Discusses the historical marginalization of women with claims that they are neither fit for nor interested in careers in science. Describes two cases of the media depiction of a successful female scientist and a high school biology teacher who was involved in the challenge to Arkansas' antievolution laws. (MM)

Discusses problems in the creation and implementation of environmental science/studies programs. Suggests that environmental science students must be trained to examine the emerging global environmental predicament in a cultural context. (MM)

Discusses the life and work of Joseph Priestley, a scientist of the late eighteenth century who was famous for his work in both Europe and America. Includes a description of the Joseph Priestley house, a museum containing some of his scientific equipment and exhibitions relating to his work. (MM)

Reports on a study that examines the ways in which three prospective teachers approach representing science content within the context of their student teaching experiences. (Contains 51 references.) (DDR)

Explores the effectiveness of intervention discussion sections for a college general chemistry course designed to apply research on student preconceptions, knowledge integration, and student explanations. Describes the testing of two interventions on bond energy and spontaneity. (Contains 44 references.) (DDR)

Traces the development of an open-ended instrument, the Views of Nature of Science Questionnaire (VNOS), and outlines the nature of science framework that underlies the development of the VNOS. (Contains 63 references.) (DDR)

Reports on a study that examines how well middle school programs support the attainment of key scientific ideas specified in the national science standards. Identifies the typical strengths and weaknesses of these programs using research-based criteria. (Contains 88 references.) (DDR)

Explores the effects of teaching particulate representation of chemistry on the achievement of high school students in terms of gender interaction. Indicates that females who were taught the particulate representation scored as well as males whereas those who were not taught the particulate representation scored significantly lower than males.…

Investigates how situational knowledge differs across individuals of different competence levels. Analyzes participants' descriptions of physics problem situations. Discusses the relationship between competence and the structure of problem situations, differences between experts and novices, and implications for teaching. (Author/KHR)

Presents a diagnostic test to assess students' understanding of natural selection. Field-tests the Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection (CINS) with nonmajors and biology majors at community colleges. Compares test scores of nonmajors with performances in interviews and discusses the correlation between the test scores and the interview…

Explores how the Challenger experience influenced over 655 elementary boys' and girls' general attitudes toward science and space during the five months after their visit by examining their responses to four different attitude scales. Discusses positive outcomes and negative effects of the Challenger experience on children's attitude toward…

Investigates the effects of conceptual assignments and conceptual change discussions on high school students' achievement and misconceptions about force and motion. Analyzes pretest and posttest data from the Force Misconception and Force Achievement Tests (FMFAT). Discusses the effects on the conceptual change discussion on reducing…

Investigates preservice elementary teachers' responses to science. Uses the Thinking about Science survey instrument that addresses the relationship of science to society and culture, and reveals the extent to which views are consistent with or disagreeing with a worldview of science. Indicates that elementary teachers discriminate with respect to…

Analyzes the participation of secondary school teachers in a U.S. science education curriculum reform effort. Discusses perspectives for the behavior of these teachers relying on knowledge base, practical reasoning and reflective practice, sociocultural views, and a view of teaching as a way of being and teachers as meaning makers. Analyzes two…

Focuses on changes taking place in the teaching of science as part of general education. Contends that the new science curriculum should be focusing on the utilization of science technology for public welfare and human benefit. (Contains 33 references.) (Author/YDS)