The Alaska Science Consortium, the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative (AKRSI), and the Alaska Department of Education have collaborated on developing standards-based, culturally relevant science curricula that effectively integrate indigenous and Western knowledge. This handbook is designed to assist teachers in developing and teaching culturally…

This handbook is designed to help readers understand the educational philosophy and practice of the PEACHES (Primary Explorations for Children and Educators in Science) and GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) programs, and to assist in using GEMS/PEACHES teachers' guides in schools and child care centers. The handbook outlines techniques…

The purpose of this paper is to report on the progress of work done by the Consortium for Policy Research in Education on developing valid yet efficient measures of instructional content and its relationship to assessment and standards. The goal is to help develop new methodologies to assess the relationships between what is taught and what is…

This document presents the revised Arkansas Science Curriculum Framework (1999), which replaces the Science Curriculum Framework of 1994. Three strands--physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems--were identified using an integrated approach to provide guidance in the science curriculum. A glossary and…

This document explains the Arkansas science benchmarks for grades 5-8 which were developed to provide guidance to science teachers. The content standards for three strands--physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems--were identified based on grade levels. (YDS)

The need for the exploration of phenomena in students' daily lives requires effective approaches in inquiry-based science education for minority and urban students. There are few descriptions of students' initial attempts at inquiry, especially among urban school students. This study focuses on seventh and eighth grade students, and investigates…

This paper reports on research conducted to determine whether science curriculum reform efforts in Korea have had a positive effect on the classroom learning environment from a constructivist point of view. The Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) was administered to 1083 students and 24 science teachers in 12 different schools. One…

Today university students are demanding a greater say in their tertiary education. In particular they are demanding a greater flexibility in the way they receive their instruction, and it is imperative that course delivery strategies that fulfil these expectations are investigated. On-line delivery of learning materials offers teacher and students…

This digest describes an interdisciplinary approach to instruction based on the relationship between reading, writing, and arithmetic. Questions related to which language learning strategies apply to mathematics, the perspectives of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) regarding this approach, the impact of reading on…

Determines effect of a process-oriented science curriculum on students' (N=83) ability to transfer and utilize problem-solving skills, and the relation of basic and integrated processes to the development of those skills. Discusses methodology and implications for teaching problem solving, stressing the need for process-oriented curricula.…

Suggesting that the scientific community must provide leadership to improve science education, discusses various issues in science, chemistry, and chemical education and the role of professional organizations (particularly the American Chemical Society) and its members in achieving educational goals by cooperative efforts and interactions with…

Examined relationship between cognitive requirements of two chapters of a physics textbook for biology/pre-med students and their ability to use prerequisite reasoning skills required for its understanding. An average of 42 percent of students tested did not consistently use reasoning skills required to understand text concepts. Discusses tests…

Traces the development of the current understanding of what "literacy" in science should be. Offers viewpoints that "basic" components of biology should include the nature of science, the way it functions, and other nonconceptual dimensions of biology. (CS)

Describes activities of the nine Centers and one Day Care Center (in England and Wales) sponsored by the Field Studies Council. Focuses on inservice teacher education courses and center-run courses in environmental subjects. Includes a sample outline for a one-week course, indicating exercises/principles and instructional strategies for each day.…