We examined the beliefs about science teaching and learning held by elementary preservice teachers in a science methods course, comparing students who had experienced an inquiry-based physics course with those who had not. Students who had taken the physics course prior to the methods semester were better equipped to recognize and learn from…

Introduction of new teaching strategies often expands the expectations for student learning, creating a parallel need to redefine how teachers collect the evidence that assures both them and their students that these expectations are in fact being met. The default assessment strategy of the typical large, introductory, college-level science…

If the goals of science education reform are to be realized, science instruction must change across the academic spectrum, including at the collegiate level. This study examines the beliefs and teaching practices of three scientists as they designed and implemented an integrated science course for nonmajors that was designed to emphasize the…

A laboratory experiment is presented for the upper-level undergraduate physical chemistry curriculum in which the ternary phase diagram of water, 1-propanol and n-heptane is measured using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The experiment builds upon basic concepts of NMR spectral analysis, typically taught in the undergraduate…

Incorporating social justice into science curricula can attract and maintain the interest of students who shy away from science because of a lack of immediate relevance or role models, and permits them to make connections between what they learn in the classroom and what is portrayed in their everyday lives. (Contains 9 resources.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Science-Technology-Society (STS) curriculum on students' scientific literacy, problem solving and decision making. Four hundred and eighty (480) Senior Secondary two science and non-science students were randomly selected from intact classes in six secondary schools in Calabar Municipality of…

Open Source Software (OSS) has introduced a new dimension in software community. As the development and use of OSS becomes prominent, the question of its integration in education arises. In this paper, the following practices fundamental to projects and processes in software engineering are examined from an OSS perspective: project management;…

Earth Systems Education (ESE) is an effort to establish within U.S. schools more effective programs designed to increase public understanding of the Earth System that surrounds and sustains us all. ESE focuses on establishing an understanding of the processes that operate within our environment and uses the science thinking and problem-solving…

Teaching is essentially a personal and professional business in which lively, thinking, enthusiastic teachers continue to analyze their own activities and mediate the curriculum framework to their students. This book aims at encouraging teachers and curriculum developers to continue to rethink how science and technology should be taught in…

Presented in both English and French, Science 10 is an integrated academic course that helps students in Alberta, Canada better understand and apply fundamental concepts and skills common to biology, chemistry, physics, and the Earth sciences. The major goals of the program are: (1) to develop in students an understanding of the interconnecting…

Presented in English and French, Chemistry 20-30 is an academic program that helps students in Alberta, Canada, better understand and apply fundamental concepts and skills. The major goals of the program are: (1) to develop in students an understanding of the interconnecting ideas and principles that transcend and unify the natural science…

Presented in both English and French, Science 20-30 is an integrated academic program in Alberta, Canada that helps students better understand and apply fundamental concepts and skills common to biology, chemistry, physics, and the Earth sciences. The major goals of the program are: (1) to develop in students an understanding of the…

This instructional packet deals with biology, soil ecology, and specific farming practices that promote sustainable agriculture. It focuses on different types of life in the soil, the interactions that occur, and how proper tillage and nutrient management can enhance and develop beneficial soil life. The instructional materials are designed to…

This study examines indigenous models for the integration of science and culture into curriculum and instruction and was conducted in 13 Native American Indian schools over an 18-month period. In the summer of 1996, the Four Directions Challenge in Technology Project brought together teams of teachers, administrators, community members, and…

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.…