Despite the increasing demand for non-formal science learning activities, few studies report on practitioners' perspectives and experiences with designing and implementing such activities worldwide. This paper focuses on their challenges by drawing upon twenty-two interviews with practitioners involved in diverse science learning activities in…

Science education has undergone extraordinary change in recent years. The Smithsonian Science Education Center has been producing world-class science curriculum for decades that integrates the arts, history, culture, and science of the Smithsonian. In the growing global marketplace, American students need to excel in science, technology,…

Two research studies sponsored by the Centre for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS) investigated the programmes informal science institutions (ISIs) currently provide to support K-12 science education, particularly in the area of teacher professional development (PD). The first study was a large-scale survey with 475 ISIs responding about the…

Presents an overview of current reform efforts in elementary and secondary science education. Discusses teaching strategies that promote scientific literacy, providing science-learning opportunities for all students, new assessment techniques, important aspects of science-teacher education, systemic reform programs sponsored by the National…

Illustrates how teachers designed new science learning environments based on research readings from science and technology studies and studied teaching and learning within these environments. Examples of students' science-related activities include videotaped laboratory activities, taped interviews, and student-produced artifacts collected over…

This monograph provides a comprehensive description of the science technology, and society (STS) movement in science education. The STS approach strives to broaden the scope of science education by integrating into the science program accurate presentations of the nature of science, the nature of technology, and interactions of science and…

Discovery teaching advocates minimal teacher guidance. Materials from two curriculum development projects were evaluated with respect to this guidance. Results indicate a considerable discrepancy between curriculum intention and reality, as measured by the degree of teacher guidance afforded in the projects' instructional materials. (CP)

Describes a small-scale study of a course that placed emphasis on context- and activity-based science. The Salters' science course makes use of a wide range of learning strategies. Author concludes that pupils' interest and enthusiasm for school science may be increased through a combination of using pupil's everyday interests and employing a wide…

Groups and educators have sought to construct gender-sensitive learning environments for women and girls in science, thus providing them with opportunities to legitimately participate in the science and science education communities. Results of the study reported in this paper show that women science educators who work to provide such contexts…

This study defines some of the educational ecosystems that encourage students to discover science interests and science talent. Six interrelated constructs are discussed. Construct 1 consists of a skein of achievement-centered, goal-targeted environments that comprise the inspiring teaching and learning that can enhance the endowments of students.…

This paper addresses the problem of an inadequate science teaching approach at a time when students need to be familiar with, and be able to understand, global problems and personal problems delving into complex, interrelated issues based on the science of a living universe. This report focuses on research about the problems in science education,…

Presented is a discussion on the value of science and technology centers in providing learning experiences for visitors. The discussion is not limited to science centers but includes applications possible to any museum interested in providing interactive experiences. (SA)

Presented is a workshop guide for planetarium educators. Seven modules and four appendices focus on organizational patterns, learning theories, questioning strategies, activities for the planetarium, and incorporating all of the above into teaching. The four appendices include a list of the 1978 workshop participants, an annotated bibliography for…

Shows how the integration of interpretive programs with school science curricula can strengthen the power and relevance of science education, while increasing the scientific depth of environmental programs. Curriculum resources, need for interpretive resources, role of interpreters, and evaluation/development strategies are addressed. (JN)

Affective item findings from two national assessments (N=2500 for 1977 assessment; N=2000 for 1983 assessment) are reported and compared. Areas examined include attitudes toward teaching procedures, action of science teachers, current science teacher, and science class. Lists of characteristics of exemplary programs and behaviors of exemplary…