Describes the practice of concept mapping, the student-student and student-teacher interactions, and cognitive activity occurring in participants. Authors conclude that concept mapping is an excellent activity that allows students to engage in extended science discourse. The maps provide students with a means to learn the language patterns of…

A study compared university chemistry students' (n=19) performances in creativity exercises, concept mapping, and traditional examinations. Performance in all three correlated with deep study strategy, but low correlations between the three methods suggests that they test different aspects of chemistry knowledge. Use and integration of all three…

Reports an experimental study of 80 ninth grade biology students randomly assigned to treatment and control groups to determine whether the use of human examples in instructional strategies on Mendelian genetics increases acquisition and retention of genetics concepts. Results indicate that use of human examples in contrast to traditional examples…

Discusses the principles of magnetic levitation presented in the physics classroom and applied to transportation systems. Topics discussed include three classroom demonstrations to illustrate magnetic levitation, the concept of eddy currents, lift and drag forces on a moving magnet, magnetic levitation vehicles, levitation with permanent magnets…

Describes microfossils and explains how they can be collected from shale and limestone. Explains how to set up an interest corner in a classroom. (PR)

An assignment centered on reading journal articles and writing abstracts is an effective way to improve student reading and writing skills in sedimentology and stratigraphy laboratories. Each student reads two articles and writes informative abstracts from the author's point of view. (PR)

Explains the importance of introductory science courses and presents characteristics of exemplary courses. (PR)

Describes a computer program to teach the concepts that underpin genetic mapping using a three-point test cross. The program is used in a sophomore-level course for biology majors that presents a rigorous introduction to genetics. (PR)

Describes a theoretical frame for understanding cognitive development to outline the planning and performance of a unit on electrostatics. Analyzes a female student's learning process and the development of the complexity of her cognitive skills. (PR)

Reviews research on student learning about collisions in physics instruction. Focus is placed on the main differences between the spontaneous perspective in describing/interpreting collisions and the disciplinary perspective based upon the energy and linear momentum conservation laws. (PR)

Examines the research literature in science education to determine how appropriate it is for teaching science to young children 3-5 years of age. In the context of this discussion, a model for the teaching of science in early childhood is presented. For clarity and continuity, the example of teaching electricity is used throughout. (PR)

This paper considers the challenge confronting educators when considering the impact of risks generated by science and technology on the lives of citizens. (PR)

Examines the impact of a specially designed in-service model on teacher understanding of selected science concepts. From an analysis of 42 teachers' concept maps, there was significant growth in the number of valid propositions expressed by teachers between the initial and final mappings in all topic groups.(PR)

From an analysis of five life science textbooks it was found that they stressed two aspects of scientific literacy--science as a body of knowledge and science as a way of investigating. Practically no text was devoted to science as a way of thinking, and little was devoted to the interaction of science, technology, and society (STS). (PR)

Reviews the following computer programs: "Restless Earth" (National Geographic Society); "Science Cap 2.0" (DEMCO); "My Own Stories (MECDC); Wild Science Arcade (Binary Zoo); "Out and About" (Optical Data); "Botanical Gardens" (Sunburst); "BodyScope" (MECC); and "Mineral, Where and Why?" (Arizona Board of Regents). (PR)