Grade 10 students in Singapore find qualitative analysis one of the more difficult topics in their external examinations. Fifty-one grade 10 students from three schools were interviewed to investigate their perceptions about learning qualitative analysis. The results showed that students found qualitative analysis tedious and difficult to…

Explores views held by pre-service and in-service teachers regarding the nature of science and technology, particularly the characteristics of science and technology, the aim of science and scientific research, the characteristics of scientific knowledge and scientific theories, and the relationship between science and technology. (Author/MM)

Reports on the procedure and results of the trial of support materials that were developed for primary teacher mentors to help trainee teachers improve their medium-term and individual lesson plans. Concludes that trainees' practice in science improved in subsequent unmentored lessons, but good practice was not transferred to other subjects.…

Considers domain-specific design specifications in the process of designing teaching materials for learning problem solving in technology education in order to raise learning outcomes with these materials. Focuses on a construction problem (open-ended) and an explanation problem (constrained). Compares these newly-designed teaching materials with…

Examines adolescent attitudes towards Christianity, science, creationism, and scientism among high school students (n=1584) between the ages of 14-16. Reports that the apparent independence of attitude towards science and attitude towards Christianity is transformed into a positive relationship after taking into account individual differences in…

Investigates the effect of instruction on preservice science teachers' conceptions of the scientist. Involves preservice teachers (n=26) and adopts a constructivist teaching approach. Concludes that whereas remediating strategies enhance understanding, students' worldview has a greater effect on meaningful learning. (Contains 37 references.)…

Investigates patterns of students' science thinking across four different science phenomena focusing on changes that come with age and science education. Asks secondary school students whether offered sentences appearing on a computer screen that gave different explanations for four common changes in materials made any sense to them. (Contains 20…

Analyzes senior high school students' astronomy conceptions by means of a written questionnaire presented during the beginning of the first semester. (Contains 42 references.) (Author/YDS)

Focuses on 181 school children's (aged 5-13) responses to an Awareness of Technology Survey question intended to explore their conceptual knowledge of structural strength. Explores how the framework of the program and professional development opportunities did not help teachers implement the program. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/YDS)

Considers the process of conceptual change and describes empirical studies into children's naive theories of physics concepts. Uses the Representational Redescription model to explain how naive theories are a feature of conceptual change. Provides a starting point for considering how children's naive theories might mediate their ability to learn…

Studies 34 elementary school children's understanding of five aspects of energy waste and the ways in which these conceptions develop following teaching. Concludes that the children had good prior awareness of some behaviors that save energy, but their reasons for thinking this were based largely on everyday intuitive ideas that involved…

Points out the importance of writing, trialling, and using curriculum materials that are illustrated in the teaching and learning of what is widely recognized as the most recent revolution in scientific knowledge. Outlines events and factors related to the ways in which scientific knowledge was gained. (Contains 69 references.) (Author/YDS)

Investigates 5th and 6th grade students' learning when taught with the aid of dome and computer planetaria. Finds both planetaria equally effective with female pupils. Recommends the use of planetaria, which might enable females to catch up with males in areas that place heavy demands on spatial ability such as astronomy. (Contains 16 references.)…

Identifies the Nuffield Design and Technology Project which enlarges upon the national curriculum. Presents an investigation based on case studies of two teachers in separate schools, each using Nuffield publications with their classes. Explores how Nuffield materials were selected and adapted by the teachers. Suggests training to enhance…

Reports on research into children's understanding of mountainous landscapes and mountain genesis as revealed in their drawing and modeling representations and in subsequent interviews. Compares younger and older children aged 7-11 from United Kingdom inner city schools. Concludes that the interpretation of children's pictures is problematic and…