Describes a learning activity that allows participants to role play both dysfunctional and constructive roles during a group task, illustrating how group success depends on the attitudes and actions of its members. Includes instructions for the learning activity, questions for debriefing, and follow-up activities. (LP)

Investigated features of the classroom- and school-level psychological learning environments in some secondary schools in Ondo State, Nigeria. It was found that age of a school has no effect on classroom- and school-level psychosocial learning environments. The presumed superiority of old schools over new schools in the provision of favorable…

Investigated the nature, expectations, and experiences of "mature" (over 25-years old) entrants to teaching shortage subjects (n=676). Among the reported findings is that most of these students felt the emphasis on teacher education should remain on the notion of practice. (PR)

Describes the findings of secondary analysis of data from the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU) Science. The most striking feature of the study is the extremely low level of scores obtained for questions which invite a written response. The results also clearly show the consistent negative reaction of girls to the technical context of…

Presents results of a survey to science education tutors in university departments of education in the United Kingdom (43 responses). Among the conclusions was the most frequent strategy for raising issues of race, and science teaching appears through analysis of texts for bias or stereotyping and through discussion of the nature of science. (PR)

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

Explores the relationship between television viewing preferences and interest in science among 11- to 15-year olds (n=5432). After controlling for age, sex, and social class differences, the data demonstrate a negative relationship between attitude toward science and watching soap operas, a positive relationship with current awareness programs and…

Presents an evaluation of a correlational reasoning module using content from a variety of topics implemented in 12 grade 9/10 classrooms. Among the findings are that performance on a multivariate correlational task increased substantially and the average treatment student scored higher than 99% of those in the control condition. (PR)

Reports an investigation of participation in combinations of subjects in senior secondary schools in Australia which embody different science orientations. This study shows that different combinations of factors shape participation in "physical science" and "biological and other science" types of courses. (PR)

Presents samples of educational material adapted for laboratory use on the subject of the pH scale, dilution skills, and their relevance to biology. The experiments were developed for use in both ninth-grade heterogeneous and tracked classes in biology. Students were assessed for academic achievement in relation to their operational reasoning…

This study developed performance assessments from hands-on instructional activities and examined their reliability and validity for obtaining individual achievement data. Ethnic group comparisons indicated that Anglos scored higher, on average, than Latinos on all achievement measures. The magnitude of differences varied by curricular experiences…

Data from students in grades 8-10 in suburban schools were presented to show that errors in formulating algebraic equations are not primarily the result of syntactic translation, as has been assumed in the literature. A theory of cognitive models is offered as an explanation for the errors. (Contains 37 references.) (MLN)

Used open-response written instruments (n=33) and interviews (n=8) to investigate understanding of connectedness within and between procedural and conceptual knowledge in division and knowledge of units. Found knowledge of symbols and algorithms was good but conceptual knowledge was weak. Concerns about individual differences emerged. (GW)

Investigated strategies that 7- to 12-year-old children (n=96) spontaneously applied in solving novel combinatorial problems. With experience in solving two-dimensional problems, children were able to refine their strategies and adapt them to three dimensions. Results on some problems indicated significant effects of age. (Contains 32 references.)…

Discusses these questions related to mathematics education research: (1) What is the object of study in mathematics education? (2) What are the aims of research? (3) What are the research questions or problematiques? (4) What are the results? and (5) What criteria should be used to evaluate the results? (MDH)