Describes the Museum Research Apprenticeship Program (MRAP) for high school students at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. Participating students learn scientific research methods and have a unique opportunity to work with scientists in the museum and in the field. Offers tips to teachers for designing apprenticeship programs locally with…

This paper describes a year-long project in a fifth grade classroom to investigate the recurring flooding of the Pecatonica River (Illinois) and its effects on plant and animal life. The project was funded by a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to involve elementary school classrooms with a consortium of museums in the…

THIS PAPER SUMMARIZES THE CURRENT STATE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES SINCE 1950. THE SEQUENCE OF TOPICS INCLUDES (1) HISTORY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES, (2) RATIONALE FOR CURRICULUM CHANGE, (3) COURSE CONTENT IMPROVEMENT GROUPS AND THEIR…

Reports on student attitudes toward science-technology-society (STS) after visiting a science-technology museum and considers what variable factors of the visitation impacted these attitudes. Results indicated that significant differences in attitudes were present between visiting and nonvisiting students and between grade levels. (TW)

Discusses a recent addition to the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) known as "Everyday Chemistry." This permanent exhibit on modern chemistry incorporates demonstrations of chemical reactions in ways intended to enhance public understanding. Describes the six cases in the exhibit and the automated aspects of their demonstrations.…

Nearly 100 teachers worked with staff members at the Exploratorium museum in San Francisco, California, to create scaled-down versions of Exploratorium exhibits that teachers could make on their own using common, inexpensive, readily-available materials. The experiments--called "snacks"--are divided into easy-to-follow sections that…

Discusses San Francisco's Exploratorium, a science teaching center with 500 exhibits focusing on human perception, but extending to everything from the mechanics of voice to the art of illusion, from holograms to harmonics. The Exploratorium emphasizes "simple science" (refractions/resonances, sounds/shadows) to tune in the senses and turn on the…

Presents the impressions of the 13-member American science education delegation to the People's Republic of China. Describes the precollege education in terms of quality, practices, extracurricular opportunities, and the new unified national curriculum. (SA)

Discusses the nature of bioregional education and describes a program at the Mather Museum in Cleveland. Students learned about the ecology of Lake Erie, environmental impact, and the roles of regulatory agencies and individual action in its preservation. Bioregional education focuses on the ethics of caring and an extended definition of…

Interactive science and technology centers are described that emphasize "hands-on" science. Examined are the outreach programs offered by many centers which include traveling exhibitions and published resource materials. Examples of follow-up activities to a center visit are included. (KR)

Examined is the contribution that hands-on, interactive centers can make to science education. The characteristics of informal and formal learning are compared and discussed. (KR)

Advocated is the use of interactive centers to supplement existing classroom laboratory experiences. Activities found in the center and modified classroom versions are described. The problems that arise when primary students meet sophisticated exhibits is discussed. (KR)

Discusses the current status and major issues affecting the quality and size of the human resources pool of scientists, engineers, and technical personnel. Indicates the role and strategies the National Science Foundation plans to take to address the deficiences. (RT)

Includes 14 reports on events, projects, and new publications on a variety of topics, including science and society; environmentally related indicators affecting human welfare; laboratory programs for European science journalists; programs for disadvantaged adolescents at science centers and youth museums; peer review in biomedical publication;…

Describes entertainment and leisure activities with an information content that serve as informal sources of scientific knowledge available to the community. Discusses the present lack of communication and cross-referencing among the diverse groups concerned with the informal presentation of science and calls for greater sharing of ideas, data,…