The merits of three approaches (explicit, reflective and implicit) to Nature of Science (NOS) teaching and learning in the context of a summer research experience on high school student participants' NOS ideas were explored in this study. The effectiveness of explicit over implicit approaches has been demonstrated in school contexts, but less…

Students have access to the Internet at their fingertips via e-tablets and smart phones. However, the STEM fields are struggling to remain relevant in students' lives outside the classroom. In an effort to improve high school science curricula and to keep students engaged in the classroom, we developed a technology-rich bioengineering summer…

Over a year, a small group of high school students risked their afternoons and summer to participate in a science program that was "much different from science class." This was one of several after-school programs in Oakland and Richmond that the author was leading as an instructor with the East Bay Academy for Young Scientists (EBAYS). Students…

In this article, the authors provide an overview and critically analyze three successful faculty-developed urban K-12 science outreach programs. They consider a successful outreach program as one that has been sustained for at least five years after initial funding, and has provided empirically-based research findings from the program.…

Describes a high school summer program in field ecology designed to give students a first-hand understanding of their own biotic environment, to acquaint them with the organisms, relationships, and complexities of local habitats, and to introduce them to the methods and techniques of discovering and gathering information about nature. (JR)

Reviews development of NSF (National Science Foundation) earth science summer, inservice, and academic year institutes. Includes statistics from 1957 to 1971 for number of participants, topic areas, number of institutes, number in each state, and other related information. Institutes are an important source of advanced degrees for secondary…

By the end of the 1960-61 school year, the National Science Foundation had provided some 75,000 opportunities for secondary mathematics and science teachers to study in its Teacher Training Programs. A study was designed in July 1961, involving questionnaires and interviews, to obtain information on non-applicants for these programs and to compare…

Describes a six-week summer science institute for providing secondary students with research experience conducted at East Carolina University. (SL)

Describes the Mississippi Governor's School, an intensive three-week summer school for gifted high school students. Explains format of major courses, use of the American Chemical Society computer course in polymer chemistry, discussion sections, and hands-on laboratory. (JM)

CHARACTERISTICS OF APPLICANTS TO SUMMER INSTITUTES FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ARE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS. APPLICATION FORMS OF ALL ACCEPTEES AND UP TO TWICE AS MANY REJECTEE FORMS, SELECTED AT RANDOM FROM EACH…

Explains the rationale, program specifics and initiatives for the preparation and development of staff, curriculum, instructional support, and research for science education in the United States. Includes total program cost for each. (RT)