Outlines changes that have taken place in research methods that addressed the informal learning of science, particularly in the museum sector. Addresses perspective shifts, examines current issues, and suggests future directions for research. (Contains 63 references.) (SOE)

Analyzes student performance on solution calorimetry problems in an introductory university chemistry class. Includes data from written classroom exams for 207 students and an extensive longitudinal interview with a student. Indicates learning difficulties, most of which appear to originate from failure to understand, that net increases and…

Investigates student approaches to learning in a second year chemical engineering course by means of a qualitative research project which utilized interview and journal data from a group of 11 students. Identifies three approaches to learning: (1) conceptual; (2) algorithmic; and (3) information-based. Presents student responses to a series of…

Investigates the images of scientists held by Israeli preservice teachers, the majority of whom were female and either Hebrew- or Arabic-speaking. Uses the Draw-a-Scientist-Test (DAST) tool developed to test images of a scientist as perceived by the participants. Discusses different images in the two cultures. Includes recommendations for…

Explores the differences between science students' and teachers' perceptions of laboratory environments. Surveyed more than 1000 junior high school students and their science teachers in Taiwan and concludes that students are more dissatisfied with approaches to laboratory activities than their teachers. Suggests epistemological views as one of…

Investigates a group of women scientists' understanding of themselves and science. Uses a mixture of conventional qualitative research methods and techniques developed for use in psychotherapy. Discusses contradictory results to some of the assumptions on which past work on girls and science education is based. Explores implications of these…

Reports on a 4-year longitudinal case study of two Australian primary science teachers during transition from preservice to inservice teaching. Interprets teachers' change and professional growth as instances of sub-cultural border crossing and the role in their construction of the borders crossed by beginning teachers. Proposes ways of assisting…

Examines the existing relationship between the degree of structural coherence of 10th grade students' (n=155) preconceptions in mechanics and the viability of conceptual change both before and after teaching. Results show that students with the highest level of formal reasoning change their alternative conceptions more easily when they display a…

Investigates perceptions of the universe of (n=232) first-year physics students from two South African universities. Compared results with Aristotelian and Newtonian views as well as with those of children as revealed in a literature survey. Results also showed that a statistically significant larger number of African than European students have…

Examines 9th grade students' explanations of chemical reactions using two forms of open-ended essay questions, those providing students with key terms to be used as "anchors" on which to base their essay, and those that do not provide terms. Results indicate that more misunderstandings were elicited by the use of key terms as compared to the…

Investigates the effectiveness of Student-Team Achievement Division (STAD) for teaching chemistry in randomly selected high school classes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Also examines the differences among groups with regard to gender, geographic area, and ability. Findings indicate that STAD is a more effective teaching method than…

Investigates whether United Kingdom (UK) primary teachers are aware of the potential of highly able young scientists and whether they differentiate their teaching accordingly. Questionnaire answers suggest that teachers do use a variety of methods to differentiate their science teaching. There was, however, no correlation between teachers'…

Evaluates attitudes towards and achievement in science of Form 3 students studying in single-sex and coeducational schools in Brunei. Results demonstrated significant differences in attitudes towards and achievement in science of male and female students in single-sex schools and students in coeducational schools. (Contains 46 references.)…

Studies effective inquiry tasks through transforming content, scientific thinking, and resources featured in scientists' authentic practices. Investigates how 59 inner-city 6th grade students performed in real-time forecasting situations involving fronts and pressure systems. Results show that real-world situations that closely mapped onto…

Explains the design and development of an educational virtual environment to support the teaching of planetary phenomena, particularly the movements of Earth and the sun, day and night cycle, and change of seasons. Uses an interactive, three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment. Initial results show that the majority of students enthused about…