Examines the possible influence of locus of control orientation and its relationship to critical aptitudes and developmental variables. Studies six discriminator variables in order to predict an understanding of the nature of science among preservice elementary teachers with respect to locus of control orientation. (CW)

Describes a model of inservice education designed to increase opportunities for teacher interaction and the availability of instructional resources. Emphasizes teacher control. Discusses workshops, school visits, and computer conferencing. Presents an analysis of the participation of teachers in computer conferencing following the workshop. (CW)

Presents the background, methodology and results of a controlled study of student achievement and behavior comparing a traditional teacher-centered class to one in which students participated in cooperative learning. Reports the results for academic achievement as inconclusive and on-task behavior as significantly better for the cooperative…

Describes a study designed to compare student success in a concept mapping exercise with the cognitive preference of the student, and to determine whether students achieve better using individualistic or cooperative learning modes in the concept mapping exercise. Discusses the background, methodology and results. (CW)

Investigates several aspects of undergraduate students' rules for projectile motion including general patterns; rules for questions about time, distance, solids and liquids; and changes in rules when asked to ignore air resistance. Reports approach differences by sex and high school physics experience, and that novice rules are situation…

Documents the patterns of coherence and persistence in energy conceptions. Describes the derivation of the Interview Vee technique and the procedure for putting an interview on the Vee. Discusses the production of Vee maps to help understand childrens' learning of concepts. (CW)

Identifies world views projected in teacher talk and examines the links between these world views and content areas. Finds that the character of classroom discourse is different from the character of text presentation and that there are subject area differences. (YP)

Examines the reading level and potential comprehension level of 10 fourth-grade science textbooks. Reports that there is a great deal of variability between and within the science texts. (YP)

Identifies some of the problems of attitude assessment in science education. Describes the development of the Attitude Toward the Subject Science Scale (ATSSS) and gives an overview of the Ajzen and Fishbein attitude theories. Provides five sample items. (YP)

Analyzes demographic data about secondary science methods faculty regarding the faculty member's professional preparation, content of the methods course, secondary teaching experience, and information about the individual. Some implications for teacher education are included. (YP)

Analyzes the concept of teaching from various aspects. Reviews research on students' conceptions of natural phenomena, conceptual change, and teacher thinking. Suggests an appropriate conception of teaching science. (YP)

Reviews the literature on secondary teachers' planning and decision making related to academic work in science, and on the socialization and professional development of beginning teachers. Suggests conditions for the professional success and continuing growth of beginning science teachers. (YP)

Develops an experimental teaching method emphasizing the nature of functions including graphical representation in an introductory college physics course (mechanics). Examines the effects of this method on student's problem solving and attitude toward physics. (YP)

Examines childrens' (age 8-14) conceptions of shadow formation through interviews. Identifies "the trigger model" of shadows and finds that there are multiple roles that children attribute to light. (YP)

Investigates the influence of the student teaching experience on the change in attitude toward classroom management in secondary preservice science teachers (N=19). Two measures of classroom management orientation administered before and after the student teaching experience were examined, along with demographic dimensions of gender, science area,…