Presents results from a secondary school science teacher needs assessment for the state of Illinois. The Moore Assessment Profile, developed specifically to identify the needs of secondary school science teachers, was used to survey a random sample of 4965 Illinois science teachers in grades 6-12. (CS)

Reports results of a study investigating effects of alternative modes of science methods instruction on 90 preservice elementary teachers': (1) beliefs about science teaching; and (2) general attitudes toward teaching. Student performance on criterion measures was found to differ significantly in three different modes of science instruction. (CS)

Assesses the level of intellectual development in proportional, combinatorial, and correlational reasoning and the ability to control variables in beginning sophomore students (N=207) at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Compares this level with their performance on achievement tests in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. (CS)

Reports results of a large-scale study that investigated the knowledge of gravity and related principles of mechanics possessed by first-year physics students (N=468) at Monash University, Australia. One conclusion is that students know a lot of physics but do not relate it to the everyday world. (CS)

Reports effects of an outdoor field trip on learning within the context of a community-based Summery Ecology Program for children between 7 and 13 years of age. Results include the finding that novel environments are poor settings for imposed task learning when compared with familiar environments. (CS)

Reports results supporting the theoretical rationale that there are certain cognitive skills, including data interpretation, identification of assumptions and hypotheses, and controlling of variables, that appear to be necessary for successful understanding of the heterotroph hypothesis, as presented in the BSCS Blue Version. Implications for…

Discusses five major objectives projected for science education based on current literature regarding science curriculum and development. Literature sources include "Small is Beautiful,""Education and the Spirit of Science," and the works of two curriculum developers, Theodore Brameld and Ralph Tyler. (CS)

Compares preparation of scientists and science educators to the medieval craft guilds of Europe, offering the viewpoint that the system operates very well for the training of scientists but is inappropriate for the training of science teachers. (CS)

Provides results of a comparative study of differences between Israeli (N=628) and U.S. (N=302) students in their perceptions of science classroom behavior. Dependent variables were a role-specific self-concept score and rank orders of behavior statement items, and independent variables were country of student and grade level. (CS)

Using a theoretical model which examines three essential features thought to influence student attitudes (teacher, students, learning environment), the relationship between these features at three grade levels (4th--N=649, 7th--N=630, 9th--N=686) was investigated. Correlational/regression analyses, conclusions, and implications are reported.…

Investigated the effectiveness of 10 hours of environmental instruction on fifth-graders' (N=53) attitudes toward the environment. Students receiving such instruction (15 lessons taught on 15 consecutive days) had significantly more positive attitudes than fifth-graders not receiving such instruction, although both groups had similar entering…

Indicates that Master's degree programs have remained rather stable during the 1960-80 period. Over one-half the course requirements in these programs are in science content areas. Courses in science education comprise under a quarter of courses in programs, followed in importance by general courses in curriculum/instruction. (Author/JN)

Discusses a generalized approach to societal problems, consisting of a series of questions that can be asked as problems are investigated. Questions focus on nature of problem situation, what problems are, situational/historical contexts of problems, possible solutions, consequences of solutions, ways of testing proposed solutions, and what…

Addresses the power held by persons who construct curricula, teach, and do research from a frame of reference that includes definite purposes for and theories about science education. Suggests the purpose of science education as a discipline is to improve existing procedures and establish new and verified procedures for teaching science.…

Reports on a classroom technique (social interaction) for improving fifth-grade students' performance in the task domain of controlling variables. The technique involved asking students why something happened, asking for justification/evidence, suggesting alternative explanations and asking for evaluation of the same, and accepting explanation…