Reports on a study, Science for All Americans, by the AAAS. Notes this study is the first of three phases in Project 2061. Recommends science teaching should focus on connections rather than boundaries between traditional academic disciplines and should emphasize ideas and thinking rather than specialized vocabulary and memorized procedures. (MVL)

Investigated is the impact on attitudes of prospective elementary school teachers of pragmatic, success-oriented courses in science as prerequisites for entry into science methods courses. A need for exposing prospective teachers to instructional strategies and experiences which are consistent with teaching practices and curricula employed in a…

Stresses the need for chemical engineering education to keep abreast of current needs. Explores the need for global economics, marketing strategy, product differentiation, and patent law in the curriculum. Questions the abilities of current chemical engineering graduate students in those areas. (MVL)

Investigates the development of dynamics concepts with one group aged 12-14, and other group aged 14-16. Collects data from Assessment of Performance in Science tasks, Piagetian tasks, and classroom science curriculum. Discusses the interaction of cognitive development and classroom experience in the development of concepts. (Author/YP)

Discusses a teaching method using investigational skills for Nuffield A-level Physics including assessment technique, change of the assessment criteria, advice for choosing the topic, and future development. (YP)

Discusses the definition of scientific literacy, the curriculum of primary and secondary schools, scientists and teachers, cooperation with industry, and the resources and morale of teachers. (YP)

Notes the remarkable success of the astronomy component of the National Curriculum in England and Wales. Presents findings of a survey of children's astronomical beliefs, which are consistent with constructivist theory, and proposes the value of children's astronomy learning. Argues that a 1995 revision in the National Curriculum, which would…

Describes an introductory biology course designed to enhanced the science learning of elementary education majors. A consideration of students' learning styles and interests combined with a belief that science academic talent is not a selective process, resulted in a biology course that was academically challenging and enjoyable for students. (ZWH)

Diverts from the traditional approach to teaching ecology and moves toward a more interdisciplinary approach by engaging students in a field trip to the Rocky Mountains. Using examples and insights, the author describes and identifies opportunities for promoting knowledge, understanding, and awareness of the environment and its surroundings. (ZWH)

Two studies examined the construction of children's beliefs about projectile motion of a ball rolled off a table. Describes the concepts used by children, analyzes their use as a function of age, and gives a naturalistic description of their use. Results indicate that appropriate instruction can remediate misconceptions. (MDH)

Presents a project-based curriculum, Foundations of Science (FOS), that integrates the physical and biological sciences. Consists of three years of integrated science based on: integrating science disciplines, project-based science, inclusion of authentic problems, and routine uses of technology. (nine references) (JRH)

Presents a rubric scheme for assessing science process skills in an authentic science exercise. Discrete elements of each skill or task are identified in a binary fashion (yes/no) so that a scorer need only determine whether the element is present or absent. Thirteen science process skills are assessed with this scheme. (PR)

Examined is the wide range of statements of attainment in the National Curriculum that start with the phrase "be able to." A categorization of these statements is used to provide signposts for effective teaching and learning. The implications for in-service work and assessment arising from this categorization are considered. (KR)

Discusses the teaching of particle physics as part of the A-level physics course in British secondary schools. Utilizes the quark model of hadrons and the conceptual kinematics of particle collisions, as examples, to demonstrate practical instructional possibilities in relation to student expectations. (JJK)

A collaborative effort designed to combine the skills of scientists and educators to prepare science teachers is described. The cooperative effort between a scientist, a science educator, and a science teacher in teaching a course and in field supervision is discussed. Classroom environment, collaborative and cooperative instruction, and…