Learning styles of elementary education majors in biology (n=83) were compared to learning styles of students (n=673) in a general nonmajors biology course. Some recommendations made were for incorporation of student-led demonstrations and presentations, instruction with personal involvement, and audiovisuals. Discusses methods of incorporating an…

Discusses the findings of a study designed to determine the frequency with which elementary teachers (n=21) taught science over a four week period, and which teaching strategies they utilized during that time frame one year after extensive inservice training. Results revealed that 61% of the responding teachers taught science 16 or more times over…

Presents a series of outstanding examples of excellence in science teaching. Criteria for both outstanding elementary education and the characteristics of outstanding teachers are listed. (PR)

Assessed the impact of intensive one-week "An Integrated Mathematics and Science" (AIMS) institutes on participant satisfaction and on actual classroom practices during the year following the institute. Findings indicate that participating teachers (n=142) had a high degree of satisfaction. Changes in teaching and content were made by 83% of the…

Investigated the persuasiveness of anecdotal and data-summary messages. The messages were read by most subjects (n=106) in less than 30 minutes. Short-term changes in intention and attitude resulted from the anecdotal message, whereas changes to individual beliefs were more long lasting. The data-summary messages produced no short-term or…

Contrasted the effect of direct manipulative experiences with objects that sink and float with effect of instructional experiences that incorporated discrepant events for five- and six-year-old children (n=113). The findings suggest manipulation is not an adequate means of helping children develop concepts of floating/sinking; their success may be…

The Learning Cycle Model presented is an attempt to build an articulated sequence of instructional activities that foster in-depth understanding of a complex natural phenomenon through many direct experiences that include student-generated inquiry, involve student-generated explanation and interpretation, and enrich the developed network of ideas…

Six sixth-grade science textbooks were examined for conceptual structure and readability. Hierarchical concept maps were composed on text segments for chosen topics and maps were scored. Reading analyses were also computed. Two trends were visually but not statistically evident. The Fry readability scores were higher than sixth grade, but no…

Reports the results of a survey administered to over 100 elementary science methods students to assess their views toward the course curriculum. Concludes that activities not viewed in a favorable manner were presumably considered by future science teachers as less relevant to immediate teaching needs. (PR)

Discusses science education reform based on constructivism. Explains that some educators view constructivism as a basis for a unifying theme for science education. (PR)

Described is how fifth graders used the Extended Case Study (ECS) approach to understand, analyze, investigate, and act on a science-related social issue in their community. The ECS approach provides a vehicle for teachers to coordinate an interdisciplinary Science-Technology-Society or environmental education perspective with science knowledge…

Some of the underlying values associated with particular beliefs a teacher held about the teaching (and learning) of reading are delineated. Also delineated is how those beliefs changed when the teacher personalized and constructed new visions of her role as teacher through critical reflection. (KR)

Reports the results of a project designed to make hands-on science the predominant mode of instruction in the elementary schools of a metropolitan district. A pretest/posttest questionnaire was administered to participants in an inservice workshop conducted by colleagues. Results indicated significant changes in teachers' beliefs about teaching…

The author predicts trends in science education in the 1990s and gives suggestions to science educators. The four suggestions deal with the following: (1) organization, (2) guided discovery and multimodality instructional approaches, (3) time spent on science instruction, and (4) integration. (18 references) (PR)

This article presents data on Big Eight faculty involved with elementary science methods courses regarding their, rank, training, precollege teaching experience, college teaching experience, course load per year, publications, NSTA convention attendance, inservice presentations, and content of their methods courses. Concludes that these professors…