Investigates the relationship between a science-technology-society (STS) approach, scientific literacy (SL), and achievement in biology. Uses two instruments for data collection, an achievement test on reproduction and family planning and an SL scale. Concludes that the STS approach might be affecting other variables in the science classroom that…

Examines the cognitive supports that underlie achievement in science using a cultural historical framework and the activity setting (AS) construct with five features: personnel, motivation, scripts, task demands, and beliefs. Reports four emergent phenomena--science activities, the building of learning, meaning in lessons, and the conflict over…

Describes current debates over the nature of science in the science curriculum. Illustrates the subtle ways in which epistemological portrayals have been influenced with regard to the public's relationship with institutional science in the United States by using the curricular ideas of John Dewey and Joseph Schwab as an historical perspective.…

Endorses John L. Rudolph's argument that the time spent on "the nature of science as a thing-in-itself" is less than the time spent "seeking greater consensus about what social function we wish our image of science to serve". Focuses on Dewey's and Schwab's ideas to discuss the function and practice of science education. (Contains 14 references.)…

Responds to Jim Garrison regarding his views on school science epistemology. Argues that the goal of science education is to "convey some understanding of scientific practice as it occurs in the everyday world in which we live." (Author/YDS)

Investigates high-achieving fifth-grade students' achievement gains and conceptual reorganization on convection. Features an instructional sequence of three dyadic inquiry investigations related to convection currents as well as pre- and post-assessment consisting of a multiple-choice test, a card sorting task, construction of a concept map, and…

Examines how preservice teachers' inquiry experiences in a science methods course were influenced by their conceptions of inquiry. Advocates that independent science investigations should part of preservice education and that these experiences should be scaffolded to prompt reflection, specifically about the nature of inquiry, and conceptually…

Discusses the challenges of scaling out university-developed, project-based science curricula. Investigates what constitutes and why implement inquiry-based, project focused learning environments; the role of integrating technology to support their implementation; the value of engaging in design experiments for their development; the importance of…

Examines four teachers implementing a project-based curriculum (Air Quality module) on a web-based platform (ActiveInk Network) in four very different settings. Discusses each case across two themes by examining how the project-level question was contextualized to meet local needs and the cultural context that surrounded the implementation of the…

Examines the implementation and adaptation of Kids as Global Scientists (KGS), an inquiry-based, technology-rich middle school environment. Examines three classrooms of urban teachers in high-poverty environments and two classrooms of maverick teachers in middle-class suburban environments. (SOE)

Examines the implementation of Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE), which can incorporate modeling tools and hand-held devices. Describes WISE design team practices, features of the WISE learning environment, and patterns of feature use in WISE library projects. (SOE)

Outlines a sociocultural perspective on program evaluation consistent with sociocultural views of knowing and learning. Perspective is characterized by rigorous use of multiple-choice tests, performance assessments, and event-based analyses; a dialectical approach to conflicting conclusions from individual assessments and between individual and…

Introduces the idea of usability as a guiding principle for the successful design of sustainable and scalable science curricula. Presents a framework for examining usability in school contexts. (Author/SOE)

Articulates the major components of aesthetic understanding, pedagogy designed to foster it, and the results of a pilot study designed to investigate its effectiveness. Survey results indicate that the pedagogical moves were effective in scaffolding aesthetic understanding in treatment class students. (Author/SOE)

Presents perspectives and experiences of prospective science teachers who developed science lessons and small educational projects in collaboration with practicing elementary and middle school teachers. Concludes that prospective teachers perceived themselves to be more confident and more competent to teach science after the collaboration. (SOE)