Presents suggestions to help preservice teachers develop effective and practical portfolios. Discusses purposeful portfolios, portfolio development, entrance portfolios, progress portfolios, exit portfolios, and interview portfolios. (JRH)

Describes an inservice professional development program, Project LIFE (Laboratory Investigations and Field Experiences), that has successfully implemented guidelines from the National Science Education Standards. Includes a three-week summer course; an independent science research project; academic year follow-up through workshops, classroom…

Discusses the use of student-generated rubrics in science classes where students design their own laboratory activities to solve open-ended problems. Promotes careful consideration of what constitutes open-ended work. Presents certain rubrics and grading criteria. (JRH)

Presents an activity in which groups of students form land-use companies that work for a client who is seeking land suitable for an all-season resort. Involves students working together and drawing on their knowledge of contour lines, topography, land forms, climate, natural disasters, geology, and hydrology. (JRH)

Describes Project JUST (Join Underrepresented in Science and Technology), an initiative whose goal is to create an atmosphere of systemic change within an urban school district that results in minority students excelling in upper level math and science courses. Discusses leadership, governance, and management; a standards-based curriculum;…

Describes a year-long course called Outdoor Science taught at an American Indian reservation high school that demonstrates to students the connection between traditional tribal knowledge and western science to spark student interest in science. Presents a list that contains references on the subject of ethnobotany. Includes specific references for…

Discusses strategies for using technology to spark universal success in the physics classroom. Describes strategies used in the instructional units developed for the Visual Quantum Mechanics (VQM) project that help develop and reinforce student conceptual understanding of physics concepts as well as increase the scientific and technological…

Describes an inquiry-based activity involving paper airplanes that has been used as a preservice training tool for instructors of a Native American summer science camp, and as an activity for demonstrating inquiry-based methods in a secondary science methods course. Focuses on Bernoulli's principle which describes how fluids move over and around…

Explains the benefits of multicultural education and presents some practical suggestions for incorporating the diverse history of science into the classroom. Lists scientists from groups traditionally underrepresented in science. (JRH)

Describes a rigorous, individualized science curriculum in an alternative program that gives students some choice of what to study and provides them with their own time frame in which to work. Discusses design and implementation, high standards for all, and benefits and bonuses. (JRH)

Describes investigations in archaeoastronomy that combine modern archaeology with the mathematical precision of practical astronomy. Helps students develop an understanding of a society's astronomical systems which can lead to a knowledge of their religion, art, mathematics, writings, calendar, myths, and agricultural practices. (JRH)

Discusses strategies for and benefits of integrating music into science courses. (JRH)

Describes leadership models that evolved during 15 different two-year lead teacher professional development programs in science and mathematics. Analyzes multiple data sources and discusses the views of leadership that emerged from the professional development activities conducted at each site. (Contains 50 references.) (Author/WRM)

Describes prospective teachers' conceptions of what one needs to know to be a chemistry teacher at the German gymnasium, and compares their conceptions with those emphasized by the university they attend. Hypothesizes that preservice teachers' conceptions suggest a nested model of knowledge needed for chemistry teaching. (Contains 30 references.)…

Focuses on the behaviors and experiences of beginning teachers as they face the task of teaching science on a regular and extended basis for the first time. Finds that experiencing success appeared to be a major contribution to effective science teaching by beginning teachers. (Contains 31 references.) (WRM)