A sample of Australian Year-12 students (n=16) who participated in the TIMSS testing were interviewed immediately after the test about their responses to test items. Students had trouble relating TIMSS questions to generalized aspects of everyday life and to school science topics. Students seemed to place little value on performing well on the…

Fourth-year university students (n=12) in a secondary-science-education degree program in Singapore were interviewed after demonstrations of five familiar chemical reactions. The majority of interviewees used perceptually-dominated rather than conceptually-dominated thinking and were unable to use scientific concepts consistently across the five…

Argues that "connective specialization" could be the basis for a science curriculum that would provide people with the capabilities they will need throughout their working lives in the next century. Claims that science teachers need to see science in its relationship to other subjects and fields of study and that they must initiate strategies for…

Summarizes recent findings of empirical research in science education concerning students with disabilities. Discusses learning characteristics of disabled students, effective instructional strategies including text-based interventions and inquiry-oriented interventions, and inclusion practices. Contains 70 references. (WRM)

Uses a theoretical framework derived from Vygotsky's writings to review studies of science classroom discourse interactions between teachers and students. Suggests that shifting the research focus from isolated instructional activities to promote conceptual change toward viewing such activities in the critically influential context of an ongoing…

Describes British teenagers' (n=138) knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward biotechnology with particular reference to food production. Concludes that more than half the teenagers were familiar with the term "biotechnology," but most lacked detailed knowledge of the subject. Teens rated formal schooling in science as an important source of…

Reviews the history of environmental awareness and environmental education in Bangladesh. Presents a statement of the principal aims and objectives of environmental education at the primary level. (DDR)

Details an effort in Gambia to enable primary teachers to use a hands on-approach to science teaching. Discusses availability of equipment, improvisation, application, use of time, lack of confidence, and class size as concerns in this professional development effort. (DDR)

Examines those theories of learning that have laid the groundwork for classroom approaches that encourage students to become active learners. Summarizes the National Science Education Standards (NCES) Teaching Standards B. (DDR)

Presents an overview of science and technology teacher preparation in Asia that emphasizes the educational reforms taking place as influenced by socioeconomic developments and advances in science and technology. (DDR)

Explores the use of an impact evaluation model across time and clientele groups that is used to evaluate exhibits from two science centers in Manila. Questionnaire and interview data indicate that students prefer exhibits that produce sound, light, and motion. (DDR)

Studies a teacher's role and actions in a science learning community. Interprets two teaching episodes that illustrate how the teacher helps a group of students transform their understanding of electrical circuits. Contains 26 references. (DDR)

Relates the reasoning of students introduced to the concept of chemical equilibrium to the historical development of the concept. Concludes that the study of authentic historical sources may inspire the design of effective teaching activities. Contains 33 references. (DDR)

Suggests that the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) rank Western Australia as first in the world in science. Examines a statewide curriculum reform initiative that focuses on primary level science teacher leaders. Contains 27 references. (DDR)

Uses data from a survey of Perth lower secondary science teachers to reveal low levels of inquiry and determine the nature of the laboratory work undertaken by their students. Contains 29 references. (DDR)