Analyzes the evolution of the French physics curricula and experiments from the beginning of the century to the present. Shows the strong coherence of the aspects of energy presented through teaching content and experiments. (DDR)

Outlines a program that was designed to be the first step in the development of an academic home for informal science education at the New York University. Aims at taking advantage of nonformal educational resources and bridging the formal and nonformal systems in order to provide people with access to an understanding of science and technology.…

Explores the science content knowledge of elementary school teachers and its possible role in helping them teach effectively. Studies the issues in the context of an investigation of the views of elementary school teachers (n=106) who had participated in professional development courses that focused on the topic "natural and processed…

California's colleges and universities must share responsibility for preparing teachers who are knowledgeable about what they teach and proficient in how and whom they teach. Teacher preparation programs must recruit and train highly qualified teachers and strategically address public school needs. Higher education leaders must promote better…

Measures both teaching efficacy and the holding of specific alternative conceptions of preservice elementary teachers (N=619). Uses a survey to determine the relationship between teaching efficacy and certain alternative conceptions. Contains 77 references. (DDR)

Investigated Greek kindergarten teachers' science knowledge and how they use this knowledge in the classroom. Found that teachers' content knowledge in science and their understanding of the concepts they introduce in class are rather limited, and most teachers held ideas that do not coincide with current scientific ideas. Examined the sources and…

Examines the collaborative efforts of a mathematics educator and statistician to help prospective elementary teachers develop statistical knowledge and experience through merging statistical investigation into existing elementary curricula. Offers insight into preservice teachers' statistical and pedagogical content knowledge based on their…

Determines elementary teachers' knowledge of: current children's literature; children's books in six literary genres; and activities to promote students' recreational reading. Replicates a 1981 study to determine the level of knowledge possessed by today's teachers concerning children's literature and methods of increasing students' reading for…

Reports on a one semester course, "Earth Systems Science for Educators" designed to use an active learning approach to improve student knowledge of basic Earth science concepts. Reports that, based on pre- and post-course assessments of 108 elementary and middle-level education majors who took the class from 1998 to 2000, there was an average…

Highlights the issues raised with regard to preservice teacher confidence, attitude and course provision by the decision to expose them to deficits in their content knowledge at the beginning of their training period. (Author/MM)

Discusses a study that revealed that science teachers, like their students, are capable of handling positive experimental results but fail to evaluate negative results appropriately. Describes a teaching strategy designed to help teachers develop an understanding of the concept of negative results and to apply the idea to different contexts.…

In a recent report, EdSource examines how Californians' concern for teacher quality has created new tensions. The desire for stronger accountability and better teacher evaluation standards can compete (when allocating time, attention, and money) with the need for higher quality professional development. Accountability and teacher skills are…

Asserts that the central problem of the analysis by M. Wang, G. Haertel, and H. Walberg is that they tend to view the teacher, at least implicitly, as the compliant beneficiary of the knowledge of the educational researcher. Any knowledge base that aims to affect classroom practice should take into account and respect the teacher's world.…

Asserts that because M. Wang, G. Haertel, and H. Walberg never clarify the contours of their "knowledge base for school learning," it is difficult to know what their broad-based comparison of research studies has really yielded. Explores dilemmas posed by the methodology of the study. (SLD)

Addresses issues related to the ways teachers learn mathematics and the teaching of mathematics, and the relevance of those ways to their professional development. Mathematical experiences need to be congruous with the kind of teaching expected of the reflexive, adaptive teacher. Presents both practical and theoretical considerations of how these…