Describes the model-revising problem-solving strategies of two groups of students (one successful, one unsuccessful) as they worked in a genetics course to revise Mendel's simple dominance model to explain the inheritance of a trait expressed in any of four variations. Finds differences in the groups' abilities to recognize anomalous data, use…

Presents an alternative paradigm of curriculum development based on the theory of situated cognition. This approach starts with context rather than concept, gives greater weight to students' interpretative frameworks, and provides for a more holistic development. Presents a grade 1-8 framework that uses archetypal phenomena and technologies as the…

Comments on another article in this issue and supports its approach to curriculum framing. (Author/MM)

Reports on a study aimed at facilitating freshman general chemistry students' understanding of atomic structure based on the work of Thomson, Rutherford, and Bohr. Hypothesizes that classroom discussions based on arguments/counterarguments of the heuristic principles on which these scientists based their atomic models can facilitate students'…

A cautious introduction of the dialogue between science and religion into a college astronomy course provoked diverse reactions from the 340 students in the course. Reports that approximately half of the students in the class engaged with the issue of science and religion to some extent and that there were few negative reactions to this…

Suggests that the construction and reconstruction of meanings by learners requires that they actively seek to integrate new knowledge with knowledge already in their cognitive structure. Concept mapping has been used effectively to aid meaningful learning with resulting modification of student's knowledge structures. Asserts that new computer…

Investigates the development of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) within a group of preservice chemistry teachers. Focuses on PCK with respect to the relationship between observable phenomena on the one hand, and their interpretation in terms of corpuscular characteristics on the other. Results indicated a growing awareness among the preservice…

Investigates 55 6th grade students' conceptions of "invention and patent processes". Suggests that students have few or simplistic conceptions of invention and patent processes and prior exposure to invention instruction, or previous experiences with inventing did not appear to have an impact on students' conceptions of invention. (Contains 70…

Seeks to address concerns Shiland raised in a prior article published in Science Education 1998, 82(5), 615-617 regarding the National Science Education Standards (NSES). Discusses the failures of NSES and the consequences related to the cognitive abilities of teachers and students. (Contains 20 references.) (Author/YDS)

Comments in response to Pushkin's critique published in Science Education 2002, 86(2), p161-166 and reviews three aspects of the atheoretical nature of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) from the 1998 article in light of Pushkin's comments. (Author/YDS)

Presents a theoretical framework for evaluating inquiry tasks and how similar they are to authentic science. Suggests that inquiry tasks commonly used in schools evoke reasoning processes that are qualitatively different from the processes employed in real scientific inquiry, and school reasoning tasks appear to be based on epistemology that…

Compares a group of expert cancer researchers with four groups of fourth year medical students (the "novice" groups) engaged in the task of designing a clinical trial to test a new cancer drug using a computer-based modeling tool, the Oncology Thinking Cap. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/YDS)

Investigates performance outcomes based on different goal orientations by using a computer support environment (SCI-WISE) designed for learning and doing inquiry-based science projects. Uses two versions of SCI-WISE software and systems based partly on the theoretical framework of levels of agency and goal orientation. (Contains 16 references.)…

Documents an instructional methodology to teach a fundamental reasoning skill during scientific inquiry: the evaluation of empirical evidence against multiple hypotheses. Uses an instructional framework with iterative cycles that lends itself to authentic scientific inquiry by providing a nontraditional approach to three aspects of learning: (1)…

Reports on a study designed to ascertain the beliefs of elementary teachers regarding the teaching and learning of science and the extent to which the teachers' beliefs were consistent with the philosophy underlying science education reform. Concludes that teachers believe that the teaching and learning of science should be student centered.…