This study examines thought, language, and related action in sixth-graders working to understand concepts related to mass, volume, and density. Students from a heterogeneous urban classroom worked in various social contexts including individually, in pairs, in groups of four, and as a class. Their work was examined via videotapes, field notes,…

The Plant Information Center (PIC) is a project funded under the Institute of Museum and Library Studies that aims to provide global access to both primary and secondary botanical resources via the World Wide Web. Central to the project is the development and employment of a series of applications that facilitate resource discovery, interactive…

The main objective of this program was to produce animated educational material to stimulate students' interest and learning process related to the sciences and to measure their impact. The program material was designed to support middle school educators with an effective, accessible, and novel didactic tool produced specifically to enhance and…

A number of voluntary organizations such as the Wildlife Institute, Educational Conservation Society, American Forestry Association, American Nature Association, etc., are devoting their efforts to stimulation of a more nearly adequate appreciation of the place conservation holds in our national life. It is more and more generally realized that we…

The committee on science of the Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education has carried on its work by means of discussions, correspondence, and formulation of preliminary reports for over seven years. The discussion of preliminary reports by groups, committees, and at meetings of science teachers has revealed progressive work already…

Describes a system using a microcomputer and student response pad which obtains and records individual student reactions during a given classroom situation. The system can be used during tests, quizzes, lectures, discussions, and student presentations with the data bank available for immediate feedback. (SK)

Advocates teaching science education from both Navajo and Western perspectives, giving Navajo students the ability to expand on the scientific method by constructing alternative explanatory hypotheses. Suggests that drawing from both cultural backgrounds stimulates development of the highest level of scientific thinking, which could lead to…

A study of 114 full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty of history, psychology, mathematics, and biology investigated the relationship between scholarly productivity and 4 norms of teaching. It was found that faculty recognize and acknowledge norms that support teaching, while simultaneously participating in expected research activities. In…

Provides seven fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in art, reading, language arts, science, and social studies. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, procedures, evaluations, and follow-up are described for each activity. (LRW)

Describes study that investigated the effects of instructional control and gender pairing arrangements on learner achievement, attitudes, and interaction during an interactive video elementary school science lesson. Cooperative learning strategies are discussed, results of statistical analyses are reported, and implications for instructional…

Notes that technical education must be an ongoing, career long activity and a normal part of the job. Lists objectives considered to ensure employees are at the forefront of their specialty. Discusses four types of courses offered by 3M's educational program. (MVL)

Reports on the development of a modified Problem-Based Learning approach to a freshman course. Enables faculty to teach basic biochemical concepts and principles as well as their application to clinical cases. Includes the syllabus and workshop goals based on Bloom's taxonomy. (MVL)

Reports results of an ethnographic study to determine what physics students consider important in their transition from high school to college. Themes emerging from the interviews that suggest ways to ease transition include when transition begins, self-identity, student and teacher work, teachers, and student responsibility. (MDH)

Task engagement and conceptual change were studied for 12 sixth graders in 2 classrooms where teachers and instructional materials provided students with extensive support to understand science better. Results indicate that some students recognize the value of science learning and demonstrate cognitive engagement, whereas others pursue alternative…

Evaluates the effectiveness of a course using a constructivist approach in reducing Dutch secondary school students (n=190) misconceptions about force. Concluded that the lessons were effective in changing students' ideas in regard to forces in rest situations and frictional forces and that learning effects were equally distributed over student…