The aim of this study was to determine the effects of problem-based active learning in science education on students' academic achievement and concept learning. In the study, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were utilized. Quantitative data were obtained via the pre/post-test, treatment-control groups test model. Qualitative data…

This study sought to evaluate the goals and functions of practical tests designed for students in the natural sciences at the Open University of the Netherlands (OuN). Twelve OuN faculty were asked to rate the importance of 8 general learning objectives, 64 specific learning objectives, and 38 end-terms for undergraduate practicals in the natural…

The 1990-91 school year is the year of elementary science in Saskatchewan. Precipitated by the Core Curriculum revolution, the implementation of new curriculum in all subject areas from K to 12 begins with science in 1990-91 and continues with other subjects for almost ten years. Scheduled to be implemented after careful assessment and pilot…

Pedagogical content knowledge, the content-specific knowledge which embodies the aspects of content most germane to its teachability and which is most likely to distinguish the understanding of the content specialist from the pedagogue, has been widely regarded as important for effective teaching of complex subject matter such as science. This…

The Texas Teacher Internship Program (TTIP) is a competitive program for science, technology and mathematics teachers who serve as summer interns at industry and university sites in order to experience real world applications of the subjects they teach. This document contains curriculum implementation plans developed by the teachers to illustrate…

Presented in English and French, Physics 20-30 is an academic program that helps students 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 disciplines; (2) to provide…

This guide is Unit 1 of the four-part series Science, Society, and America's Nuclear Waste produced by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. The goal of this unit is to help students establish the relevance of the topic of nuclear waste to their everyday lives and activities. Particular attention is…

This book is designed to be a source of ideas and motivation to encourage curiosity in children, provide opportunities to develop scientific processing skills, find out about cultures around the world, and explore science concepts. This resource incorporates multicultural literature and approaches into the teaching of science concepts in the…

This document examines children's and adults' knowledge of observational astronomy and characterizes the kinds of mental models students form when asked questions in astronomy. Mental models were grouped into three categories: intuitive, synthetic, and scientific. Implications for the design of curricula and for instruction are identified. In…

This report describes how the National Network of Eisenhower Regional Consortia and the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse are accomplishing their stated objectives. The report is organized into sections beginning with information about how to access the network. The topics of the remaining sections include: (1) Collaboration and Communication; (2)…

Many primary school teachers feel a lack of confidence in teaching science and technology. This paper aims to demonstrate useful and practical strategies for non-specialist science teachers to use in stimulating a positive scientific attitude among primary school students. It proposes that teachers should strive to develop children's natural…

Science teachers need to select tenets from the philosophy of education which stress student attainment of vital context, abilities, and attitudes. This paper discusses diverse schools of philosophical thought in terms of how each might relate to improving the science curriculum. For example, a science teacher who is a realist emphasizes that one…

This teacher's guide to microgravity contains 16 student science activities with full background information to facilitate an understanding of the concepts of microgravity for teachers and students. Topics covered in the background sections include the definitions of gravity and microgravity, creating microgravity, the fluid state, combustion…

This genetics curriculum was conceived to fill the void in the general public's awareness of the importance of heredity and environment in health. The module contains a teacher's manual, student manual, and appendix. Topics are presented in a manner that is intended to be culturally sensitive and meaningful, and to reflect the concerns of the…

Cognetics provides an exciting cooperative learning experience for students that develops both thinking skills and content knowledge. In Cognetics, teams of students in grades 3 to 12 create solutions to problems. This set contains a student manual and a teacher's manual. The teacher's manual explains the concept of cognetics and then provides…