Results of a minimum competency test administered to ninth-grade students were evaluated to compare the performance of 723 students (345 males, 347 females, and 31 unidentified students) on content-specific and process skill questions. Subjects represented a random sample of students taking the Regents Competency Test in Science--a 70-item…

This case study describes a project designed to improve science vocabulary and comprehension of migrant sixth-grade students in a rural farming-community middle school. The project combined intensive direct teaching of science vocabulary with the national unified curriculum implemented in 1984. The subjects of the project were migrant children…

Information about the diploma examinations in Mathematics 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, and Physics 30 that will be administered during January, June, and August, 1987, is provided in this bulletin. Topics explained include: (1) general format of the examination (stating the content, emphasis, and time allotments for the examinations); (2)…

Information about the diploma examinations in Mathematics 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, and Physics 30 that will be administered during January, June, and August 1987, is provided in this bulletin. Topics explained include: (1) general format of the examinations (stating the content, emphasis, and time allotments for the examinations); (2)…

This study investigated the relationships among the symbolic representation of problems given to students to solve, the mental representations they use to solve the problems, and the accuracy of their solutions. Twenty eleventh-grade science students were asked to think aloud as they solved problems on the ideal gas laws. The problems were…

This unit contains 14 lessons on the properties of liquids for fifth graders. It describes materials, supplementary materials, use of process skill terminology, unit objectives, vocabulary, and background information for teachers. Lessons are: (1) "Heaping and Drops/Cohesion"; (2) "Beading of Liquid Columns/Cohesion"; (3)…

Collaborative "research partnerships" between university researchers and classroom science teachers have been encouraged by recent efforts of both the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). Key teachers in the Search for Excellence in Science Education (SESE)…

The multiple-choice test items collected in this volume were selected from questions submitted by teachers in New South Wales for the Science Library of Test Items. The collection is intended as a resource to assist teachers in implementing and evaluating courses in the first 4 years of Australian secondary school. To ensure quality in the…

The second volume of test items in the Science Library of Test Items is intended as a resource to assist teachers in implementing and evaluating science courses in the first 4 years of Australian secondary school. The items were selected from questions submitted to the School Certificate Development Unit by teachers in New South Wales. Only the…

As part of a series of tests to measure mastery of specific skills in the natural sciences, print masters of tests 66 through 91 are provided. Among the areas covered are: carbon compounds; evolution; map reading; genetics; energy; chemical formulae; electricity; graphs; metric measures; solubility; and physical separations. Many tests contain…

The present study: (1) identified certain scientific misconceptions possessed by high school and university students; (2) identified, by written and interview means, the origins of these misconceptions; and (3) classified the misconceptions according to their origin. A pilot study using grade 9 high school students showed that, although more…

Contains two articles relating to chemistry examination questions. One provides examples of how to sequence multiple choice questions so that partial credit may be given for some responses. The second includes a question and solution dealing with stereoisomerism as a result of free radical chlorination of a nonstereoisometic substance. (TW)

Describes a study which examined teachers attitudes about the value of practical work, attitude changes from previous studies, how teachers' aims relate to their teaching emphasis, and the differences between teachers who teach for practical exams and those who use teacher assessment of practical work. Presents methods and results. (CW)

Describes statistical analyses of tests used for organic chemistry classes and attempts to pose a model to explain the results. Concluded that students who possess a slight grasp of a concept actually have less of a chance of answering an item correctly than those who merely guess. (CW)

Determined which of 10 rational thinking powers are measured by 12 commercially-available standardized science tests. One result reported is that 90 percent of the test items required only recall. The conclusion was drawn that the producers of standardized tests are not concerned with measuring student achievement of the rational powers.…