Describes the structure of an in-depth laboratory project chemical engineering. Provides modeling work to guide experimentation and experimental work on heat transfer analysis. Discusses the experimental results and evaluation of the project. (YP)

Explores the reasons why science should be taught to all school students and what the science curriculum should look like. Discusses three aspects of an understanding of science: understanding of science content, understanding of the methods of inquiry used in science, and understanding of science as a social enterprise. (JRH)

Investigates difficulties in thinking about interactions between variables and suggests remedial educational means. Reports that expert thinkers demonstrate thinking about interactions at both an operational and metastrategic level. Lay adults, however, encounter substantial difficulties in drawing valid interaction inferences while engaged in an…

Describes a project that introduces students to the field of biotechnology and provides them with an understanding of the basic principles and techniques as well as an opportunity to participate in experimental methodology. Presents specific science projects that deal with polymorphism in the lipase gene and the genetic engineering of a lipase…

This activity attempts to address a lack of emphasis in most science curricula on the microbial activity that determines soil's health. Presents an experiment that involves students in seeing how the enzyme assay is used as an indicator of soil quality and microbial activity. Contains procedures and discussion questions. (LZ)

A review of existing K-8 science curriculum materials, carried out under the National Science Curriculum Project for High-Ability Learners, found that existing basal textbooks fail to meet new science curriculum standards for all students but particularly for high-ability learners. Modular programs and supplementary materials were generally…

Presents two separate models for implementing a hands-on calculus-based introductory physics course. Included in the discussion are context; purpose; topics; implementation of model one and two; and conclusion. (ZWH)

In this investigation, students with mental retardation were observed over a two-year period in order to determine how the characteristics of mental retardation manifested themselves in the context of an inquiry-oriented, hands-on science curriculum. Implications for teaching science to students with mental retardation are provided. (LZ)

Outlines the development of the social responsibility of science movement and associated developments in teaching and reviews some of the materials available in light of the social responsibility of science. Provides a curriculum development framework illustrated by the example of the issue of biological diversity. (32 references) (Author/MKR)

This article describes the recruitment and selection methods, reports how the students handled the course requirements, summarizes the feedback from the teachers, and discusses the successes and failures in achieving the goals of the astronomy master's program for middle school and high school teachers at the University of Arizona in Tucson. (MVL)

Describes activities for helping students learn the metric system. Suggests teachers use metric units in ordinary conversation. Describes a homework assignment for students to make 20 metric measurements. Provides instructions on conducting a "TV studio" style game that is played on Metric Day (October 10th). (PR)

Describes the development of a valid and reliable method to quantitatively analyze the content of science textbooks, especially those used in middle and senior high school science courses. The approach employed four aspects of scientific literacy to determine curriculum balance in textbooks. (KR)

Describes the science program, Science Community Year, that focuses on the improvement of science learning of all students by creating a learning community within the college. Discusses program cost, effectiveness, design, and student perceptions. (ZWH)

Delineates various conceptions of curriculum and uses one of these conceptions as basis for the development of a classroom learning environment instrument. Provides an overview of how a curriculum can be conceived as a social construction that arises through interaction of participants and explains how this instrument might be used by teachers and…