This study assessed the qualifications of biology, chemistry, and physics teachers, both from the perspective of their initial preparation and with regard to the type of certification they possessed. In particular, the Ohio Department of Education sought to determine what patterns of preparation must be followed at each of Ohio's teacher education…

Expert reasoning in the natural sciences appears to make extensive use of a relatively small number of general principles and reasoning strategies, each associated with a larger number of more specific inference patterns. Using a dual declarative hierarchy to represent strategic and factual knowledge, a framework for a robust scientific reasoning…

This report describes the results of an attempt to identify a learning hierarchy for each of a number of science concepts mainly encountered first in the high school grades. The concepts studied relate to stoichiometric calculations and molarity, both from chemistry; to food web relationships and problems involving Mendel's laws from biology; to…

Southern College of Technology (SCT) is the only institution in the University of Georgia system to offer a developmental physics course to give students with no previous physics coursework the conceptual background and vocabulary needed to complete SCT's physics requirements. The eight sections of the developmental course focus on: (1) literal…

The diversity of the educational system of the United States that engenders a wealth of innovative ideas and varied practices also makes it an extremely complex system to confront and understand as a whole. This survey was undertaken to develop current baseline data on all secondary school teachers of physics in the United States, including those…

This paper is based on the idea that designing a knowledge representation for an intelligent physics computer tutoring system depends, in part, on the target behavior anticipated from the student. In addition, the document distinguishes between qualitative and quantitative competence in physics. These competencies are illustrated through questions…

Presented is the first in a series of four hearings on international cooperation in science. The focus of the hearing is international cooperation in big science, as personified by the field of high energy physics. The particular area of interest is the questions: What are the past experience and future prospects for international costsharing of…

Chemistry textbooks on the market during 1979-80 designated for non-majors were read and analyzed to determine references of value judgments made on social, political, or economic issues. Textbooks included those used in general education courses, first-year chemistry courses, and in terminal introductory courses such as those in allied health…

Students (N=49) enrolled in a physics course for elementary teachers were evaluated for their abilities to use: (1) combinatorial logic; (2) separation and control of variables; (3) proportional reasoning; and (4) reciprocal implications. Performance of four Piagetian tasks during interviews was treated as a measure of the degree to which students…

This report presents priorities for new facilities and new capabilities at existing facilities with initial costs of at least $5 million. The new facilities in order of priority are: (1) a 6 GeV synchrotron radiation facility; (2) an advanced steady state neutron facility; (3) a 1 to 2 GeV synchrotron radiation facility; and (4) a high intensity…

The data presented, illustrated with tables and graphs, include postbaccalaureate plans of physics bachelors (including trends since l969); characteristics of bachelor's degree recipients; postbaccalaureate plans of minority group physics bachelors; type of baccalaureate plan; sources of anticipated support for first-year graduate study, 1974-77;…

In this fifth Report on Teaching compiled by Change Magazine, focus is on anthropology, foreign languages, and physics. Articles dealing with teaching competence at the higher education level in anthropology deal with both classroom and field instruction, written by: Francis L K. Hsu, Nathaniel Sheppard, Jr., Ronald Henkoff, Evan Jenkins, Liva…

Data are presented on labor market conditions for science and engineering graduates based on responses of 255 firms to mail and telephone surveys conducted in late fall of 1981. Highlights presented in table, chart, and text indicate: (1) definite and likely shortages were concentrated in the computer and engineering fields; (2) chemical,…

Research has provided only partial support for Anne Roe's theory of career development that states that childhood experiences lead eventually to patterns of adult vocational choice. To determine the validity of Roe's theory about career choice, childhood experiences, and family climates, male physics students (N=15), seminary teachers (N=15), and…

This first in a series of eight modules for a course titled Metrology describes the fundamentals of metrology as they pertain to dimensional inspection. The module follows a typical format that includes the following sections: (1) introduction, (2) module prerequisites, (3) objectives, (4) notes to instructor/student, (5) subject matter, (6)…