Eighth grade science students were given inventories in a triad and a paired comparison format. From these, a ranking of science categories was made. Students tended to rank earth-space and biological sciences ahead of the physical sciences. Reasons for this included inventory bias, maturational development, and a teacher effect. (MA)

Reports results of a survey of teachers' direct contact and experience with exceptional students in their classes. Results indicate the majority of teachers have had some experience. (SL)

Presents an argument for ending general secondary education of students when the student reaches his sixteenth birthday. Education past sixteen years of age will then continue on a voluntary basis in pre-job or pre-college schools. (SL)

Urges chemistry teachers to have students annotate the chemical reactions in aqueous-solutions that they see in their textbooks and witness in the laboratory. Suggests this will help students recognize the reaction type more readily. Examples are given for gas formation, precipitate formation, redox interaction, acid-base interaction, and…

Discusses many of the distinctions that chemists draw between theoretical chemistry and descriptive chemistry, along with the tendency for chemical educators to adopt the type of chemistry they feel is most important to teach. Uses examples to argue that theoretical chemistry and descriptive chemistry are, at the bottom line, the same. (TW)

Describes a new high school physics option in Great Britain which uses the model of a technological approach to the study of materials. Discusses the components of the program, including the development of a student book for independent learning and six case studies. Provides a case study about turbine blades. (TW)

Criticizes the current method of formalization in Italian schools and the use of tools of the mathematical method. Proposes a general three-stage formalization method which can used for physical quantities, the particular significance of certain quantities, and the description and interpretation of phenomena. (TW)

Reviews Apple computer science programs that are useful in a laboratory setting. Includes laboratory simulations, uses of Apple as a functioning lab instrument, and dissection programs. (ML)

Describes a study that investigated the activities and interactions of teachers and students in two Western Australian high schools. Reports findings dealing with activity structures, reward systems, teacher expectations, and disruptive students. Also contrasts the managerial styles of three teachers. (ML)

Discusses the gender differences revealed on the science content items of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Science Assessment. Examines explanations for the differences, including differential prior instruction, differential response to uncertainty, differential response to figurally presented items, and different attitudes toward…

Explains practices and activities related to measurement, observation, and problem solving/practical investigating in British science classes. Provides three physics investigations and assesses their instructional potential and effectiveness with students. (ML)

Discusses the commonly held misconceptions on heat and examines potential contributing factors. Defines and provides examples of internal energy and heat. Suggests approaches to the teaching of heat for secondary level students. (ML)

Contains 31 activities and experiments from the biological and physical sciences. Addresses such areas as reproduction, biotechnology, ecology, proteins, nitrates, aerosols, metal crystallinity, circuit boards, and photoswitching. (ML)

Provides suggestions for two exercises designed to assist and involve students in understanding chemical concepts. Includes a laboratory experiment for determining the Ksp of a saturated solution of calcium sulfate and a scheme for naming oxyacids and their salts. (ML)

Addresses the issue of whether traditional high school chemistry is needed for all students as preparation for the study of college level chemistry. Recommends an approach which stresses applications and societal issues for high school students. (ML)