Reports on the use of a HyperCard-based tool by preservice teachers to create and modify concept maps about science- related subject matter. Data gathered from interviews, journals, and concept maps indicate that the concept-mapping tool was easy to use and allowed teachers to organize their cognitive frameworks into more powerful integrated…

Reports on the purposes of the Australian National Chemistry Week's Short Story Competition. Analyzes narratives for the authors' views of the place and relevance of chemistry in their lives. Discusses some of the educational implications for the use of stories in the chemistry classroom. Contains 24 references. (Author/JRH)

Presents conclusions and suggestions regarding teacher development in developing countries based on common sense, research, and experience. Discusses teacher and school conditions, teaching methods, and improving conventional teaching. Concludes that teacher development projects should not provide universal recipes for all schools and all…

Argues that a trip to a zoo or museum should provide children with opportunities to use knowledge they have acquired in their school science classes. Reports on museum research on the conversations of visitors. Concludes that visitors need to actively work with their observations and information to turn the visit from a series of everyday…

Documents the process of the WETLANDS pilot project, an interdisciplinary environmental science curriculum that incorporates the discovery approach to learning. Includes vignettes that illustrate the powerful influence of the teacher in the classroom. (JRH)

Explores the nature and extent of perceived challenge in learning and teaching science. Teachers (n=7) and students (n=37) in 5 secondary schools were the subjects of this study. Findings suggest that many students are insufficiently challenged by the science they learn in school and many teachers are insufficiently challenged by the task of…

Presents a study of science teachers (n=5) who serve as cooperating teachers. Discusses the impact of gender-sensitive cooperating teachers on student teachers' teaching strategies, questioning patterns, and interactions during their teaching practicum. Contains 47 references. (DDR)

Reports on a longitudinal study that mapped the transition between primary and secondary school from a student perspective. Explores how this transition impacts the way students think about, learn, and enjoy science at school. Describes the changes in organization, curriculum, and teacher-student relationships that occur at this time. Contains 52…

Describes a study that identifies what were considered new directions for science teaching and research in 1984 and compares those with actual developments. Considers possible future directions for research. One key implication drawn from the analysis is that science education researchers have tended to neglect working in collaboration with other…

Describes a study of freshman science majors (n=50) that explores the role of higher-order cognitive skills examinations in identifying misconceptions in chemistry. Discusses the use of such examinations in remediation via appropriate modification of teaching strategies. Contains 37 references. (DDR)

Report of a cross-sectional study designed to establish conceptions of physical science held by registered nurses (n=162) in their clinical practice. Findings indicate that the conceptions held by the nurses were not adequate to allow them to fulfill their roles. Contains 27 references. (DDR)

Provides the results of a survey administered to high school students (n=379) in which they select the most and least preferred out of 6 learning situations. Results indicate that student preferences are largely influenced by their perceptions of the relevance and the psychological effects which such contexts would have. Contains 20 references.…

Reports on a study in which a teacher used the collaborative development of a format-free computer database to facilitate the construction of knowledge by a group of students (n=3) during a science project. Results indicate that knowledge construction is enhanced when children collaboratively develop a format-free database. Contains 27 references.…

Explains the need for scientific and technological literacy, the role of supplementary teaching materials specifically created for this purpose, and the successes and difficulties in creating teaching materials in a workshop. Concludes that science teaching today is not designed to promote literacy and does not assist students in becoming the…

Explores the current images that students have of scientists, student perceptions of science study in school, and student awareness of their use of science outside of school. Fifth grade students (N=117) were the subjects of this study that asked students to sketch scientists and school science. (DDR)