Argues that fostering early science interest could act as a stimulus for lasting interest, affecting numbers of students opting for secondary school science courses. Identifies problems in testing this argument by research, highlighting two areas: control of inter-school variables and need for a measure of quality of primary science itself. (JN)

Aviation and space (aerospace education) is the study of aviation and space and its impact on society. Discusses the nature and scope of aviation and space education in general and basic education. Also considers typical programs and scope at the elementary, secondary, and higher educational levels. (JN)

Describes how to input and output through the game ports of the Atari microcomputer to control experiments and collect data in the science laboratory. Indicates that the simple techniques described are easily transferred to other microcomputers. (JN)

Discusses the role of history, philosophy, and social implications of scientific ideas and advances related to the physics curriculum, considering who should teach what, to whom, and when. Suggests that physics teachers should have a deep and abiding interest in the history, philosophy, and social implications of science and technology. (Author/JN)

Briefly discusses five fundamental goals for science education. Goals focus on developing scientific and technological process and inquiry skills; teaching to provide scientific/technological knowledge; student demonstration of knowledge; student use of knowledge for personal/social decisions; and student examination of science/society/technology…

Examines curriculum change from a historical perspective, focusing on forms of knowledge/ways of knowing. Discusses curriculum development in relation to sociology of knowledge, tracing history of change as science matured. Suggests that school science is a social construct, questioning the manipulative use and responsibility for scientifically…

Discusses ATP synthesis in mitochondria/chloroplasts and cause of an antipodal high tide. Also discusses a simple field experiment on regulation of osmotic potential by Salicornia (pioneer plant of estuarine sale marshes) and use of a key to identify British mosquito larvae. The latter includes procedures for collecting, recognizing, and finding…

Demonstrations, experiments, and classroom activities/materials for middle school science are presented. These include: additive color mixing demonstration; electricity activity and worksheet; atmospheric pressure "magic" demonstration; homemade microbalance; energy from soap bubbles; and a model used to demonstrate muscle pairs and how…

Investigated use of concept and Vee-mapping strategies with regular seventh- and eighth-grade science students (N=155), focusing on changes in student acquisition of science knowledge and problem-solving performance. Includes methods of teaching Vee mapping, evaluating the maps, anectdotal records of Piagetian clinical interviews, findings, and…

Discusses the history and evolution of measurement standards from 3000 BC to the modern metric system. Traces measurement techniques from comparisons with the human body to use of atomic clocks and lasers to establish the length of a meter. (JM)

Discusses various issues related to science education reform in Great Britain. The principle concern is over the extent to which content of both courses/examinations provides children with skills/attitudes relevant to their needs in the modern world. Although all agree that changes are needed, reforms may prove elusive. (JN)

Supports the position that goals developed and used to guide science education practice during the 1950s and mid-1960s are no longer adequate and that a new consensus of goals is needed for the 1980s. This consensus would reflect the real world and problems students will face in the future. (JN)

Discusses five instructional strategies for increasing the meaningfulness of technical or scientific information. These include organization of prose, use of concrete analogies as advance organizers, use of inserted questions in prose, elaboration activities such as note-taking and discovery learning. (JN)

Describes experiments on diffusion of gases, volumetric approach to water of hydration, and toxicity of chemicals in the laboratory. Also describes an inexpensive automatic pipette, overhead projection of chemical reactions, and an alternative method for demonstrating flame tests. (JN)

Student activities in an interdisciplinary, model rocket science program are described, including the construction of an Ohio Scientific computer system with graphic capabilities for use in the program and cooperative efforts with the Rocket Research Institute. (JN)