Students crave problem-solving strategies that promise increased achievement on tests. Student ambitions seem to align with teacher goals, yet students resist using these strategies for various reasons. We seek to establish a pedagogy modifying student behavior so they are more likely to use any strategy a teacher deems useful. (Contains 1 figure…

Success of high school students in solving physics questions of student selection examination (OSS) that has to be taken by high school students before entering the Turkish universities have been investigated with regard to these questions to be solved by students and suitability to high school physics curriculum and factors affecting students…

In Zimbabwe the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge in science education to reflect local cultural settings cannot be overemphasized. Current policies on science are situated in Western cultural definitions, thus marginalizing indigenous knowledge, which is misconceived as irrational and illogical. This study used qualitative research…

Riparian ecosystems are an exciting and dynamic subject for study. These areas are valuable lands and important wildlife habitats, and they contribute greatly to the environmental health of an area. Definitions for the term "riparian" vary, but in this curriculum, the land called the "Green Zone" lies between flowing water and upland ecosystems.…

As instructional philosophies proliferate, elementary teachers are increasingly active as curriculum makers. Interconnecting the elements of unit planning is essential to dynamic teaching and meaningful learning. To be effective, unit planning must: (1) focus on substance and identify major concepts and generalizations; and (2) design activities…

The overall theme of the 7th International Organization for Science and Technology Education (IOSTE) symposium was "science and technology education in a demanding society". The aim of the symposium was to examine the state of science and technology education in the context of the main theme and to reflect on desirable and feasible educational…

The ability to utilize and change energy is one of the most fundamental characteristics of living things. Plants have the unique ability to change light energy into the chemical energy on which human beings depend for such things as fuel and food. Through the activities in this book students examine how plants and other living things use and…

This document is a collection of papers dealing with science achievement and teaching and learning strategies. The first paper, "Quality in the Science Curriculum," discusses quality objectives, quality learning opportunities, quality methods of instruction, quality in the philosophy of education, and quality evaluation procedures. It argues that…

This guide provides lessons that enable students to learn how important it is for each of us to take care of the environment by minimizing the problems caused by too much trash. In the 10 lessons included here, students and their families learn how they can be part of the solution by practicing source reduction and by reusing, recycling, and…

During the early 1980s there was a lack of research regarding gender issues for early childhood and elementary education. This document attempts to fill this chasm by addressing gender issues in science and technology for primary education schooling and early-years education. The following chapters are included: (1) "Science and Technology in the…

ChemSource is designed as a strategy to help preservice and inservice high school chemistry teachers promote student learning more effectively. Its major premise is that well-designed laboratory investigations are an important avenue for cultivating student interest, engagement, and meaningful learning in chemistry. The SourceBook component of…

The goal of this guide is to address a major environmental dilemma: worldwide habitat destruction and the disappearance of species. This guide is one of six that are included in the Habitat Ecology Learning Program (HELP), a holistic life science curriculum that involves students in an in-depth study of ecology. HELP includes six teaching guides…

The goal of the conference reported in this document was to initiate major revitalization of freshman science by bringing together individuals who have been working to improve introductory courses with research faculty who may or may not have been actively involved in the teaching of these courses. This report tries to capture the spirit and the…

This packet was designed to help teachers maximize a visit to a zoo's Africa exhibit. The packet provides two levels of activities, grades 3-5, and grades 6-8, for use before, during and after the visit. Activities are designed to enhance skills taught in science, social studies, language arts, reading, art, and math. A multi-grade background…

Two classroom case studies are used to investigate common concerns about the use and value of Science-Technology-Society (STS) themes as curriculum organizers. The author discusses the fear that a focus on STS may de-emphasize science concept learning in the overall curriculum, and suggests that this may be appropriate at the middle school level.…