relevant sources, information, and data; and formulate solutions. Problem solving is a logical, analytical, and sometimes creative process. The less tangible,…

Describes a study designed to determine whether the Biology Critical Thinking (BCT) project (which incorporates activities for developing specific critical thinking skills into the biology curriculum) enhances critical thinking skills and how it affects students' biological knowledge and classroom learning environment. Results indicate that BCT…

The Learning in Science Project (1979-1981) studied the problems and difficulties of learning science at the 10-14 year old level in New Zealand to provide insights into the world of the science learner and provide an alternative perspective of the science classroom to that currently held by teachers and others. This paper offers practical…

This paper offers practical procedures and suggestions on initiating and carrying out naturalistic classroom observation of the type used in the Learning in Science Project in New Zealand (1980). The initiation of the research requires sensitivity and patience. Once in the classroom the overriding aim is to be unobtrusive and to achieve acceptance…

Ten Australian seventh-grade classes using Australian Science Education Project (ASEP) materials and ten control classes were administered the Science Class Inventory to determine classroom climate. results showed that the ASEP students underwent more favorable changes in their enjoyment of science classes. (MLH)

Reports results of several studies of the learning environment of secondary science classes using Australian Science Education Project (ASEP) materials. Indicates many desired changes, such as higher levels of pupil activity. (MLH)

This report, part of the 1972-73 Unified Science and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) evaluation project, focuses on the effect of the USMES curriculum on the organization and operation of the classroom. For the study, 30 USMES classrooms and 30 non-USMES classrooms were used. Each trained classroom observer, utilizing classroom…

This study investigated whether the interaction of teacher, student, and classroom characteristics has a significant effect on classroom climate. Linear regression techniques were used to predict selected scales of "Anderson's Learning Environment Inventory" (LEI) from sets of orthogonal variables which are representative characteristics…

Presents basic guidelines for classroom control and discipline for teachers using new science programs that encourage independent study and hands-on activities. (MA)

This booklet, one part of the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) Individualized Teacher Preparation modular program materials, is designed to help a teacher organize the science classroom to facilitate individualized work by pupils. Information is organized into five chapters: Organizing for Diversity, Who Does What Where?, The…

During 1974, materials developed by the Australian Science Education Projects (ASEP) became available in final published form. The publication of these materials was an especially important undertaking since ASEP was the first national curriculum project, in any subject area, to be developed in Australia. This report presents research into four…

The Learning Environment Inventory (LEI) was administered to tenth-grade biology classes (N=572) in urban and kibbutz district schools in Israel. Findings indicated that seven out of nine scales of the LEI yield significant differences in scores for urban and kibbutz samples indicating a more positive learning climate in the kibbutz. (Author/DS)

Presented are abstracts and abstractors' analyses of 10 studies related to science instruction and 3 studies related to science curriculum. Analyses in the first section (instruction) are on studies of: the influence of instructional structure and focus of control on achievement; effects of individualized audio-tutorial and frontal…

This Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) unit challenges students to change their classroom to make it a better place to live and study. The challenge is general enough to apply to many problem-solving situations in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts at any elementary school level (grades 1-8). The…