The displaying of a sense of wonder when responding to aesthetic experiences of natural phenomena has been identified as having a significant impact on an individual's learning in primary science education. This paper attempts to review the significance of the influence of "wonder" arising from students aesthetic reactions to exploratory…

This article draws attention to the difference between interest and relevance in science education while recognising both can be considered components of intrinsic motivation--motivation for learning coming from students themselves. Research has shown the importance of intrinsic motivation and this study seeks an approach to enhance this through…

In the human brain, the neuronal pathways are networks which support our learning, memory and thought, and which work with permanent feedback. However, only 19% of illustrations of these neuronal pathways, in the 55 analysed school textbooks coming from 15 countries, were showing feedbacks. The neuronal pathways related to movements were generally…

This paper discusses the role of cinema as a tool for science education. Based on the socio-cultural approach put forward by Vygotsky, it draws attention to the fact that an audience can interact with the characters and share their emotions and actions showed in an audiovisual setting. Experiences come from an interaction with a learning…

Students' understanding of energy has been primarily within the domain of physics. This study sought to examine students' understanding of concepts relating to energy and the human body using pencil and paper questionnaires administered to 610 students in Years 8-12. From students' responses to the questionnaires, conceptual patterns were…

Due to the rapid development and growing societal role of nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST), these emerging fields are also growing in educational importance. The demands for incorporating NST-related issues into curricula are often expressed with reference to the goals of scientific and technological literacy. This paper reports on a…

This paper describes the development of different lesson plans dealing with authentic and controversial socio-scientific issues in the framework of climate change. These lesson plans orient themselves along the socio-critical, problem-oriented approach to science teaching. They deal with the use of bioethanol as an alternative fuel and with the…

The nature of science aspects (NOS) are the most emphasized theme in many curriculum and reform attempts. Teachers as a curriculum implementer in the classroom play important role for policy, arrangements and classroom experiences on NOS understandings of students. Researchers generally assessed the teachers' NOS conceptions using open-ended…

The aim of environmental education is environmental literacy which includes not only knowledge but also awareness and environmentally responsible behaviour. This study included pupils who are provided environmental education as part of the curriculum during regular class hours, as well as those who are included in the Eco-school project. The aim…

Teachers constantly face the challenges of the most effective methods of instruction that could enhance academic achievement and match the diversity among students. This study therefore aimed at examining the effects of metacognitive strategies on classroom participation and student achievement in Senior Secondary School Science classrooms. One…

The main goal of the study was to describe and understand the development of beliefs related to the thinking and decision-making made by five teachers in teaching chemistry during a two-year intervention study. The participating teachers implemented and, in the second year of the study, developed teaching modules which were geared to the promotion…

This paper is intended to stimulate discussion and recommendations related to science and technology education and its role in sustainable development. It puts forward points of view and addresses concerns in science education. The paper recognizes that all in not well within science and technology education and that there are concerns related to…

One of the many causes of conflict is the inequitable distribution of resources which is usually accompanied by widespread poverty. The breakdown in communication, the absence of a culture of peace is also contributing factors to conflicts. This paper has highlighted the causes of conflicts, the requirements for peace, and the strategies for…

This paper examined high school students' attitudes toward the environment and their interest in learning about environmental protection with respect to gender. The questionnaire-based Relevance of Science Education (ROSE) Project data of 9th grade students were collected in Turkey from 1,260 students. Statistical analysis included tabulation of…

The study investigated the mental models of primary school children related to the day/night cycle. Semi-structure interviews were conducted with 40 fourth-grade and 40 sixth-grade children. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data indicated that the majority of the children were classified as having geocentric models. The results also…