Describes the Lead Teacher Program of Virginia's Quality Education in Science and Technology project which helps lead teachers become educational leaders, resource teachers, and school-based staff developers. Major foci include leadership, understanding and applying technology, and science and mathematics integration, content, and pedagogy. Some…

This activity uses ice crystals to introduce middle school and high school students to the collection, preparation, examination, and manipulation of scientific data. (PR)

Presents a lesson plan detailing an interdisciplinary mathematics/science activity in which students find the balance and center of gravity of a map of the United States. Contains reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Presents a lesson plan detailing an interdisciplinary mathematics/science activity in which students take a home survey of light bulbs and then design an energy-saving lighting system for a home. Contains reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Reports on a project that provided preservice elementary teachers with experiences designed to increase their background knowledge of science, and to encourage them to teach science. An interactive science center and an outdoor field study center in Australia were chosen as venues for hands-on teaching experiences. (LZ)

Reports on revisions to the teacher education program at Eastern Michigan University to improve teacher preparation for teaching science, especially physics and chemistry, in the elementary grades. (LZ)

The Genetics Construction Kit is a computer-based learning tool that simulates the phenomena of classical transmission genetics. Its construction kit approach lets users set the parameters of the problem sets to be generated. The program has been used extensively in science education research and curriculum development. (Author/MSE)

Provides a set of guidelines and useful examples to help teachers assess the effectiveness of inquiry investigations. The authors focus on seven issues: (1) meaningful and accurate learning; (2) time; (3) cost; (4) safety; (5) level of difficulty; (6) preparation procedures; and (7) science activity resources. (ZWH)

This case study describes 1 teacher's implementation of a modified version of Glynn's Teaching-with-Analogies model with a grade-10 optics class on refraction of light. (PR)

A studyware comprising a set of interconnected modules on human physiology has been developed and used to improve undergraduate students' achievements. Study results show the scores of students who used the optional computer laboratory sessions were enhanced over those who did not use the studyware. Presents examples from the modules. (LZ)

A report of how literature books can be used to create authentic contexts for teaching science at the second-grade level is presented. Points out that, instead of relying on expensive technologies, teachers could use carefully selected reading materials to provide students with meaningful contexts for science learning activities. (LZ)

Reports on a study undertaken to validate the practicality of using the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (Perceived Form) (CLES) in a preservice elementary science methods course. Suggestions are made to potentially revise the CLES for more accurate measures in college classrooms. (LZ)

Attempts to develop an understanding of the activity-based learning approach adopted by teachers after they themselves experience hands-on science teaching. The case of a fifth-grade teacher who incorporated a hands-on approach for teaching science in the classroom after attending a workshop is discussed. (LZ)

Presents a narrative account of an activity designed to extend the understanding of both science curriculum and alternative assessment for prospective science teachers enrolled in an advanced undergraduate course. The activity models instructional practice in a methods class. (LZ)

Field tests of the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI) with (n=5,447) high school and college students in six countries furnished evidence that science laboratory classes are dominated by closed-ended activities and that females held generally more favorable perceptions than males. Describes the development and validation of SLEI.…