Discusses problems that have arisen between science educators concerning the topic of constructivism. Suggests that knowledge transmission should be viewed as one legitimate and recommendable type of science education in the 21st century. (MVL)

Describes a method of designing educational technology that is strongly informed by empirical studies of how students actually understand and use technology. Discusses what students need to know about software. (Author/CCM)

Describes Wavemaker, a simulation environment developed to graphically reveal the behavior of periodic systems using a series of increasingly sophisticated visual tools. Results indicate that the software is helpful in connecting real to simulated systems. (Author/CCM)

Provides an historical overview of the development of the motion picture as a tool within the context of science education. Examines the use of technology as a teaching tool in terms of scientific literacy and the means by which the motion picture helped to accomplish scientific literacy goals. (Author/CCM)

Describes gender differences in the use of online chat room tutorials by nontraditional chemistry students enrolled in distance-learning sections of a general chemistry course. (Author/CCM)

Presents some of the misconceptions school-age children have about issues related to global warming/global climatic change. Discusses strategies for mitigation. (Author/CCM)

Identifies the social dimensions of learning. Advocates a teaching approach that is sensitive to the various barriers encountered by a diverse body of students seeking to negotiate access into the subculture of school science. (Author/CCM)

Defines four key aspects of a new paradigm of learning: (1) the participatory mind; (2) nature, evolution, and learning; (3) the soul and learning; and (4) transformation. Argues that if students are to believe that what they are taught is worthwhile, they must be given the power to transform. Contains 23 references. (WRM)

Reports on a study that examined the prior use of simulation on frog dissection in improving students' actual dissection performance and learning of frog anatomy and morphology. Finds that students who performed the simulation before dissection performed significantly better than students who performed dissection before using the simulation or…

Reports on a study that examined the level of instructional use of the Internet among science teachers involved in an inservice professional-development project (n=90). Finds that classroom access, instructional experience using the Internet with students, availability of resource support, and number of teacher users at school are the best…

Reports on a study of seventh-grade life science students who received Science-Technology-Society (STS) instruction in their life science classes (n=264) versus students who received only instruction in life science content (n=136). Finds that the model of STS instruction employed significantly increased students' participation in citizenship…

Examines the role of empirical evidence in the interpretation of psychological and epistemological aspects of Piagetian theory. Concludes that Galileo's method of idealization has important implications for the construction of a neo-Piagetian epistemological theory. Contains 35 references. (Author/WRM)

Discusses leadership issues that arose during the creation and offering of an Internet-based course for high school chemistry teachers including course organization, recruiting students, and technological support available to participating students. (Author/WRM)

Discusses excerpts from Jupit Scientific's publication, "The Bible According to Einstein: A Complement to the Holy Bible for the Third Millennium." (WRM)

Reports on a study of alternative conceptions held by junior high-level secondary science teachers enrolled in an inservice teacher-training program. Finds that science teachers are inadequately prepared to teach a broad and balanced science curriculum. Contains 34 references. (Author/WRM)