Today's society is continuously coping with sustainability-related complex issues in the Science-Technology-Environment-Society (STES) interfaces. In those contexts, the need and relevance of the development of students' higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) such as question-asking, critical-thinking, problem-solving and decision-making…

Striving for sustainability requires a paradigm shift in conceptualization, thinking, research and education, particularly concerning the science-technology-environment-society (STES) interfaces. Consequently, "STES literacy" requires the development of students' question asking, critical, evaluative system thinking, decision making and problem…

This longitudinal case-study aimed at examining whether purposely teaching for the promotion of higher order thinking skills enhances students' critical thinking (CT), within the framework of science education. Within a pre-, post-, and post-post experimental design, high school students, were divided into three research groups. The experimental…

An element of current reform in science education worldwide is the shift from the dominant traditional algorithmic lower-order cognitive skills (LOCS) teaching, to the higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS)-promoting learning; that is, the development of students' capabilities including those of question asking (QA), critical/system thinking (CST),…

Focuses on the assessment of students' (N=138) versus their teachers' (N=8) self-perception of the latter's personal style in the context of science and mathematics teaching in college. Concludes that the teachers' preferred (ideal) and actual personal style profiles thus obtained indicate that there is good correspondence between the students'…

Studies the performance of freshmen biology and physics-mathematics majors and chemistry majors as well as pre- and in-service chemistry teachers at two Israeli universities on algorithmic (ALG), lower-order cognitive skills (LOCS), and higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) chemistry exam questions. Finds that students in both universities…

Assesses the conceptual change of teachers who have been involved in the development, implementation, field testing, and evaluation of several modules. Points out that the intrinsic nature of the STEMS (Science-Technology-Environment-Society) curriculum requires that the teachers who teach it also be the developers of its modules. (Contains 48…

Describes a study that used the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) to assess the disposition of Israeli eleventh-grade students toward critical thinking according to school type affiliate, scientific level, and gender. Argues for establishing a baseline reference for critical thinking disposition of high school students and…

Delineates some of the important difficulties that the reform of chemical education faces in Europe. Focuses on student perceptions of chemistry, the chemistry curriculum, and teacher training. (DDR)

Explores student performance in chemistry examinations on items that require higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) or lower-order cognitive skills (LOCS). Findings indicate that students performed considerably lower on questions requiring HOCS than on those requiring LOCS. Performance on questions requiring HOCS may not correlate with that on…

Describes factors to be considered before and during implementation of new curricula. Includes question lists and suggested strategies specifically for implementing new "teacher-proof" curricula. (SL)

Examines the major characteristics of the proposed second generation of science curricula for secondary schools, outlines the qualities, competencies, and teaching strategies of the "curriculum-proof" teacher, and makes suggestions for future pre-service and in-service teacher training programs. (JR)

Suggests that technology education is an essential component of future science curricula for non-science secondary students. Explores some of the important issues and problems, and suggests directives for action, in moving toward technology education in the high schools. (JR)

Describes a specially designed preparatory course in science and mathematics for relatively "unprepared" adult students in Israel. Compares the achievements of these students with the achievements of those identified as "prepared" according to their formal education and qualifications. (TW)

Presented is a case study of a Science/Technology/Society course. Described are the specific goals and objectives of the course and the design of the study. The results of the study and the validity and transferability of this type of assessment are discussed. (CW)