The 3rd phase of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Urban Systemic Initiative adds 7 new cities to its program to boost science and mathematics education in urban schools, with grants totaling $105 million. The program supports curriculum development to improve college preparation of students in socially and economically underprivileged areas.…

Describes a science and math pilot project developed for Mohawk junior high school students in Ahkwesahsne (Canada) that integrates Iroquois culture with Western approaches to learning science. Curriculum units are based on the Mohawk Thanksgiving Address that acknowledges all aspects of life. Includes a passage examining differences between…

Described are three science and mathematics educational reform programs--Project 2061; Scope, Sequence and Coordination; and NCTM Curriculum and Evaluation Standards. Discussed are the needs for educational reform and the steps that each program is taking. (KR)

Considers questions relating to the introduction of particle physics into post-GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) courses. Describes a project that is producing teacher and student materials to support the teaching of particle physics at this level. Presents a proposed syllabus for a particle physics module. (KR)

Reviews the reform of secondary school physics in the United States from the 1930s through the mid-1960s. Describes the impact of progressive education, World War II, and the post-Sputnik reforms. Points out differences between past reform efforts and the current Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). (CFR)

Discussed is the success of a small university in placing African Americans into medical school and pharmacy school. Described are precollege enrichment programs for mathematics and science that emphasize problem solving, homework, daily quizzes, development of vocabulary and reading skills, peer support groups, role models, and parental…

Addresses the following question: "What are the issues in research and practice that need to be dealt with in order to lift science education out of the crisis it is perceived to be in? (PR)

Describes the evolution of "Science 2000," a nontextbook program adopted by the California State Board of Education for seventh-grade science. Discusses ways the program can be integrated into the classroom and describes science classrooms utilizing the program. (MDH)

Surveyed teachers' perceptions of the SCIS-II elementary science program. Results indicate that grades K-2 teachers rated the program more positively than grades 3-6 teachers. Teachers who rated the program higher perceived fewer barriers to effectively utilizing the program. Teachers rated the program higher for developing social skills and…

Explains how literature constructs can support science curriculum in an integrated unit model. Literature is integrated to complement science, but the literature activities are feasible in their own right. The result is an organized and purposeful exploration of concepts from two points of view that may be used as separate lessons or incorporated…

Explains that the science curriculum does little to raise the self-esteem of children from some ethnic groups and is seen by many as irrelevant to their experiences, needs, and interests. Explores ways these deficiencies can be rectified to help all children acquire scientific knowledge, interests, and skills without doing violence to their…

Describes a lesson on pseudoscience for a teaching methods course that promotes active student participation, is not a laboratory activity, and follows the sequence of the three phases associated with the learning cycle model. Contains a true-false science questionnaire to be administered to students as a bridge to discussion. (PR)

Describes the SCI-LINK Project that explored ways of linking research scientists and school science teachers. From the evaluation of the project, it is concluded that it helped teachers have a better understanding of scientific environmental research and recent findings. It also allowed teachers to develop activities and other instructional…

Argues that community, field-based, service-oriented projects can be a powerful way to address concerns of scientific literacy. Based on a case study of two ninth-grade students, it is recommended that an ethic of care and responsible action be an exemplar for schools and teachers. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Students' conceptions of three major artificial intelligence concepts used in the modeling of systems in science, fuzzy logic, neural networks, and genetic algorithms were investigated before and after a higher education science course. Students initially explored their prior ideas related to the three concepts through active tasks. Then,…