Discusses how evolution and natural selection should be taught in the classroom. Presents a study investigating the effects of a nontraditional curriculum including creation stories on student attitudes toward evolution. Reports that a curriculum with creation stories is more effective in fostering scientific views about evolution. (Contains 22…

Explores the nature and type of evidence employed by participants in an issue of public concern. Examines how the different types of evidence were brought to bear on a socio-scientific issue involving environmental regulatory policy and the implications of this for school science curricula. (Contains 33 references.) (Author/YDS)

Defines the changes in the nature of biology during the past 50 years and relates biology to science education. Argues that biology curriculum should focus on human beings and the realities of life and living. (YDS)

Investigates pupils' perceptions of their experience with school science. Documents a range of views that pupils held about the science curriculum, aspects they found either interesting and/or valuable, and their views about its future content. Conducts 20 focus groups with 144 16-year-old students. Pupils' perspectives of school science reveal…

Describes a successful pilot program to develop and test a program that facilitates the linking of undergraduate research and education through radio astronomy. Based on the pilot experiences, students everywhere should be able to exploit the opportunity to strengthen their education through practical research using radio astronomy. (Author/SAH)

Describes a method of instructing students with a range of abilities that involves dividing the curriculum into layers. Provides a discussion of four steps for differentiating a science curriculum. Features of this approach include student choice of assignments based on their ability and motivation; oral evaluation of student assignments; and the…

Responses from 213 of 259 Arkansas agriculture teachers demonstrate strong support for granting science credit for agriculture. The most powerful predictors of support were perception of student benefits, enhancement of agriculture's status, and no adverse impact on existing agriculture programs. (SK)

Provides a description of a project used in the Cool Science and Technology Camps in which campers are presented with the challenge of developing and marketing their own brand of window cleaner. Topics such as chemistry, marketing, and cost analysis are intertwined as students prepare and plan their approach to product development. (DDR)

Provides the results of a study designed to inventory and collect descriptive information about ecotourism and those institutions that offer such courses in the United States. Twenty-one programs that currently offer at least one ecotourism or nature-based tourism course are identified. (DDR)

Describes four projects: (1) using diagnostic assessment to improve science learning; (2) issues in the implementation of evidence-based approaches in science education; (3) teaching pupils 'ideas-about-science'; and (4) understanding the researcher-user interface. Describes projects that are focused on curriculum development and explores how…

Identifies Leader Master Teachers' (LMTs) perceptions of restraining and driving forces in the implementation of an elementary-level science systemic reform initiative. A group process technique utilizing Lewin's force-field analysis concept provided the framework for professional development activities for 124 LMTs. Categories of supporting and…

Discusses the conflict of creation versus evolution in education and challenges biology teachers in building a learning environment. Investigates the beliefs and ways of managing conflict of conservative Christians who were science teachers, future science teachers, science teacher educators, and scientists. Warns teachers against using strong…

Argues that instead of defining scientific literacy in terms of specifically prescribed learning outcomes, scientific literacy should be conceptualized broadly enough for local school districts and individual classroom teachers to pursue the goals that are most suitable for their particular situations along with the content and methodologies that…

The main problems of science teaching in Germany are students' lack of interest and motivation and their poor understanding of scientific concepts, ideas, methods, and results. Lists examples from science curricula and textbooks and describes some reform projects in Germany. Proposes a compensatory program in order to create prerequisites for…

Describes the Scope, Sequence, and Coordination (SS&C) reform movement. Points out the limited science opportunities for minority students in traditional high school settings. First published in 1995. (YDS)