A majority of states are now involved in developing, revising, and implementing state frameworks in mathematics, science, and other core subjects. The Council of Chief State School Officers completed a one-year study of 60 current state curriculum frameworks in mathematics and science. The purposes of this study were to define and describe state…

A dissertation study is described which employed action research methods and was conducted over four semesters of practice in a large first year undergraduate physics laboratory making extensive use of microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) technology. Three cycles of action research are recounted, along with the resultant changes in goals,…

A suggested common core of understandings relating to what students in Idaho should know and be able to do in science is presented. The intent of this framework is to provide information which supports educational equity, recognizes the cultural and historical effects on science, and promotes excellence for all students. The following sections are…

This document resulted from the efforts of the Brevard County (Florida) Science Leadership Team, a group of science teachers with a wide spectrum of experiences and philosophies. It contains a series of recommendations based on national trends for change in curriculum. Sections include Scientific Literacy for All, Stakeholders and Their Roles,…

The goal of this resource notebook is to provide activities selected by astronomers and classroom teachers, comprehensive resource lists and bibliographies, background material on astronomical topics, and teaching ideas from experienced astronomy educators. The activities are grouped into several major areas of study in astronomy: lunar phases and…

This document provides practical suggestions and meaningful activities for implementing Ohio's model curriculum in science for instruction that emphasizes hands-on experience and diverse learning opportunities. It also includes a variety of nonscience activities that emphasize and utilize the outdoors. This Sampler lists activities by indoor or…

This issue of Carnegie Quarterly focuses on a middle grades life science project in which students work together in groups to explore the properties of DNA. The project, entitled HumBio, was developed to capture young people's interest in science by promoting an understanding of their own biology so they can see how their health and well-being are…

Chemistry in the Community ("ChemCom") is a high-school level chemistry text developed by the American Chemical Society (ACS) designed for the college-bound student. The purpose of this study was to identify students enrolled in a university-level chemistry course designed for the nonscience major who had experienced the ChemCom…

The last decade has seen the development of a number of computer-based interactive physics programs at the university level. Set in a cognitive apprenticeship framework, such programs view the instructor as a mentor, and the essential learning constructed in a collaborative process. It is expected that such programs, grounded as they are in…

This Guidebook contains ideas, examples, suggestions, and resources that can help teachers create and implement a science curriculum for all students. It is designed to be used as a guide for exploring the issues of vision, teaching, curriculum, and assessment that should be considered and debated in the move towards scientific literacy. Chapters…

This document describes a two-year integrated biology and chemistry curriculum for ninth and tenth grade students. The first chapter outlines the rationale for integrating biology and chemistry and presents the topic sequence for the integrated curriculum. Chapter 2 discusses the developmental, cognitive, and philosophical issues that form the…

This analysis uses data on science achievement and transcript reports of science course taking patterns of students from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) to estimate the relationship between science course taking and the change in science proficiency levels between 8th and 12th grades. It also explores the extent to…

Many educators and researchers have questioned the relationship between science and technology and the appropriate place of each in the curriculum. What researchers have discovered is that many countries approach this issue in different ways. The emphasis in this document is placed on the interdependence of science and technology in a pluralistic…

Ohio's Model Competency-Based Science Program is designed to provide direction for school districts in developing local competency-based science education programs. This guidebook provides direction for those responsible for developing district science programs. Section 1 is an introduction to competency-based education that covers the spirit and…

In response to the rapidly emerging environmental imperative that environmental awareness needs to be taught in the schools, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) through its Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) developed a project oriented toward grass-roots improvements by schools within environmental…