Discusses a multimedia-based program designed to provide students with a self-paced study of woody plants using color images of twigs, leaves, bark, fruit, and flowers. The program uses Authorware, software that can be used on both Macintosh- and Windows-compatible platforms. This program is intended for use as a supplement to field-study…

Examines motivation in high school students' conceptual change about physics principles, and college students' motivation for biology learning. Finds grades and interest were important, but students did not report the importance of social support. Suggests similar motivations are important in both conceptual change and assimilation and help…

Surveys salient aspects of eastern box-turtle natural history. Explores the societal and ecological factors that have contributed to the decline of the box-turtle population. Contains 18 references. (WRM)

Examined the comparative efficiency of inquiry-group instruction and traditional teaching methods on Taiwanese junior high school students' achievement and attitudes toward earth science. Surveys of students in both groups indicated that students in the inquiry group had significantly higher achievement scores and significantly more favorable…

Investigates the effects of instruction and achievement on science question level for high and low science topic interests. Finds that students who received instruction in researchable questioning outperformed those who were not instructed, and that high achievers in mathematics, reading, or science outperformed low achievers. (Contains 41…

Reviews approaches used in teaching seasons to elementary and middle school students over the past 200 years. Finds that the same diagrams have been used from the 1800s to teach about the seasons despite changes in the background knowledge of students and teachers, and changes in theories of teaching and learning. (Contains 24 references.)…

Investigated access to didactic and constructivist instruction in U.S. high school science classrooms. Data from a national sample of 3,660 students and their science teachers (from the National Educational Longitudinal Study) indicated that access to the two types of instruction varied by gender, socioeconomic status, academic ability, and course…

Discusses the need for college science teachers to show students the fundamentals before expecting them to "dive in." Argues for the importance of homework in post-secondary science classes. (WRM)

Presents stories that illustrate how children learned lessons about the nature of science. These lessons include such ideas as observing closely and keep records, accessing resources, and collaborating with each other. Describes the use of a classroom bird station and nature walks in accomplishing the goals. (DDR)

Focuses on how one teacher examined classroom discourse through a unit on tornadoes and natural catastrophes. Defines various types of discourse and discusses how discourse in a 6th grade class was analyzed. Details some of the activities that engaged students. (DDR)

The California framework for science instruction has inspired models across the nation. However, religious and political conservatives, under the guise of increased academic rigor, are challenging the California science framework. These individuals want more rote facts, less scientific inquiry, and less hands-on activities, plus a new set of…

Five experiments explored a potentially more productive application of educational technology in which an individual learner has the opportunity to develop a social relation with a computer by interacting with an animated pedagogical agent. Results support the introduction of interactive pedagogical agents to promote meaningful learning in…

Baylor College of Medicine, a Houston-area school district, and the Harris County Department of Education implemented a real-world science-instruction model in all district K-4 classrooms. The 7-year Environment as a Context for Learning Science (ECOS) program provokes student interest by centering on locally relevant environmental issues. (9…

Integration of content in core disciplines is viewed as an important curricular component in promoting scientific literacy. This study characterized the current practices of a group of elementary teachers relative to their development of interdisciplinary links between science, mathematics, and literacy. A qualitative analysis of survey data…

This study investigated the effects of audio, animation, and spatial ability in a multimedia computer program for high school biology. Participants completed a multimedia program that presented content by way of text or audio with lean text. In addition, several instructional sequences were presented either with static illustrations or animations.…