Describes writing environmental impact statement concerning land use as assignment in geology courses. Students select area, propose land-use project, analyze available literature, choose specific site within map area for project, and write report addressing site access, water supply, liquid and solid waste disposal, mitigation of environmental…

This paper reviews attempts to introduce writing skills to undergraduate geoscience students, reports on the status of technical writing in geoscience curriculum, and describes a fully integrated approach to writing across the geosciences curriculum, based on a required sophomore-level technical writing course. The technical writing course leads…

Based on their experiences the authors contend that increased emphasis on communication skills in the geologic curriculum results in the graduation of better geologists. The authors describe writing assignments, including first-year one-page papers, upper-level assignments, memos, oral presentations, projects, field notebooks, and senior thesis.…

Describes the Malaysian Education System and the reform work on the secondary school science curriculum that began in 1967. (PR)

This article attempts to help teachers conceptualize science-related social issues and provides assistance in teaching such issues. Two teaching approaches are recommended: the case study approach and the investigation skills approach. Instructional goals are outlined, and each of the two teaching approaches is analyzed. (IAH)

This study found that mainstreamed fourth- and sixth-grade students with learning disabilities had significant weaknesses on a science curriculum-based assessment relative to nondisabled peers, and they rated themselves and were rated by their teachers more negatively. Mismatches were revealed in the perception of the student and teacher regarding…

Explains the importance of introductory science courses and presents characteristics of exemplary courses. (PR)

Examines the research literature in science education to determine how appropriate it is for teaching science to young children 3-5 years of age. In the context of this discussion, a model for the teaching of science in early childhood is presented. For clarity and continuity, the example of teaching electricity is used throughout. (PR)

The Subsistence Science and Video Project allows Alaska Native high school and college students to carry out field studies in basic and ocean science on St. Lawrence Island and to document their learning on videotape. The goal is a culturally relevant science program that links Western science with traditional subsistence activities. (LP)

Assessed the impact of intensive one-week "An Integrated Mathematics and Science" (AIMS) institutes on participant satisfaction and on actual classroom practices during the year following the institute. Findings indicate that participating teachers (n=142) had a high degree of satisfaction. Changes in teaching and content were made by…

This paper considers the challenge confronting educators when considering the impact of risks generated by science and technology on the lives of citizens. (PR)

Describes an activity having students use a microscope to observe the "hooks" and "loops" found in Velcro and on the seeds of the cocklebur plant. (PR)

Suggests that disinterest in physics occurs because students and adults can apply everyday concepts to solve problems without understanding the underlying physics concepts. Proposes Wagenschein's Exemplary-genetic Method to teach physics and illustrates the method with examples taken from history. (MDH)

Explores high school student's postinstructional knowledge about mass, volume, weight, and density in terms of what students need to know to successfully solve academic physical science problems. Presents definitions of the concepts, discusses hypothesized knowledge deficiencies, and suggests implications for instructional design. (Contains 31…

Presents an activity in which students in grades 5-8 learn about snail reproduction by observing and charting the activities of land snails, freshwater snails, and slugs. Instructions to implement and extend the activity are provided. (MDH)