Drawing parallels with critical thinking and creative thinking, this document describes some ways that scientific thinking is utilized. Cognitive approaches to scientific thinking are discussed, and it is argued that all science involves an attempt to construct a testable mental model of some aspect of reality. The role of mental models is…

Developed as part of a document series in UNESCO's Science and Technology Education program, this volume reviews the major trends and cites the improvements in the natural science and mathematics education in the Soviet Union. Separate units are provided for the discipline areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. These sections…

Intellectual mastery of nature was the stated goal of the German physicists of the nineteenth century. In this first of two volumes, an attempt is made to bridge social, institutional, and intellectual history. Separate sections of the book deal with: (1) establishing physics at the universities; (2) German physicists before 1830; (3) promoting…

This magazine is designed for teachers and students in junior and senior high schools. It is intended to help students become more aware about what scientists and engineers do, what's new and exciting in the fields of science and engineering, and what satisfactions might be expected from a career in one of the many different areas of science and…

Designed for use by science teachers, this document provides selected lists of computer software collected by the Science and Mathematics Software (SAMS) lab at Florida State University. The commercially available software is compiled under the subject areas of biology, chemistry, and physics. Each list provides: (1) recommended grade level; (2)…

Results of the American Institute of Physics' 1984-1985 survey of physics and astronomy bachelor's degree recipients are examined. The information was obtained from individual degree recipients with a focus on their plans after the baccalaureate programs. Highlights of the findings are as follows: the proportion of women among physics bachelors…

The graduate student survey, undertaken annually by the American Institute of Physics, monitors trends in the population of graduate students in physics and astronomy. Individuals are surveyed for information on their personal and educational characteristics and career goals. The report presents tabulated data from the survey, with analysis…

This report provides an assessment of safety issues at the Department of Energy (DOE) test and research reactors. Part A identifies six safety issues of the reactors. These issues include the safety design philosophy, the conduct of safety reviews, the performance of probabilistic risk assessments, the reliance on reactor operators, the fragmented…

This report provides an assessment of safety management, safety review, and safety methodology employed by the Department of Energy (DOE) and private contractors. Chapter 1, "The DOE Safety Framework," examines safety objectives for production reactors and processes to implement the objectives. Chapter 2, "Technical Issues,"…

Results of the American Institute of Physics' 1982-1983 survey of physics and astronomy bachelor's degree recipients are examined. The information was obtained from individual degree recipients and focuses on their postbaccalaureate plans. Highlights of the findings are as follows: a five-percent increase over 1981-1982 occurred in the total…

The purpose of this study was to determine how integrating science and mathematics in a seventh grade physics unit affected students' attitudes toward and achievement in science. Students were placed in one of four classes. Two classes consisted of students with standardized reading and mathematics scores at least 2 years above grade level; one…

Results of the American Institute of Physics' 1981-1982 survey of physics and astronomy bachelor's degree recipients are examined. The information was obtained from individual degree recipients and focuses on their postbaccalaureate plans. The 1982 graduating class included 4,558 physics and 181 astronomy students from U.S. institutions. Major…

Two booklets were developed by the Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--to help teachers adopt an approach to primary science teaching which would enhance children's understanding of floating and sinking. Both booklets were designed to enable teachers to reconceptualize their teaching task from activity-driven, didactic teaching to…

Two booklets were developed by the Learning in Science Project (primary)--LISP(P)--to help teachers adopt an approach to science teaching which would enhance children's understanding of floating and sinking; the strategy enables teachers to reconceptualize their teaching task from activity-driven, didactic teaching to conceptual-change teaching.…

This manual provides suggestions for investigating simple machines and the teaching of certain basic concepts which pertain to them. Many of the lessons are designed to be used with the commercially available LEGO kits, in an effort to teach concepts in a way in which students must translate pictures shown in two dimension into three-dimensional…