Delineates four elements of successful student-scientist partnerships: (1) use of an inquiry-based approach; (2) employment of authentic, community-based investigations; (3) student in the role of scientist; and (4) student in the role educator. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

Describes the Earth Day-Forest Watch Program which introduces kindergarten through high school level students to field laboratory and satellite-data analysis methods for assessing the health of Eastern White Pine forest stands. (DDR)

Examines the effects of previous experiences in science learning on prospective elementary teachers' interest and confidence in teaching science. Reports on the effect of an inquiry-based science methods course on teacher interest and confidence. Finds that elementary school experience, plus the number of science courses taken in college,…

Investigated boys' and girls' perceptions of mathematical and scientific higher-order thinking, ways to identify higher order thinking's occurrence, and inquiry methods for developing it in elementary students and preservice teachers. Results indicated that both genders had similar perceptions about inquiry and approaches to higher-order thinking.…

Describes a website designed to allow students to publish their own accounts of school science investigations they have carried out. Makes suggestions for initiating computer-mediated student discussions of the nature of science based on information contained in the website. (WRM)

Presents an excerpt from "Network Science, A Decade Later: The Internet and Classroom Learning", a publication based on four years of research that examines the role of technology in fostering inquiry-based approaches to learning. (Author/NB)

Indicates the importance of preparing prospective teachers who will be elementary science teachers with different methods. Presents the theoretical and practical rationale for developing a constructivist-based elementary science methods course. Discusses the impact student knowledge and understanding of science and student attitudes has on…

Argues that the life sciences offer potential for practical work to be undertaken outside the classroom. Explores a rationale for such work and draws on reported studies from a number of countries. Contains 44 references. (DDR)

Introduces the Towson Transition Course (TTC) which focuses on preparing students to be scientifically literate and describes the components of the course. Focuses on problem solving, gathering traditional and electronic information, using the case study teaching method, ethical scientific behavior, and evaluation. (Contains 33 references.) (YDS)

Explored the views of beginning teachers who had graduated from an extended teacher education program which highlighted reflection, inquiry, leadership, diversity, and schoolwide leadership projects and action research in the fifth year. Periodic post-graduation interviews indicated that their preparatory experiences, particularly fifth-year…

Compared pre-service elementary teachers' beliefs about mathematics and science teaching before and after immersion in an integrated, spiral-based, inquiry approach within a mathematics and science methods course. Results highlighted: the importance of the teacher's role; use of methods, strategies, and styles; use of manipulatives and materials;…

Discusses the development of a data analysis activity used with 8th grade students at the beginning of the school year. Groups of students collected a variety of data about a specific population. (DDR)

Many students depend on teachers' authority for answers, resisting pedagogy emphasizing inquiry and collaboration. Case studies are presented of two teacher educators who helped students understand how children make sense of ideas, focusing on developing communities where students felt safe to voice their ideas. They encountered resistance but…

Describes researcher and teacher-researcher analyses of inquiry teaching of the nature of science to prospective elementary teachers. Discusses the difficulties with presenting a cogent and comprehensive picture of the nature of science, the teacher's pivotal role in initiating discussions of science and scientists' work, and the strengths and…

Presents a five-activity sequence designed to help students understand the effects of population doubling. Activities consider the effects of population doubling on human interactions, drinking water supplies, and food supply. Students also develop graphs of data and write research papers. (WRM)