A research physicist and science educator who became a U.S. congressman explains the goals of a Science Committee review of U.S. policy on science and technology. The challenges faced by the nation in coping with technological advancements are described. Specific reforms needed include giving students a sense of the process of science and focusing…

Describes the outcomes of the consultation phase of a curriculum development project in science education in Great Britain. Raises issues which remain to be addressed in the future, including how science contributes to preparation for the world of work, and definitions of content. (DDR)

Presents a rubric scheme for assessing science process skills in an authentic science exercise. Discrete elements of each skill or task are identified in a binary fashion (yes/no) so that a scorer need only determine whether the element is present or absent. Thirteen science process skills are assessed with this scheme. (PR)

Shows how a memory aid can help teachers focus their short-term planning in terms of curricular and formative assessment. Delineates the essential elements of high-quality, short-term planning in science education. (DDR)

Describes changes in scientific research methods that have been brought about by the use of computers. Presents an example of the falling of a body in a fluid to show students how computers can be used to experiment with mathematical models and to automate experiments. Contains 11 references. (Author/WRM)

Describes a laboratory protocol using clinical veterinary data that teaches the cognitive, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills necessary for students in a biology core laboratory course. (WRM)

Describes an innovative approach used to help high school students develop critical thinking and real-world problem-solving skills while learning about indoor air quality. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/WRM)

Presents overviews of two programs developed in the spirit of the National Science Education Standards. BSCS Biology: A Human Approach is an inquiry-based, activity-driven biology program developed by the Biological Science Curriculum Study (BSCS). Insights in Biology, developed by the Education Development Center (EDC), is a modular program that…

Considers the school library media center as an information learning laboratory. Topics include information literacy; Kuhlthau's Information Search Process model; inquiry theory and approach; discovery learning; process skills of laboratory science; the information scientist; attitudes of media specialists, teachers, and students; displays and Web…

Results using 165 students show a greater difference on the Test of Integrated Process Skills occurred in the setting where cooperative learning and microcomputer-based laboratories were used. (PR)

Students are usually quick to draw conclusions about their surroundings. Their generalizations, however, are often based on a single experience or even a story recounted by a friend. An individual's ability to reason inductively improves as he gains more experience in the world. The ability to draw broad conclusions also improves with an…

In this article, the author describes his experience conducting an inquiry investigation in his classroom in which high school physics students design, create, and race a solar-powered vehicle. Students learn invaluable science, technology, mathematics, communication, and critical thinking skills. Fueled by their knowledge, creativity, and the…

Inquiry has been used to promote activity-oriented learning that reflects scientific investigation, specifically the observation, experimentation, and reasoning used by scientists. Understanding the roles of content and process in school science helps educators better understand and practice inquiry-based instruction. The relationship between…

Norms govern the criteria by which students decide what is good and what is not good, and align their learning trajectories accordingly.We found that the high-school students' norm is to produce working, but not necessarily error-free, programs and to argue for their correctness solely on the basis of a few executions. Therefore, they prefer…

Practical investigation tasks are part of the Dutch examination programme of senior secondary education. In mathematics and science, pupils are expected to develop a broad range of research skills, which includes connecting real world phenomena with the scientific world, understanding the problems at hand and asking the right questions, making a…