Reports the results of a survey of 70 experienced primary school teachers in Australia designed to explore respondents' concepts of technology and their attitudes about curriculum change. Discusses the implications of their findings on technology curriculum improvement. (CW)

Examines ways in which description and explanation are used in science teaching, including word usage and the role of activities. Considers the desirable characteristics of explanation for teaching purposes. Raises major questions about explanation in science education. Shows the need to make a clear distinction between description and…

Calls for differentiating between three kinds of studies of students' conceptions in science, namely descriptive studies, explanatory studies, and studies attempting to foster conceptual change. Cites the literature about student perceptions and science instruction. (TW)

Reports on a study into the relative importance of the four goal clusters of Project Synthesis as perceived by members of service clubs and community groups. Results indicate that although the importance of science for further studying of science remained constant from 1976-1986, significant increases occurred in the importance of science in…

Stresses the role of the elementary school principal in a school's science program. Provides ideas for getting the principal involved in your science program. Discusses some of the advantages of getting the school administrator personally involved in the school science program. (CW)

Describes learning experiences for preschool and primary age children involving simple machines. Discusses how toys give children an opportunity to explore and understand the technical aspects of our world. Surveys a variety of commercially produced toys to help children explore friction and motion. (CW)

Examines the definitions of scientific observation used in assessing students in Great Britain for the General Certificate in Secondary Education (GCSE). Proposes an instruction framework that supports such definitions. Provides examples of observational tasks and some methods of evaluating them. (TW)

Describes an activity using a large balloon to help children understand that, even though the horizon appears to be flat, the Earth is, indeed, round. Uses a toy ship to reinforce evidence from the first part of the activity. Stresses the importance of confronting naive theories at an early age. (CW)

Provides some activities that are designed to help students understand some of the reasons why parents sometimes refuse to let their children have pets. Includes mathematics and writing lessons, a student checklist, and a set of tips for parents. (TW)

Describes the development, revision, and partial validation of an instrument to assess preservice elementary teachers' process orientation toward science. Suggests that the Process Orientation Toward Science Scale (POTSS) be used as a diagnostic measure of preservice elementary teachers' process orientation toward science and understanding of the…

Reviews the neural modeling principles of learning, perception, cognition, and motor control, discusses their applications to sensory-motor problem solving, and explores possible relationships between that pattern of problem solving and aspects of higher order formal operational problem solving. Cites implications for science education. (ML)

Determined if a written, persuasive communication would positively affect the attitudes of preservice teachers (N=98) and if the communication would differently affect subjects rated on three levels of self-esteem. Results indicate written persuasive communication could change the attitudes of the preservice elementary teachers in this study. (JN)

Approximately 4000 students participated in a study to determine relationships between attitudes toward science, achievement motivation, and demographic variables over the school year and across grades (6-10) by sex. Positive attitudes and motivation declined steadily across the grades with significant sex differences (males having more positive…

Proposes that leaf yeast serve as quick, inexpensive, and effective techniques for monitoring air quality. Outlines procedures and provides suggestions for data analysis. Includes results from sample school groups who employed this technique. (ML)

Provides information on recent science and technology books for children in Spanish. Lists and explains offerings in the areas of: astronomy; mathematics; technology; general science; and computers. The appropriate grade level and bibliographic information for each book are also indicated. (ML)