Investigates whether gender stereotypes of boys outperforming girls in physics and girls outperforming boys in biology are still present. Considers the performance on individual question parts of an examination for 16-years-olds in the United Kingdom. Also considers the memory processes involved and related to gender differences in science…

Describes the Australian education system and changes that have occurred in the provision of primary and secondary science education in recent years. Discusses the introduction of science and technology as two of eight Key Learning Areas at the primary level, noteworthy in that it was the result of a national initiative in the education system,…

Paints a different picture of students' reasoning with meiosis as they solved complex, computer-generated genetics problems, some of which required them to revise their understanding of meiosis in response to anomalous data. Students were able to develop a rich understanding of meiosis and can utilize that knowledge to solve genetics problems.…

Explores how an inquiry-based demonstration classroom in-service program impacted the beliefs and practices of 14 secondary science teachers. Focuses on the in-service program participants' beliefs while in-class observations of participants documented their instructional practices. Discusses the effects of the program on the participants.…

Aims to acquire better understanding of how informal learning experiences may interface with classroom science instruction by investigating one aspect of science learning, that of scientific reasoning ability. Investigates possible differences in students' scientific reasoning abilities relative to their informal learning environments, classroom…

Describes a study of what conceptions student teachers hold about good primary science teaching and whether these conceptions change during preservice education. Concludes that entry conceptions dominated and learning frameworks did not appear to change. (Author/SAH)

Analyses the relationships between concepts describing the composition of matter that were proposed by a sample of prospective primary education teachers on a conceptual map. Content analysis shows that there are four equally representative categories. Describes the activities that were used with the prospective teachers concerning the…

Summarizes research findings and policy implications obtained over a 5-year period from the implementation of an In-Depth Expanded Applications of Science (IDEAS) model with average, above average, and at-risk students in grades 2-5. The IDEAS model replaced the time allocated to traditional reading/language arts instruction with a 2-hour time…

Evaluates a new version of software explicitly designed to make links with several external factors, in particular with another software application for supporting investigative work in practical science. Explores the contributions to the learning process made by the teacher, the student, and the software itself. (Author/SAH)

Reports and analyzes the day and night cycle, the seasons, and the phases of the moon as seen by Norwegian deaf pupils aged 7, 9, 11, and 17 years, and by hearing Norwegian pupils 9 years old. Among the 9-year-olds there was no difference in the inner coherence of the conceptions between deaf pupils. (Author/SAH)

Describes a science methods course for elementary education majors in which students investigated the phases of the moon. Concludes that students did not make direct connections between their science learning activities and the nature of science. Provides a set of recommendations related to the nature of science and moon study. (Contains 27…

Analyzes junior high school students' astronomy conceptions by means of a written questionnaire and delineates the main findings. Focuses on the effect on climate of the relative positions of the earth, moon and sun. (Contains 41 references.) (DDR)

Reports on a study of the relationship between written content and its illustration. Also explores the problem of image comprehension. The study involved students (n=78) in a teacher training course. Concludes that very strong inducements to attract attention to illustration must be included in the text. (Contains 35 references.) (DDR)

Discusses the results of a study that explored first year university students' ideas about measurement in the physics laboratory. Uses the 'point' and 'set' paradigms as a model to analyze responses to written probes. (Contains 21 references.) (DDR)

Presents the results of a two-year project to implement recommendations for reform of college-level introductory science courses. Studies student reactions in a course required for biology majors and concludes that critical thinking skills can be successfully integrated with the study of process in science. (Contains 30 references.) (DDR)