This report summarizes the characteristics of physics education in 12 countries: Argentina; Brazil; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; Guatemala; Jamaica; Mexico; the United States; and Venezuela. An introductory chapter describes the goals of the Council on Inter-American Conferences on Physics Education, historical background,…

Policy documents in the past have called for a science education policy which specifically targets major areas of identified need. This document details three recommendations specifically emphasizing programs which do not require significant new funds. These include: (1) "Federal Leadership: Using the 'Bully Pulpit'," which suggests priorities for…

The teaching and learning opportunities created by combining existing television programming with the kinds of interactivity offered by microcomputers have not been fully investigated by videodisc designers or science educators. The Videodisc Project Group, a subsection of Educational Technology Center's New Technologies Group, is: (1) conducting…

This study investigated the use in junior high schools of a prototype interactive videodisc, "Seeing the Unseen." The experimental disc contains four lessons designed to teach scientific inquiry skills. Students determine the order of the lessons and interact with the disc by touching the screen to pause, replay, see a series of…

This publication presents selected papers that address certain questions that are being investigated by Bank Street College's Center for Children and Technology (CCT). CCT's researchers are working to help define new research inquiries and to document students' and teachers' uses and understandings of educational technologies. Included in this…

This publication covers the teaching of the various scientific disciplines, integrated and interdisciplinary science teaching, and education in technology, nutrition and health throughout the world. It emphasizes aspects of science and technology education, such as social relevance, teaching in relation to the local environment and links with…

This guide is intended to assist vocational educators teaching a course in textiles to relate the skills addressed in science courses to a particular vocational education course. The guide consists of a curriculum alignment chart that cross-references vocational performance indicators to science skills/competencies. The science competency…

Beneath educational pedagogies lie philosophical assumptions about the nature of learning, knowledge, truth and morality. These different philosophies form the foundations of a variety of instructional programs in all academic disciplines. This paper addresses constructivism, a recent attempt to provide a philosophical pedagogy which affects…

This guide is designed to provide a rationale and structure which can enable educational planners and decision makers in Kansas to develop and select science curricula. The content of the publication is intended to be used by administrators in charge of curriculum, departmental and district science chairpersons, and all teachers, citizens and…

Designed for middle and junior high school students, the Human Sciences Program (HSP) represents a three year, interdisciplinary program which focuses on the role of the natural sciences in promoting the cognitive, psycho-social, and moral development of early adolescents. The materials consist of modules of activities designed around major themes…

This manual is designed to provide practical assistance to teachers in Contemporary Issues in Science programs. The manual, divided into five sections, includes activities designed to help students develop skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, research, and critical thinking. Provided in section 1 (source selection) is a teaching unit…

Contemporary Issues in Science Program (CIIS) is designed to provide teachers and students with the necessary tools and strategies for bringing contemporary scientific issues into the classroom. Provided in this document are discussions of the three major elements in the program, support elements, and major activities. Major elements include the…

The Peace Corps stateside training program for secondary school teachers in Liberia trained 37 volunteers in several subject area groups--language arts, mathematics and science, and health. Because many of the teachers had never taught before, their 4-week training program concentrated on teaching and learning theories and specific teaching…

Background information and exemplary units for teaching science in Georgia's middle school grades are provided. Discussed in the first section are: (1) the rationale for including science in middle school grades, focusing on science/society/technology, science/social issues, scientific reasoning, and scientific literacy; (2) role of science…

This curriculum guide for the Plano Intermediate School District (Texas) Outdoor Learning Center is divided into three major sections. Section I provides information on the numbered stations/posts found along the perimeter and inner trails of the center and includes brief comments on the philosophy of environmental education and the history…