The diversity of scientific methods has received widespread recognition in recent years. The purpose of this review is to analyze the changes in the representation of laboratory work in Chinese senior high school chemistry textbooks in the past 30 years from the perspective of the diversity of scientific methods. This study was based on Brandon's…

Knowledge about plant nutrition and photosynthesis is key to the scientific literacy of citizens. However, numerous studies have shown the existence of about 50 alternative ideas related to this content. In this work, carried out based on a reflection-action process, two studies based on the ideas of our 12-18 year old students are presented, as…

This paper deals with the nature and the level of difficulty of teaching and learning physics in the first year of undergraduate engineering schools in France. Our case study is based on a survey regarding a classic and basic question in applied physics, and which was conducted with a group of second-year students in a post-baccalaureate 1…

Analysis of instructional recommendations for mainstreamed students with disabilities provided in teachers' manuals of three elementary science textbook series revealed that there was a limited number of disability categories addressed, a poor match between recommendations and student needs, lack of consistency across grades, and inappropriate…

Provides information concerning the development and use of the Textbook Questioning Strategies Assessment Instrument (TQSAI). (CP)

Six sixth-grade science textbooks were examined for conceptual structure and readability. Hierarchical concept maps were composed on text segments for chosen topics and maps were scored. Reading analyses were also computed. Two trends were visually but not statistically evident. The Fry readability scores were higher than sixth grade, but no…

Attempts to document and characterize the state of U.S. mathematics and science curricula, textbooks, and teaching practices and place them in a cross-national context. Discusses unfocused curricula and textbooks, how teachers deal with the splintered vision, teacher effectiveness, expectations from students, the impact of reform, and…

The purpose of this study was to identify the teaching models contained in teacher's editions of selected junior high school inquiry science materials. The methodology employed a systematic content analysis of the teacher's editions using an instrument of the investigator's design. The sample consisted of the commercially published teacher's…

Describes a method of ranking the concepts in science texts in terms of these criteria: importance to the curriculum and student interest; the development of the concept in the text; and the level of background knowledge expected of students. Argues that these ratings should guide instruction. (RS)

Compares two methods of teaching in two grade seven science classes in Ontario (Canada) that illustrate how students can attain different sets of objectives while mastering the same subject matter topic. Shows how different sets of classroom events can be interpreted in terms of differing curriculum emphases. (Author/LC)

The paper gives Dutch results and possible implications of three recently completed international evaluation studies. School subjects were mathematics and science at the grade levels 8 and 9 in more than 500 schools. Effect and efficiency of teaching and textbooks in different school types, opportunity to learn, and students' classroom…

Presents a study to determine the effects of introducing methods students to the "learning cycle" technique on their ability to adapt science textbooks to the method and employ it in their teaching. Interviews of 24 randomly selected students out of 48 participants indicated that 75 percent used the approach while student teaching and…

Reflecting a collaboration in terms of content areas, levels, and audience, this volume represents the efforts of science teachers and reading teachers to understand and help one another fine tune their craft. Chapters in the volume include: (1) "Metacognition, Reading and Science Education" (Linda Baker); (2) "Science and Reading:…

Minority group students perform less well than White students in elementary mathematics and science education. Strategies for increasing learning for minority students include the following: (1) greater use of textbook illustrations; (2) career strand applications; (3) community field trips; (4) textbook supplement through multicultural resources;…