Explains that the use of data on CD-ROMs gives undergraduate students an economical way to work with real data on potentially publishable projects. Describes a student project using the data on the World WeatherDisc to find evidence of Indian Summer in Spokane, WA. (PR)

Discusses high school science and technology education and requirements for the job market and describes SciTeKS (Science Technology, Knowledge, and Skills), a standards-based, multimedia, modular high school program in chemistry, biology and the earth sciences designed by the American Chemical Society to introduce students to science technology…

Discusses advances in hypermedia as an instructional tool for earth system science education as a mechanism for designing user-friendly and structured classroom units. Proposes two models as a foundation for materials development: (1) the Learning Cycle Model; and (2) the Investigation/Experimentation Model. (Author/CCM)

Describes a study of Greek high school students' (n=116) perceptions of the ozone layer. Finds that students have a good understanding of the position and purpose of the ozone layer in terms of protection from ultraviolet rays, but students also hold misconceptions linking the ozone layer to the greenhouse effect and other forms of local…

Describes the Alexandria Digital Library, a geolibrary that focuses on geographical locations. Topics include the evolution of the system and interface design; design goals; user communities, including earth scientists, information specialists, and educators; user evaluation methodologies and findings; and future possibilities. (LRW)

During the past three years, staff at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy have developed a partial reconstruction of Whitehead's "one subject matter," a course reconnecting biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, and physics into an integrated science program. Staff successfully overcame dilemmas regarding thematic…

Presents information and data on an experiment designed to test whether different atmosphere compositions are affected by light and temperature during both cooling and heating. Although flawed, the experiment should help students appreciate the difficulties that researchers face when trying to find evidence of global warming. (PR)

Examined the comparative efficiency of inquiry-group instruction and traditional teaching methods on Taiwanese junior high school students' achievement and attitudes toward earth science. Surveys of students in both groups indicated that students in the inquiry group had significantly higher achievement scores and significantly more favorable…

Reviews approaches used in teaching seasons to elementary and middle school students over the past 200 years. Finds that the same diagrams have been used from the 1800s to teach about the seasons despite changes in the background knowledge of students and teachers, and changes in theories of teaching and learning. (Contains 24 references.)…

In this study, a multimedia computer-aided tutorial (MCAT) on the topic of debris-flow hazards was developed for senior high-school students in Taiwan. The format of the new course is a blend of whole-class presentations, interactive discussions among the teacher and students, and classroom activities using the MCAT software. The whole-class…

This article describes an alternative way of testing--a performance assessment--that is different both in process and goals from typical tests, but closer to what teachers believe assessment should be. Teachers who have helped to create, refine, and use this new generation of tests find them valuable because they measure the skills and concepts…

The Murray River, lying at the heart of Australia's largest catchment, is used extensively in outdoor education programs in south-eastern Australia. Since European settlement the river's ecological health has declined considerably due to activities such as damming for irrigation and clearing of native vegetation. Colonial notions of how the river…

The integration of science with social science and literature captures the spirit of inquiry and pedagogy embodied in the "National Science Education Standards". Multiple instructional approaches--group and individual work, small and large group work, at-home activities, hands-on and virtual instruction, extension into literature, writing and…

This article discusses the water problems faced by the people of the Pima tribe. On June 17, 1902, after more than a decade of political debate and maneuvering, the National Reclamation Act became law. This legislation provided direct federal subsidies for the development of irrigation projects across the arid West. The Reclamation Act generated…

This case study describes a professor's evolution from geoscience researcher to effective teacher to education researcher. The article details his initial beliefs about teaching, looks at the factors that prompted him to seek a different teaching approach, and enumerates the supports and challenges that he had on his journey. Factors essential to…