Some serious difficulties that students have in understanding physical optics may be due in part to a lack of understanding of light as an electromagnetic wave. Describes the development and use of tutorials designed to address students' conceptual difficulties. (Contains over 15 references.) (Author/WRM)

Argues that knowledge of social aspects of science are important and relevant for science education for citizenship. Presents a teaching model for engaging students in thoughtful decision-making on controversial socio-scientific issues. (Contains 48 references.) (Author/WRM)

Reports on the application of Gowin's epistemology to examples from geological inquiry which yield criteria of excellence responsive to the demands characteristic of geological problems. Supporting this approach is a case study about how geologists apply analogies. Contains 33 references. (DDR)

Traces the development of a senior level course for biology majors the integrates curriculum studies with critical analysis of current biology research and communication skills. Objectives for the course include understanding the scientific method and assessing and using information sources. (DDR)

Provides guidance and some guidelines for those trying to gain support for classroom innovations. Includes a chart of some influencing strategies and research-based accounts of some methods that can be employed to garner support. (DDR)

Reports that creationism has been specifically banned from the Provincial curriculum as a legitimate scientific subject in all public schools and level one private schools in British Columbia. (DDR)

Cites several events that suggest that the pressure against the teaching of evolution has not abated. Argues that evolutionary theory is state-of-the-art science. Uses survey data to illustrate the extent of antievolutionary attitudes. (DDR)

Reports part of a larger research study into the beliefs held by students, clergy, and teachers in a Lutheran secondary school concerning the relationship between science and religion. Contains 29 references. (DDR)

Outlines the development and implementation of a project in which students work in groups of two or three to research, design, and build a display about a geologic time period or a topic related to the history of life on Earth. (DDR)

Explains how a curriculum is integrated across subject areas with strands of career awareness. Focuses on a course known as Connections, a combination physical science, geometry, and English course that shows students how course content relates to possible careers. (DDR)

Provides a set of macro-experiments designed to improve students' intuitive understanding of physics and motivation for learning physics. Students become part of the experimental apparatus and experience the physical phenomena firsthand. (DDR)

Investigates the effect of the presentation of brief biographical materials on women scientists on student knowledge of women scientists and on student perceptions of scientists. Contains 29 references. (DDR)

Outlines the development of a kinetic study using the enzyme Lactaid to hydrolyze the synthetic substrate of lactose into an undergraduate laboratory experiment. Provides students with experience doing order-of-magnitude estimates. (DDR)

Shares the perspectives of two newly qualified teachers who suggest ways in which new teachers should be supported. These views were shared in the context of a professional-development conference. (DDR)

Details the rethinking of the role of sciences in general education by the Virginia Commonwealth University science faculty. Describes courses designed to provide students not only with a background in concepts and methods, but also to enhance their critical-thinking skills and provide the scientific literacy necessary for informed citizenship.…