This study explored the impact of cooperative learning in a college level laboratory science course by comparing classes taught by a conventional lab-lecture technique. Students in a basic science skills course for preservice elementary teachers participated over a 14-week period. Instruments used were the Science Attitude Survey, Test of Logical…

A project was conducted to determine if the instructional materials for production agriculture classes taught in the public schools in Texas contained information that was relevant to the essential elements of mathematics and science at the secondary level. The project was carried out through a number of steps including (1) reviewing the state…

Perspectives on a psychological approach to learning are offered in this paper. Specific emphasis is directed to the assumption that children possess "minitheories." Minitheories are defined as attempts to make sense of particular kinds of experiences and are explained and delimited by the domain of experience to which they currently apply. This…

Designed to provide an international cross-section of data on science and mathematics education, this document describes the educational systems of countries that developed innovative approaches to science education. The science-centered systems of Japan, People's Republic of China, East Germany, West Germany, and the Soviet Union are featured in…

Developed to explore how individuals receive and process sensory information, this paper describes a curriculum designed for elementary students concerning the brain and information processing. The course is entitled "Mind Adventuring: Learning about How We Learn" and is structured into eight units of study. Descriptive accounts are…

A special program was initiated in 1985 at George Washington University to encourage persons from other careers to pursue a second career in teaching in the Washington D.C. area. This report describes the variables that had to be and are continuing to be considered in the design of this training effort for mid-career professionals. Factors…

This study was designed to examine the nature of the interaction among secondary school science teachers, school administrators, and external agents and how these interactions influence the character of the science program. An ethnographic approach was employed in which secondary school science classes from five schools in two districts were…

A review of the research on the cognitive development of middle school students is presented and ways of promoting intellectual growth in middle school science classrooms are offered. The annotations in this review are organized into four sections. The first part focuses on the research on the cognitive development of the middle school student.…

The status of pre-college science education in Japan is reviewed and analyzed in this paper from four different perspectives having to do with the impact of the national syllabus and with social problems, teacher problems, and the changes occurring with students. Japan's national syllabus is explained and elements related to its implementation,…

Designed to present interesting facts about science and to heighten the curiosity of primary age students, this book contains activities about the natural world and numerous black and white illustrations. The activities specifically focus on the human body and encourage a positive self-concept. The theme of the first section is air--the breath of…

Designed to develop creativity in young learners, this book contains interdisciplinary activities which focus on the theme of the five senses. Activity pages are provided that can serve as front and back covers of a student booklet and the suggested activities can be duplicated for insertion between the covers resulting in a booklet for each…

Two Oregon science education programs are described following an introduction that discusses underlying problems in science education and approaches taken by exemplary practices. Exemplary practices involve the process method of instruction, teacher training, utilization of science resources outside the school, and instruction that emphasizes the…

Designed to assist local school districts in New Jersey with resources which might improve elementary science programs, this guide presents science proficiencies for grades K through 6. These proficiencies are illustrated by skills and standards that reflect the broad array of science topics and can be used as benchmarks for the development of…

This study draws on a conceptualization of the nature of professional knowledge called "Reflection-in-Action" put forth by Donald Schon, and seeks to determine whether it is applicable, and appropriate, to studying the way in which education students make sense of practical teaching experiences offered in methods courses. Schon's ideas are taken…

The American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsored a conference for educators and chemists to design strategies for implementing the recommendations made in the 1984 ACS publication, Priorities, Partnerships, and Plans: Chemistry Education in the Schools. Participants submitted proposals for mini-grant funding to the ACS Prehigh School Science Program…