Addresses the identification of qualitatively different types of interest in physics among students aged 12-16. Characterizes these types in terms of preferred interest pattern, age and gender distribution, and physics-related self-concepts. Contains 19 references. (DDR)

Studies memories of exhibits to explore the contribution of science centers to scientific literacy in the general population. Visitors participated in a structured interview about two exhibits they found interesting at the time of the initial visit and one month later. (Author/SAH)

Explores the most appropriate form of activities to help children develop science concepts. Provides arguments and evidence from a pilot study that point to the significance of wonder for the invitation of children to the world of science. Argues that activities that do not appear to be pedagogically appropriate should not be excluded from…

Scientific inquiry provides the framework for the content and strategies recommended in the National Science Education Standards (NRC 2000). It's a hot topic at workshops and conferences, and many feel a bit guilty that they aren't doing more of it. Why is scientific inquiry currently at the forefront of science education reform? Inquiry works!…

Scientific learning in the early years quite correctly focuses on the development of skills. However, at this stage of learning, science should also be about developing motivational attitudes to encourage children to explore the world around them and convince them that science is an exciting subject. Practical experiential play activities do this…

The University of California faces the challenge of increasing the diversity of students graduating from its medical schools while also adhering to mandated restrictions on the use of race or ethnicity in the admissions process. Students from diverse backgrounds who gain admission as undergraduates to UC Berkeley and express an early interest in a…

Using meta-analysis, we revised Ackerman and Heggestad's (1997) identification of four trait complexes that propose personality and interest (P-I) linkages. Studies that had reported correlations between general and specific measures of vocational interests (Strong Interest Inventory [Strong; Hansen & Campbell, 1985; Harmon, Hansen, Borgen,…

How to make learning more interesting is a basic challenge for school education. In this Finnish study, the international ROSE questionnaire was used to survey, during spring of 2003, the relationship between interest in biology and out-of-school experiences for 3626 ninth-grade pupils. Interest and experience factors were extracted by using the…

Future Blogs was developed through collaboration between the Royal Society of Chemistry and The Brightside Trust. It is an innovative e-mentoring scheme that links pupils studying chemistry with mentors from universities or industry and is based on the Bright Journals e-mentoring programme (an e-mentoring scheme targeted at 14-18 year olds…

Designed for students in grades 4-6, the teaching unit presents illustrations and facts about snakes. Topics include common snakes found in the United States, how snakes eat, how snakes shed their skin, poisonous snakes, the Eastern Indigo snake, and the anatomy of a snake. A student page includes a crossword puzzle and surprising snake facts. A…

Male freshmen entering the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, during the fall semester 1969 were administered the SVIB and Minnesota Counseling Inventory. The resulting data were compared to college students not majoring in engineering. (Author)

The purpose of the study was to examine science interest and attitude traits in students subsequent to the study of chemistry using the Nuffield Chemistry Program and revised non-Nuffield study schemes. The results indicated the present non-Nuffield courses favor the formation of positive science interest/attitude characteristics more strongly…

Reported is a study to investigate the relationship of science interest with three instrument formats: scaled rating, block, and card sort. The scaled rating format was the same form as that used in Likert instruments. The block format was the graphic form used in the typical semantic differential where a single stem or concept is followed by…