Many educators agree that parental involvement is an important factor in a child's achievement in school. Views of the quantity of involvement differ. This one-semester study was designed to determine if parental knowledge of classroom objectives would significantly influence student achievement in physical science. Thirty-three physical science…

Reported are the findings of five descriptive studies in which the Group Assessment of Logical Thinking (GALT) was used as measure of logical thinking. Specifically, an attempt was made to determine how reliably the GALT measured logical thinking abilities and how well it predicted academic achievement. The reliability coefficients on the GALT for…

State legislatures and others are recommending and, in some cases, mandating reforms in education including evaluating students' ability to meet stated objectives. This "ideal" situation poses a major problem concerning instruments needed to assess process skills. In the real world, educators do not yet have nationally recognized, valid,…

One approach to the study of problem solving is to observe how people with different skills (novices and experts) solve problems by collecting and analyzing protocols and formulating models to obtain solution processes. Individual differences are subsequently explained by the differences in the knowledge possessed, as embodied by the sets of…

A conflict exists over the use of animals in the classroom. One aspect of this use involved the dissection of animals. Animal protection advocates report that dissections constitute abuse of the animals dissected. The advocates state that what is learned by dissection could be more effectively learned by other means. Some science educators state…

This document advances the premise that the scientific method to identify cause-effect relationships is undoubtedly the single most important factor in the geometric expansion of scientific advances evidenced thus far during the 20th century. To understand these advances and to make educated decisions concerning them, the citizenry must be…

This publication consists of a nuclear energy assessment battery for secondary level students. The test contains 44 multiple choice items and is organized into four major sections. Parts include: (1) a knowledge scale; (2) attitudes toward nuclear energy; (3) a behaviors and intentions scale; and (4) an anxiety scale. Directions are provided for…

This study investigated problem solving skills in mechanics problems that required the use of diagrams. These skills were examined in two ways. First, the study examined student problem solving skills using solution scripts from the Western Australian Tertiary Admission Examination in physics. Solution attempts by students in the 1978 and 1979…

This booklet provides guidelines for safety in the chemical laboratory. Part I, "Guides for Instructors and Administrators," includes safety rules, safety practices and facilities, preparation for emergencies, safety committees, accident reporting, fire insurance, and listings of some hazardous chemicals. Part II, "Student Guide to…

This paper addresses the problem of an inadequate science teaching approach at a time when students need to be familiar with, and be able to understand, global problems and personal problems delving into complex, interrelated issues based on the science of a living universe. This report focuses on research about the problems in science education,…

The Science Council of Canada conducted a 4-year study on science education to investigate the past and present place of science education in Canadian schools and to develop recommendations for its future direction. This report, which summarizes the comprehensive study, is organized into 6 chapters. Chapter 1 summarizes and highlights the report.…

The Science Council of Canada conducted a 4-year study on science education in Canadian elementary and secondary schools. The study reached the conclusion that renewal science education is essential. This report analyzes the study's findings and presents recommendations for bringing about this renewal. The report is organized in four sections. The…

This research evaluated the desirability of science teaching as a career as rated by eighth grade students. An instrument was developed on which respondents placed their own choice of best and worst possible careers as endpoints on a 10 point scale. Forty-five additional careers, including careers in science teaching, science, and teaching of…

This unit on chemical energetics is one of 10 first year units produced by the Independent Learning Project for Advanced Chemistry (ILPAC). The unit, which consists of two levels, provides a clear yet detailed and thorough introduction to the topic. Level one extends ideas from previous courses, introduces and emphasizes the importance of Hess'…

This unit on equilibrium is one of 10 first year units produced by the Independent Learning Project for Advanced Chemistry (ILPAC). The unit, which consists of two levels, focuses on the application of equilibrium principles to equilibria involving weak acids and bases, including buffer solutions and indicators. Level one uses Le Chatelier's…