The role of the principal in evaluating student achievement is discussed in this paper. The principal is in a leadership position and has the duty of improving the ways in which students are evaluated. Educators often are blamed for poor academic achievement for which they really cannot be held responsible, but there certainly are areas in which…

This study explored the cumulative effect of three years of exposure to teaching strategies being promoted in a local school district's systemic reform on elementary students' attitudes towards school science, awareness of science careers, and science achievement. The reform effort, referred to as the "Science: Parents, Activities, and Literature"…

This study examined the relationship between elementary teachers' pedagogical beliefs and the level of their instructional computer use. Participating teachers had 2 years of experience using a computer network that provided students with an integrated learning system, several word processing packages, desktop publishing, a multimedia…

This paper discusses the relationship between the political intentions of South Africa's educational policy and its educational outcomes, suggesting that the more learner-centered the curriculum and the lower the socioeconomic status of its recipients, the less likely it is to achieve its goal of social equity. The paper considers the proper…

This paper presents debates on the need to examine teacher education programs and discusses the importance and impact of mentoring on the learning outcomes of the science teacher educator (STE). The position is taken that a mentoring program for preservice teacher education should be a part of all advanced graduate programs. A lack of research on…

Although a constructivist approach to learning calls into question the adequacy of norm-referenced, multiple-choice tests, these tests will persist into the 21st century. This article describes a classroom-based study that helped collaboratively oriented fifth graders develop problem-solving strategies to select answers to test questions. This…

Provides an account of a teacher's attempts to adopt a constructivist approach to lesson planning. Includes a detailed lesson plan for enabling students to accurately characterize living things. (DDR)

Argues against a type of program evaluation of undergraduate institutions that assumes students are products. Proposes that if students are products, then students are raw materials. Discusses the philosophical problems of considering students as raw materials. (DDR)

Presents an historical analysis of the work concept with particular emphasis given to the contributions of John Smeaton and Daniel Bernoulli. Emphasizes the work done by both applied and resisting forces. Contains 23 references. (DDR)

Describes a nontraditional, integrated science offering, the goal of which was to use acknowledged benchmarks for a transformed curriculum. Includes content outline, laboratory topics, teaching principles, student expectations, relevance of the discipline, and assessment. Specific suggestions for the transition include providing written materials…

Outlines a teaching strategy designed to promote hands-on, inquiry-type learning. This strategy is based on constructivist principles and reflects much of the current understanding of how children learn science. Contains 31 references. (DDR)

Analyzes the use of problem-based learning as a catalyst for developing and implementing curriculum for gifted students that is both challenging and constructivist in approach. It relates metacognition to problem-based learning and describes inservice programs developed for teachers and administrators at the College of William and Mary (Virginia).…

Describes the results of the Global Thinking Project which facilitated student and educator exchanges among 10 schools in Georgia (USA) and Russia during the 1995-96 school year. The student's activity is described as that of a citizen scientist--one who combines the process of science with public policy decision making. (Author/DKM)

Discusses three ways that instructional design theories can change over time: (1) revision via evolution of models to reflect the outcomes that are being achieved with its current use; (2) revision to reflect current understanding of technology; and (3) complete replacement of present theory with another more powerful theory. Describes the…

Comments on the consequences of the death of the rationalist dream, including a loss of nerve in science education that leads some people to doubt the point and the value of teaching science. Argues that the death of this dream is irrelevant. Contains 57 references. (DDR)