This study was conducted in order to identify some of the broad characteristics of achievement in science and mathematics by black students. A nationwide sample of nine, thirteen, and seventeen year old students was tested with a series of exercises that were developed to assess science and mathematics performance. The exercises were designed to…

An analysis of classroom discourse is reported in which the use of questions by science teachers is assessed in terms of arguments to establish knowledge claims. Questions are analyzed not for their form or frequency but for their function in the development of arguments which establish claims rationally. Seen in the context of rational argument,…

This book is the second volume of an annual publication that deals with the sociology of the sciences from a very broad perspective. This volume is designed to stimulate new discussion among historians and sociologists of science and technology, economic and social historians as well as philosophers of science aiming at a more appropriate…

The purpose of this guide is to provide a clear outline of scope, concepts, and objectives of a kindergarten through eighth-grade science program which can serve as a base for the development and articulation of science curriculum within and among the eight school districts in the Northern Valley region, New Jersey. The scope and sequence of…

THE SCIENCE PROGRAM AT NOVA HIGH SCHOOL IS STRUCTURED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. THE JUNIOR HIGH PROGRAM EMPHASIZES THE ACCUMLATION, TABULATION, AND ANALYSIS OF DATA. THE SENIOR HIGH PROGRAM MAKES USE OF THESE PROCESSES IN THE INVESTIGATION OF VARIOUS SUBJECT AREAS. THE UNITS COMPOSING THE HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM ARE DESCRIBED. UNIT…

This paper presents an interpretation of the term "concept," as the term is used in Ausubelian learning theory to define the unit of organization in cognitive structure. Several facets of a concept are described, a model of a concept is presented, and the model is then discussed and criticized as a heuristic device to aid educators in…

The changes which occurred in man's view of the solar system from the time of Ptolemy to that of Galileo are presented. Contained is a brief review of the chain of events which resulted in the acceptance of a heliocentric system. Ptolomy's theory is described and a diagram illustrates the paths of the epicycle of Mars according to his geocentric…

Discussed are the nature of the development of conceptual relationships, and the structure of concepts. The topics are presented with regard to the importance of combining metaphors with two alternate approaches to learning, the first being rote learning and the other being inductive learning. The paper is intended to be a model of the concept of…

SOME MACHINE-PRODUCED INDEXES ARE COMPARED TO ASSIST IN DECIDING ON THE FORMAT FOR A PROPOSED INDEX. THE OBJECTIVES OF AN INDEX AND THE SEARCH PROCEDURE ARE ANALYZED, AND AN EXPLANATION AND A RELATIONSHIP IS GIVEN FOR KEY-WORDS-IN-TITLE AND KEY-REFERENCES OF THE SAME ARTICLE. BASED ON THE COMPARISON OF THE INDEXES, A 53- YEAR CUMULATIVE INDEX WAS…

THE CHILD'S CONCEPTION OF PHYSICAL CAUSALITY WAS INVESTIGATED. THREE METHODS OF INVESTIGATION WERE USED. THE FIRST METHOD WAS PURELY VERBAL, AND CONSISTED OF A SERIES OF QUESTIONS DIRECTED TO CHILDREN, REGARDING SOME NATURAL PHENOMENON. THE SECOND METHOD INVOLVED A HALF-VERBAL, HALF-PRACTICAL APPROACH, WHEREIN A SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO NATURAL…

REPORTED IS AN INVESTIGATION OF CONCEPTS INCLUDED WITHIN A CONCEPTUAL SCHEME--THE BIOLOGICAL CELL--WHICH ARE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR STUDY BY CHILDREN IN GRADES 2-6. SUB-PROBLEMS WERE (1) TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING AS INDICATED BY OBJECTIVE TEST SCORES, (2) TO DETERMINE WHETHER SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES EXIST BETWEEN PUPILS AT…

The purpose of this study was to compare a factual method of teaching introductory college astronomy with a conceptual method. Two sections of about 100 students each were taught from the same textbook, but had the same information presented by different techniques and with different emphasis. The control group was taught in a generally factual…

This study was conducted in order to assess the difference in concept development and principle learning between high school biology students studying the origin of life from a two-model approach (evolution and creation) and those using the single-model approach of evolution only. The pre-test, post-test control group design using a criterion…

Basic atomic theories are presented in this fifth unit of the Project Physics text for use by senior high students. Chemical basis of atomic models in the early years of the 18th Century is discussed n connection with Dalton's theory, atomic properties, and periodic tables. The discovery of electrons is described by using cathode rays, Millikan's…

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of three different types of visual devices in an instructional program designed to teach an understanding of selected theoretical science concepts to elementary school children. The visual devices were prepared using Bruner's three modes of representation (enactive, iconic, and…