Results of this study suggest that simulation-role-play allows students to demonstrate their understanding, explore their views, and develop deeper understanding of phenomena. The technique was especially beneficial to students who prefer learning kinesthetically. Suggests a strategy for using analogical analysis in simulation-role-play. Contains…

Examines the role of practical activities in secondary science from an international perspective and contrasts this with a developing country perspective. In classroom studies of biology practical work, practical activities were found to be more effective in enhancing student achievement and skills than traditional didactic classroom approaches.…

Perceptions of students in a Year 10 classroom were compared with those of their teacher at each of six schools with regard to the aims, regularity, conduct and assessment of laboratory work. Students in five of the schools had statistically different views from their teacher about the relative importance of 10 aims of laboratory work,…

Examines student conceptions of their experiences with science, describes the variety of those conceptions over the years of schooling, and investigates patterns across those years. Six categories of conceptions were found, each portraying essential meanings of science. Results suggest making modern philosophical views of the nature of science…

Research into primary teachers' understanding of concepts in science and technology provided information on teachers' confidence in teaching science, their understanding of a range of key ideas, and their own educational background in science. Teachers expressed low confidence in teaching science but also claimed not to find great difficulty in…

Critically analyzes the core ideas of chaos theory to determine whether they are worth teaching and explores the accessibility of these ideas for students. The studies are embedded in a Model of Educational Reconstruction which seeks to bring science content structure concerns and educational concerns into balance and interaction with one another.…

Discusses the articulation between teaching and learning, how to differentiate them, and how to establish relations between them as it pertains to aspects of knowledge. Aims to develop teaching situations more relevant to learning. Teaching is associated with knowledge to be taught, knowledge sequencing, and teaching situations. Learning is…

Presents results from empirical studies of physics learning for different age groups using a situated cognition perspective to construct detailed understandings of how individual learning processes unfold. Contains 35 references. (PVD)

Reports on studies that examine reasons and justifications trainee science teachers give for the ways they conduct practical work. A case for the reevaluation of practical work in science education is made and it is argued that science teacher behavior is best understood anthropologically. Implications for mentoring and school-based training are…

Beneath elements of cognitive development, motivation is seen as a basic concept to describe students' learning in a physics classroom. German secondary school students regard physics as difficult to learn, very abstract, and dominated by males. Knowing about the influence of motivation on learning physics may lead to new insights in the design of…

Describes an inservice training course for science teachers that is based on the view that most issues of classroom practice are issues of pedagogy, methodology, and subject knowledge. Teachers selected issues of direct concern to their daily work, performed research by methods of action research, analyzed their findings, took appropriate action,…

Research on students' causal reasoning was used to design a sequence for teaching electricity. Students' responses suggest that several students, when they construct microscopic mechanisms to explain electrical phenomena, may envision transient states and employ a specific type of causal chain--the iterative one--in addition to simple and linear…

Explores different curricular emphases in processes and content which reflect different goals and educational research traditions. Problem solving remains neglected in both areas. Draws on situated learning and social constructivist literature to provide insights into problem solving in technology education. Contains 54 references. (Author/PVD)

Gives background information on the development of the Science Across Europe (SAE) project and its goals, which include creating a global dimension to education, raising awareness of how science and technology affect society, and providing opportunities to communicate with other countries. Presents information for educators in the sciences,…

Presents the findings of a qualitative study carried out in a poor and problematic area of Brazil to investigate whether constructivist teaching practices are evident in the daily lessons in state elementary schools. Some teachers were found to employ genuinely constructivist methods. Analyzes the theoretical background, methodology, and…