Describes the development of activity centered science minicourses in an isolated California high school, and lists the characteristics considered essential for a good minicourse curriculum. Advocates a program in which specialist teachers travel between small rural schools with limited resources, presenting well developed and exciting…

Describes a program for teaching science, in inner city Chicago, organized around modules or minicourses geared to nonacademic students. The individualized instruction of this alternative approach helped overcome student absenteeism as well as achievement level differences. (BR)

Inservice mini-courses using a learning cycle instructional strategy (exploration, invention, discovery) have been developed. A description of the mini-course format (compatible with inservice programs sponsored by school systems), sample outline, and list of courses developed (with themes of environmental science and/or energy) are included.…