The major focus of this unit is on changes where substances do not, from the scientific viewpoint, actually change into other substances. For example, substances may expand or contract upon heating or change form (such as ice to water). Part 1 provides a 12-item instrument to enable teachers to check their own ideas about this topic and to clarify…

This book presents the life stories of 10 women who work in various fields of science as well as information on education and financial aid and getting a good job (focusing on jobs in academia and industry). The life stories, based on interviews with women scientists, are organized according to their academic fields: (1) biology--Dr. Beatrice…

The 1982 Search for Excellence in Science Education project has identified 10 exemplary programs in biology. Descriptions of the programs and the criteria used in their selection are presented. Chapter 1 discusses the desired state in biology education, examining the goals of biology education and how these goals relate to biology curriculum and…

The author estimates that a minimum of 3600 additional mathematics teachers and 1800 additional science teachers will be needed at the secondary school level over the next several years. Each of the following trends is discussed: (1) increases in high school graduation requirements will increase the need for mathematics and science teachers; (2)…

This unit explores a recent and controversial theory of the origin of much of the Earth's natural gas and oil. The materials provided will give students the opportunity to: (1) gain an understanding of science and what is involved in the acceptance or rejection of theories; (2) learn about fossil fuels, especially natural gas; (3) learn the…

The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the developmental patterns in logical reasoning of students in grades 6-10 over a span of 20 months. The Group Assessment of Logical Thinking (GALT) was administered to the sample (N=84) during the fall of 1986, the fall of 1987, and the spring of 1988. The GALT measures six reasoning modes:…

Thirty-four authors have joined to produce this book. Among them are natural and physical scientists, psychologists, historians, writers, scholars of curriculum and instruction, teacher educators, and teachers of the young. The contributors probe many methodologies including the place of unified concepts and processes; the interaction of the…

This publication is one in a series of 12 giving the recommendations that were made for a broad and balanced education program in science for young people. This guide attempts to answer the questions regarding what science is taught in primary schools, what skills good primary science gives children, and how secondary schools build on primary…

This guide is designed to be used by local curriculum planners and technology education teachers responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a technology education program. It offers recommendations that reflect the thinking of technology education leaders in Wisconsin and across the nation. The guide is intended to provide…

This investigation was conducted to determine the effects of a 10-day summer workshop using the Concerns Based Adoption Model concerning science technology and society (STS) topics and methods of classroom implementation on the knowledge, attitudes, and stages of concerns of the participating secondary inservice teachers, as well as student…

This paper describes a model of the influence of personal and environmental factors on students' valuing of two deep-processing strategies for studying expository texts. In the model, task orientation (a form of intrinsic motivation in which learning and understanding are the major goals) interacts with perceptions of the teacher's goals to…

More than 100 nuclear power plants supply over 17 percent of the electricity in the United States. The basic principles of how nuclear energy works and how it is used to make electricity are explained in this profusely illustrated booklet written for the average sixth grade reader. Discussions include: (1) atomic structure; (2) nuclear fission;…

Problem solving is often identified as a goal of science education. What is considered problem solving varies from teacher to teacher. The ultimate goal of problem-solving education has been identified as a means of helping students develop higher-order thinking skills. This ERIC digest focuses on problem solving in secondary school science as…

This is one of five panel reports that have been prepared as part of the first phase of Project 2061, a long-term, multipurpose undertaking of the American Association for the Advancement of Science designed to help reform science, mathematics, and technology education in the United States. Major sections included are: (1) "Orienting…

Corporations, government agencies, communities, and individuals are involved in waste management. Education about waste--where it comes from, how we dispose of it, and management alternatives--is needed. This document provides a series of educational resources which deal with these issues. Using these factsheets, lesson plans, lists of sources for…