In response to a direct request from science teachers, researchers initiated a pilot experience on animal orientation and navigation, which was delivered to 61 13-year-old students in Florence, Italy. The aim was to explain the approach to ethology and to link animal navigation with geography, focusing on species crossing the Italian territory.…

The Texas statewide assessment of academic skills in 1997 indicated that >55 % of the student population failed to master the mathematics objectives set by the test criteria and 42 % of the mathematics teachers at the secondary level in the East Texas region were categorized as underqualified to teach mathematics at that level. The issue of…

Science literacy leading to fuller and informed participation in the public debate about science, technology, society, and environmental (STSE) issues that produce justified decisions and sustainable actions is the shared and central goal of the Pacific CRYSTAL Project. There is broad agreement by science education researchers that learners need…

Reviews the effects of the first stage of the Better Elementary Science Teaching Project to overcome teacher isolation and help staff development. Describes the participants and features of the project. Reports the results of using telecommunication and academic achievements. Discusses implications for the project. (YP)

Describes a college program of research collaboration with high school teachers and an academic alliance that emerged from the experiences. The background, organization, achievements, and reluctance factors related to the program are discussed. (YP)

With support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Siemens Foundation, and the Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI), National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) hosted its third summer science program in June 2006 at Aurora (IL) University's Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, campus. This program…

This pilot study focuses on the potential of Evidence-based Dialogue Mapping as a participatory action research tool to investigate young teenagers' scientific argumentation. Evidence-based Dialogue Mapping is a technique for representing graphically an argumentative dialogue through Questions, Ideas, Pros, Cons and Data. Our research objective is…

The purpose of the study was to analyze the science outreach program, Science In Motion (SIM), located in Mobile, Alabama. This research investigated what impact the SIM program has on student cognitive functioning and teacher efficacy and also investigated teacher perceptions and attitudes regarding the program. To investigate student…

Scale is one of the thematic threads that runs through nearly all of the sciences and is considered one of the major prevailing ideas of science. This study explored novice and experienced teachers' concepts of spatial scale with a focus on linear sizes from very small (nanoscale) to very large (cosmic scale). Novice teachers included…

The role of the science teacher is essential in determining the quality of the school science program. When teachers are aware of the relationship between science and society, they can relate classroom learning to practical application. This results in more positive student attitudes. The continuous evolving of scientific knowledge requires…

The Institute in Physical Science was developed to address the need for updated information and training in physics, chemistry, and technology among teachers of physical science. Five major objectives addressed were to: (1) improve physical science teachers' understanding of fundamental concepts in physics and chemistry; (2) provide physical…

The purpose of this study was to describe what federally funded teacher enhancement looks like at its best and to determine whether best practice can be recognized as such by professionals in the field. Narrative descriptions of programs were analyzed for strength of evidence supporting key elements of best practice. Other data collection methods…

Describes an 18-month program for improving science teaching in Texas elementary schools. Designed for teachers from schools of all income levels, the program stressed inquiry learning methods. Teachers learned to write constructivist curriculum modules, which they later piloted at a summer science camp that stimulated children's creative…

Describes the Center for Chemistry Education (CCE) model for teacher development. Provides three examples of professional development programs that were taken primarily from three CCE initiatives that include Teaching Science with Toys, Partners for Terrific Science, and Science Integration in Today's Elementary Schools. (Contains 12 references.)…

National science assessments and international comparisons indicate that science achievement in the United States is stagnant or declining. Of the many steps needed to improve U.S. science education, the authors write, none is more important than improving teacher training and preparation. Analyses of scores on the National Assessment of…