Despite several decades of research into the teaching and learning of Science/Chemistry, at both secondary and tertiary level, it has had relatively little impact on practice. In many countries interest in studying Science at school and university is falling, and there is concern over falling numbers and falling standards. There is a changing…

Compared performance in A-level science examinations of students who took an integrated science course (SCISP) with students who studied the separate subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology to 0-level standard. Results show no significant differences between the performance of the two groups. (JN)

This is a review of important science news stories of 1990 as reported in the pages of this journal. Areas covered include anthropology, astronomy, behavior, biology, biomedicine, chemistry, computers and math, earth sciences, environment, food science, materials science, paleobiology, physics, science and society, and space sciences. (CW)

Presented is an interpretation of the inward and outward growth and formation of plume textured geodes available from southern Brazil. Field occurrence, morphology of vesicles, growth history, closure of the agate shell, microscopic features, coherent reflection of light from convoluted surfaces, and accessory minerals of the inner cavity are…

Interest in the application of the history and philosophy of science to science education raises important questions about the effect such considerations will have on educational practice. In this paper, the application emphasizes concepts related to theory testing and theory development specifically and to the growth of knowledge generally. This…

Reviewed are findings on misconceptions in mechanics and their instructional implications. Many misconceptions are widespread and resistant to change but students have useful intuitions and reasoning processes that could be used more fully. One strategy for dealing with misconceptions is described. It stresses anchoring intuitions, analogical…

Provides highlights of lectures, workshops, papers, and symposia presented at a conference which addressed such areas of chemical education as college/high school chemistry teaching; curriculum/curriculum development; safety; two-year programs; computers; toxicology and health hazards; problem-solving; writing skills development; textbooks;…

Discussed is a common error made by students in judging the distribution of the magnetic field of a circular loop along its diameter. Qualitative and quantitative explanations of the magnetic field distribution are presented. (CW)

Discussed are some of the reasons for earthquakes which occur in stable crust away from familiar zones at the ends of tectonic plates. Crust stability and the reactivation of old faults are described using examples from India and Australia. (CW)

A method and an apparatus for safely observing sunspots is presented. The McIntosh system of sunspot-group classification is illustrated. Construction and enhancement of the apparatus are discussed. (CW)

Investigated is the value of preliminary high school experiences in physics and chemistry. Results indicate that the grades of students with more high school experience are no better than those of students with less experience and that less experienced students spend more time studying and take better advantage of tutors. (CW)

The declining U.S. student interest in science and U.S. students' poorer performance on standardized tests as compared to their counterparts in other developed nations raise serious concerns over the future of the sciences in the United States. After reviewing the available data, the staff and board of Research Corporation set as one of its major…

Researchers of problem solving in science often find themselves in the situation of studying complex problems within a scientific discipline while constrained by the necessity of studying simple, well-defined problems. They then often generalize the results to the more complex problem. In this paper, this process is explored as it applies to the…

Questions a hypothesis from creation science dealing with mammals. Claims that, when tested, the hypothesis fails in two ways. (TW)

Presents a chronology of scientific efforts designed to determine the age of the earth. Summarizes scientists' attempts at dating the planet's formation, including the examination of lead in the environment, the calculation of the earth's cooling temperature and time, the study of geological sedimentation and the analysis of moon rocks. (TW)