Reports on the productivity of different modes of classroom talk: whole class, pair work, and individual. Pair work was shown to provide the most optimum conditions for participant effort and productivity of ideas; however, each type of talk offers distinct benefits to teachers and students. Contains 25 references. (Author/WRM)

Describes the validity and reliability of the Self-Report Knowledge Inventory (SRKI) and the Opportunity to Learn Inventory (OTLI) as self-assessment tools. Both instruments were found to be friendly, relatively easy to design, easy to respond to, easy to score, time-saving, non-threatening, valid, and reliable for comparing and making decisions…

Describes qualitative and quantitative methods used to elucidate the nature of the perception of the water cycle held by Botswana primary-grade pupils in three different geographic areas. Concludes that the students' perception of the water cycle was positively influenced by schooling but negatively impacted upon, to some extent, by the untutored…

Describes the nature and development of concept cartoons as an innovative constructivist teaching and learning strategy. An evaluation of the use of concept cartoons in a wide range of teaching situations indicated that the response of teachers and learners to the cartoons was generally highly positive. Makes suggestions for implementing concept…

Presents the results of an analysis of science-classroom lab talk which focuses on topics and manner of talk as an approach to understanding the social context of undergraduate lab work. Argues that lab instructors should pay attention to how "scientific" the lab talk is, and to sociability among students. Contains 32 references. (Author/WRM)

Provides an overview of informal elementary science-education programs in the United States, and features a detailed description of the Hands on Science Outreach program. Presents insights for informal elementary science-education programs trying to maintain their unique niche while conforming to the new national standards in science education.…

Reports on a course at Saint Thomas University (Florida) for preservice and inservice elementary teachers that emphasizes science content, science-education methods, and technology under the umbrella of environmental science. Finds that students feel more prepared to teach using a hands-on science approach after taking the course. Contains 23…

Compares the content of conversations generated by elementary school groups at animatronic animal displays in a temporary zoo exhibit and in a permanent natural-history museum exhibit. Finds that moving animal models in themselves are insufficient to induce many visitors to talk about them in other than a superficial, cursory manner. Contains 17…

Compares the science locus of control and the past science experiences of a group of preservice teachers who had declared an academic concentration in science with elementary education majors in general. Finds that the science-concentration group reported more favorable science experiences from kindergarten through college. Contains 14 references.…

Examines the effects of previous experiences in science learning on prospective elementary teachers' interest and confidence in teaching science. Reports on the effect of an inquiry-based science methods course on teacher interest and confidence. Finds that elementary school experience, plus the number of science courses taken in college,…

Reports on a survey of the perceptions of teachers and scientists concerning the importance of science goals for elementary education. Finds that teachers perceive the goals developed by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) as more important than do scientists. Contains 20 references. (Author/WRM)

Examines adult attitudes toward wetlands in order to assess perceptions and thus educational failings as a barrier to wetland restoration. Finds relatively positive attitudes with significant differences between social groups and near-significant differences between genders. Contains 32 references. (Author/WRM)

Examines children's (n=306) drawings of a river basin to determine their understanding of scientific concepts related to the water cycle. Presents exemplars of five levels of understanding and analysis of the drawings' orientation and content. Contains 24 references. (Author/WRM)

Examines Polish students' (n=101) attitudes toward environmental threats. Finds that males and females, treatment and control groups, and students from different high schools ranked the top three threats based more on personal experience than on whether they had taken environmental-protection classes in school. Contains 26 references. (Author/WRM)

Evaluates concept maps (n=36) spontaneously constructed by applicants in a medical school entrance examination for content of relevant terms and the number of interrelationships indicated. Finds that merely including the relevant concepts in a map has little effect on the comprehension of those concepts, but map complexity is strongly related to…