Explains how geology has been ignored as a pre-college science subject. Examines some of the historically-based influences that have affected its status within the educational system. Suggests that geology, as a science, having been treated as being derived from physics, is a key factor which is supported by episodes in which geology and physics…

Presents a dramatization of a fictitious debate about the age of the earth that takes place at the Royal Institution, London, England, in the year 1872 among Sir William Thomson, T.H. Huxley, Sir Charles Lyell, and Hermann von Helmholtz. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/YDS)

Describes a seminar course using Galileo's book "Two New Sciences" as an instructional tool to give students insight into the Greek's achievement in science. Includes references. (Author/YDS)

Offers a psychological role that external representations can play in the process of refining intuitive ideas into scientific knowledge. Presents an argument for this role through historical analysis of Galileo's ramp experiments, then through documentation of an innovative 6th grade classroom activity. (Contains 19 references.) (Author/YDS)

Presents a theoretical framework that provides foundations for school science and defines some research problems. Begins with what is already known about students' models and cognition in order to construct proposals of didactical intervention. Proposes an analogous model for school science in which experimentation and language play the key roles.…

Considers the translation from Latin of Newton's First Law (NFL) in an historical perspective. Shows that Newton's original yields two versions of complimentary meanings, one temporal and the other quantitative. Reviews the presentation of NFL in physics textbooks and notes a decline in the status of NFL in the physics curriculum. (Contains 72…

Explores how Carnot's and Monge's mathematical endeavors responded to social, political, and technological developments in French society; how these concerns were reflected in the education reforms that they carried through; and how absolutely essential the new educational arrangements were for the reception and transmission of the conceptual…

Considers how theories of learning can inform the practice of science teaching in formal settings and describes two broad strands of learning theory that have been drawn upon in science education, namely individual and sociocultural views. Shows how aspects of both views can usefully inform understanding of teaching and learning in science in…

Examines case examples from India to call attention to the significance of cultural representations of science in science education reform efforts. Concludes that the public belief in what does and does not constitute science has implications for the teaching and learning of science within each society. (Contains 35 references.) (Author/YDS)

The chapters in this book reflect the work of science and mathematics educators who have worked for many years at the international level. As members of the International Consortium for Research in Science and Mathematics Education, their work provides readers with issues, models, practices, and research results that have applicability and…

This paper reports on a study to examine mental computation strategies used by Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 students to solve addition and subtraction problems. The participants in this study were twenty five 7 to 9 year-old students identified as excellent, good and satisfactory in their mathematics performance from a school in Penang, Malaysia.…

The objective of this study was to improve students' attitudes toward science using instructional congruence. The study was conducted in Malaysia, in three low-performing secondary schools in the state of Penang. Data collected with an Attitudes in Science instrument were analysed using Rasch modeling. Qualitative data based on the reflections of…

The change in the language of instruction for Mathematics under PPSMI had been opined to prejudice learners' achievements due to their weakness in the subject matter as well as in English. This study sought to analyse 186 urban and rural Primary 4 pupils' Mathematics achievements in tests using English and English/Bahasa Malaysia presentations.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in novice and experienced mathematics teachers' questioning techniques. This study was conducted in Sarawak where ten (experienced and novice) teachers from two schools underwent the lesson study process for fifteen months. Four data collection methods namely, observation, interview, lesson…

Teaching thinking skills to students is often associated with a thinking strategy or a specific thinking technique. The strategy or technique may refer to a series of steps that is systematically drawn up to ensure that the teaching of thinking skills takes place effectively. In the case of Malaysia, a conceptual framework of Thinking Skill…