Elaborates on the components of five domains of a taxonomy for science educators' concerns for teaching and curriculum development: information, process, creativity, attitude, and applications domain. (YP)

Outlines some strategies used by science teacher educators to train teachers to make laboratory lessons a place for meaningful and useful learning, including content analysis of laboratory manuals, scientific inquiry, flexible organization, concept mapping, Vee heuristics, and inquiry oriented laboratory tests. (YP)

Examines the perceived source for generic knowledge and skills held by science teachers as unique to the total population of secondary teachers. Reports that only four items out of 34 are different in the two groups. Provides the survey instrument items. (YP)

Investigates how analysis of lesson interactions (both discourse and activities) helps to identify the ideas about scientific inquiry which are conveyed in a class of young gifted children (seven-eight years old). Describes three ideas about science and giftedness in science. (YP)

Examines the variables that influence females' success in science by experimenting with the outcomes of measures of formal reasoning ability. Concludes that women turn away from science for reasons that have little or nothing to do with their reasoning ability. (YP)

Promotes teacher supervision that is aimed at helping teachers reflect on their own practice. Outlines views that teaching which aims at the development of intellectual independence needs to address epistemological issues. Argues that attention has to be directed at knowledge and control. Outlines a scheme to address these issues. (CW)

Argues that the failure of modern courses to achieve their declared goals in relation to children's understanding of science has two causes, namely teachers views about the nature of science, and a degree of confusion in the philosophical stance implicit in many science curricula. Presents a philosophical model for curricula. (CW)

Examines ways in which description and explanation are used in science teaching, including word usage and the role of activities. Considers the desirable characteristics of explanation for teaching purposes. Raises major questions about explanation in science education. Shows the need to make a clear distinction between description and…

Examines the philosophical basis for the development of authoritarian views in science education curricula. Argues that the deliberation of science curricula should address humanistic and societal issues as well as fact. Suggests that such deliberation requires a broader spectrum of individuals who involve themselves in the development of…

Summarizes the academic preparation of secondary school science teachers in Idaho by science subject. Reveals that the extent of some problems appears to be greater than reported in the literature. Reports that only 57% of Idaho science teachers were endorsed to teach the subject they taught. (CW)

Reports on the development and implementation of the "Introductory Science Teacher Education" (ISTE) package as a pilot program for preservice science teachers. Demonstrates the significant effect of the ISTE program over traditional methods was that teachers developed a better understanding of the nature of science and acquired more favorable…

Studies the quality of graduating science education majors at Brigham Young University (BYU) and attempts to identify possible trends in the ability of students who entered secondary school science teaching. Concludes that there was no manifested trend toward lower quality college students entering the science teaching profession at BYU. (CW)

Considers variables which affect the acquisition of the kinetic theory of heat by children who hold alternative viewpoints. Suggests that the articulation of different viewpoints in no way hinders the acquisition of the desired conceptual framework. Emphasizes the benefit to low-reasoning students in particular. (CW)

Describes the development of the Nuffield chemistry curriculum materials by chemistry teachers and how these materials were received and used by a much larger and representative group of the profession. Includes comments on teaching Nuffield chemistry, the Nuffield examination, and on Nuffield chemistry outside of Great Britain. (JN)

Describes the evaluation and revision of the O-level Nuffield chemistry student and teacher curriculum materials. Includes a discussion of the rationale for the evaluation process and the methodology used. (JN)